Keeping the Burlesque Manager 'Happy' in Pittsburgh

I had worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Liberty Burlesk Theater dancing as a stripper quite a few times. I had decided to stay in Canton, Ohio for awhile; so I tried to book myself in some of the surrounding burlesk theaters - one of them was Pittsburgh.

I told the manager that I would like to work there from time to time. He said there was no problem - I could. He then said that there was only one stipulation. All the girls that worked for him regularly "kept him happy" when he needed it I immediately told him that I would not - that "keeping him happy" when he needd it was not part of my show. He said, "Fine! Go back to Canton and wash dishes!" I said, "O.K.!"

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My Kids in the Upstairs Apartment

My kids were well-behaved. They always minded me. They were always with me unless they were at school. I even took them to work with me.

When I danced in one place for a few months, they would take one dressing room and convert it into their playroom. The girls I worked with while being a stripper were always nice to them. Everyone else I worked with wasa nice to them, too.

All the managers accepted them. I had no problem with the managers letting them stay in the dressing rooms while I did my shows except one. This was the manager in Syracuse, New York. He told me I could not have them in the dressing room. I told him, "Fine, then I won't work because they are too young to leave alone. I have to have them with me or I can't work".

For some reason, he changed his mind. We stayed the whole summer.