THE OLD STRIPPER
A Feature Documentary Film
Directed by Jack Truman
Starring Opal Dockery
KANSAS
CITY KITTY SHOWING ME THE ROPES
Kansas
City Kitty took me under her wing and showed me the "ropes" of the
stripping business. She was an older lady who had been dancing for quite some
time. If it had not been for her advice, I would have made a lot more mistakes
than I did.
We worked at the Pink Pussy in Kansas City, Missouri as well as the Folly's
Burlesk Theater. At the Pink Pussy Cat, we were strippers. At the Folly's
Burlesk, I was a stripper and she was
a
cashier.
She taught me how to put on pasties - a stiff cloth of material shaped like the
nipple that covered only the nipple. We had to wear this because of the Kansas
City laws - no nipples could show.
She taught me how to put on the different layers of my outfit - such as
G-String first - then G-Strap over that or some sort of clothing that resembled
panties.
She sold me my first dancing gown for $10.00. That was a lot for me back then;
but it was a good deal. It was a really pretty red, sequin gown trimmed in
black feathers. It was the same gown I had seen in many visions when I was
married and did not even comprehend what a stripper was. Being a stripper was
the furthest thing from my mind back then. But the visions would haunt me,
especially, at night when I lay awake and could not go to sleep. Not only would
I see myself stripping on a stage in front of a bunch of men; but I would,
also, see my children in different states. All this proved to be true.
Kansas City Kitty, also, helped me make life-long decisions concerning my
children. I did not know what to do with my children if I went on the road to
dance. It was time for John to go to the first grade. She suggested putting him
in a military school.
That
was the best advice I ever got from anyone concerning my children. I just wish
I would have kept him in there for his twelve years of school; so does he.
Kansas Kitty Kitty proved to be very helpful in teaching me how to get money
out of men. She would make up a story that we were collecting money to get a
pizza. The guys would chip in. For some reason, the pizza never did come.
A
"guy" that really liked me a lot was going to take me out to spend
money on me for such things as clothes and boots. Kansas City Kitty wanted me
to get in practice on conning men; so she gave me a list of things for me to
get for her. Some of the things were different pieces of material and a bottle
of her favorite
perfume
- Taboo. I had "the guy" take me to the costume shop. I got the
material she wanted. He said, “That looks like material Kansas City Kitty makes
her outfits out of.” I was not sure of myself and got really nervous; so I was
really afraid to get the perfume. I thought he would catch on to that, too. I
did not want her to be mad at me; so I bought the perfume for her myself. This
really made her mad.
She told me that it was not the perfume that she cared about. She wanted me to get the “feel” for conning
men. I did over the years; and I am glad.
One
time before I learned my lessons well from Kansas City Kitty, I went home at a
“guy's” apartment and spent the night with him. I told her about it the next
day. She said, “Well, what is he going to do for you?” I said that I guessed
nothing and that he had offered to give me gas money; but I turned it down. She
held her head in her hands explaining to me that I should get things and money
out of these guys - and to not let them have anything free.
One
night, after I had spent the night with him, he came in the club saying he was
looking for his "Little Rose". By then, I finally had decided in my
mind what he was looking for was a free piece of ass anytime
he wanted. I told Kansas City Kitty, "He looks like an old hound dog
lookin' for a bitch dog in heat.” She laughed so much! I think she knew as I
did that I had finally seen the light about these guys. From now on, I would be
no one else's "Little Rose". At least, not a "free rose".
The first time I went on the road, Kansas City Kitty gave me a necklace with
St. Christopher to help protect me. She was a Catholic. I was not; but I felt
that it might help me. I wish I still
had
it.
Kansas City Kitty was oriental. It was really difficult to see what she looked
like because she wore a lot of garb on her face - big dark glasses, big bushy
blond hair, and lots of make-up. She would holler from the stage, "I'm a
clown!" She twirled the tassels on her breasts; but they were false
breasts - I heard - she did not tell me this. I, also, heard that she had
received silicone injections and had made them too big which caused her to have
them removed. I, also, heard that she had cancer. I guess it was cancer of the
breasts.
One thing I did not like about her advice was when she tried to get me to get
small amounts of silicone injections. But this is the only thing I remember
that was bad advice. Luckily, I had enough "horse-sense" to know that
this was not for me.
Kansas City Kitty always encouraged me to start saving money and invest it. She
said her relatives had cheated her out of a bunch of money - something to do
with a savings she had had with one of the relatives. She had some money saved
in a savings and loan under this relative's name. This person had died; and the
other relatives kept her part of the money even though they knew it belonged to
her. She cautioned me to never invest my money in a savings
and
loan.
I
really do appreciate all the time Kansas City Kitty took with me to help get me
on my feet as a stripper as well as the special interest she took in my
personal life with my kids. From the first time she said, “Do you really want
to get into it?” - (referring to the stripping business);
and I answered, “Yes.” - She showed me the “ropes” and gave me priceless advice
on everything. I wish she were alive; so I could say, “Thank you.”
THE OLD STRIPPER
A Feature Documentary Film
Directed by Jack Truman
Starring Opal Dockery
