THE OLD STRIPPER
A Feature Documentary Film
A
black girl who I had worked with for quite sometime - we were both strippers on
the Al Baker circuit - told me the following story. I do not remember her name.
We were working together at the State Theater in Canton, Ohio for the week. Across the street on the same side of the road on the corner was the Golden Pheasant Restaurant owned by Mr. Manos, an old Greek man. Next door was a Greek grocery store owned by him. One or two doors down was another small grocery store which had, mainly, fresh fruits and vegetables. It was more what you would call a vegetable and fruit store.
My co-worker said she went to buy some fruit and vegetables at this store. She got a grocery cart and started walking around. Almost immediately one of the women who worked at the store started following her around. My friend just acted like she did not notice. She filled up her grocery cart to the hilt. The employee tailed her all the time she was shopping.
The stripper went to pay for the groceries. The same woman who had been following her was all happy and excited as she went to the register to check her out. We later learned that she was the owner. She figured the total and told my friend what she owed. My friend said, "I don't want any of it.” The woman screamed, "What?" The stripper replied, "You've been following me around like I'm gonna steal a piece of your fruit. I work next door at the burlesk. I don't have to steal your fruit. I don't want any of it!"
I was glad she did that. Back in the early 1970's people were still so openly prejudiced. This store keeper not only had a prejudice against blacks but, also, strippers. I feel that the stripper demonstrated liberation for her race as well as her profession.
We were working together at the State Theater in Canton, Ohio for the week. Across the street on the same side of the road on the corner was the Golden Pheasant Restaurant owned by Mr. Manos, an old Greek man. Next door was a Greek grocery store owned by him. One or two doors down was another small grocery store which had, mainly, fresh fruits and vegetables. It was more what you would call a vegetable and fruit store.
My co-worker said she went to buy some fruit and vegetables at this store. She got a grocery cart and started walking around. Almost immediately one of the women who worked at the store started following her around. My friend just acted like she did not notice. She filled up her grocery cart to the hilt. The employee tailed her all the time she was shopping.
The stripper went to pay for the groceries. The same woman who had been following her was all happy and excited as she went to the register to check her out. We later learned that she was the owner. She figured the total and told my friend what she owed. My friend said, "I don't want any of it.” The woman screamed, "What?" The stripper replied, "You've been following me around like I'm gonna steal a piece of your fruit. I work next door at the burlesk. I don't have to steal your fruit. I don't want any of it!"
I was glad she did that. Back in the early 1970's people were still so openly prejudiced. This store keeper not only had a prejudice against blacks but, also, strippers. I feel that the stripper demonstrated liberation for her race as well as her profession.
THE OLD STRIPPER
A Feature Documentary Film
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