The Old Traffic Laws in Kansas City

During my old dancing days in Kansas City in the 1970's

When I first started driving in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, I found that they had more traffic laws than what I had been used to experiencing in the small town of Lamar, Missouri. One such law involved parking.

One day during the five-o'clock rush hour, I was driving in downtown Kansas City looking for a parking spot. I had driven around for quite sometime when I saw one. I really felt lucky and wondered why nobody else had parked in it. I parked my car and went to wherever I was supposed to be going.

When I came out to my car, much to my surprise, my car was gone. I thought, "Oh! No! Someone stole my car!" I called the police. They came over. They asked me where my car was parked. I showed them. Then they showed me! They pointed to a sign - a No Parking - Tow Away sign.
Another incident relating to the big city's driving laws which I learned the hard way concerned one-way streets. I had never heard of one-way streets before in my whole life. I soon found out that they existed. I am just glad I lived through the experience.

One day in Kansas City, I was driving down the street. Suddenly, I saw a lot of cars coming toward me on my side of the street. I was frantic! They kept coming - one after the other. They were honking their horns at me and hollering obscenities. I thought, "These people are nuts! Why are they driving on the wrong side of the road? And why are they mad at me? They are the ones doing the wrong thing!
Soon, I learned that it was me who was doing the wrong thing when a compassionate driver, instead of showing his middle finger, used his index finger to point to a sign that said ONE WAY!

Medians in the middle of the road were another thing that I had never encountered in Lamar, Missouri and had never heard about. The policeman who stopped me for this violation was more dumbfounded from my improper driving act than I was from the new law I was about to encounter - new to me, anyway.

I was driving on Paseo Street in Kansas City, Missouri. There was a lot of traffic. I needed to get to the other side because I needed to go in the other direction. There was only one problem - a big piece of cement in the middle of the road which separated my raod from the one I wanted to take. I really did think it was stupid to have a big piece of cement in such a location; but I really saw no big problem from it. I just drove my car over the cement and got on the other side.

I was driving along when a policeman stopped me. He asked me why I went over the median like that. I did not know what he was talking about. He said, shaking his head, "That's the first time I ever saw anything like that - someone just driving over the median to the other side of the road". Finally, I realized what he was talking about. I replied sarcastically, "Oh! You mean that big piece of cement in the middle of the road? I drove over it because I had to get to the other side". He told me I could not do that and asked if I as drinking. I told him that I as not drinking and that I act like this all the time. He told me that he would not give me a ticket but for me to never do that again. I was confused and asked him how I could get to the other side of the road without driving over the cement. He explained to me how to go to the light and turn around. I asked him, "You mean I have to go all the way up to the light and turn back this way?" He said, "Yes". I was still baffled by this rule when I asked him why they put big cement blocks in the middle of the road anyway. He just shook his head and walked away, but said as he was leaving, "I'm not going to give you a ticket. You have enough problems the way it is!:

 

100 STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER

By Opal Dockery

 

Now on AMAZON & LULU:

 





The Thrill of Shocking People

Most of the girls I worked with as a stripper were natural exhibitionists including myself. At that time of my life, I enjoyed the thrill of shocking people. I still do but, maybe, not as intensely as I did back then.

I never wore a bra. Sometimes my tops were so skimpy and see through that a blind man could have seen my nipples.
Some girls I worked with in Buffalo, New York proved to be as wild, if not wilder, than me. They went to eat at the chicken place next door to the burlesk theater. After they ate, the waitress came over to give them the check. One of the girls who had extra big tits just pulled them out and dropped them on the table and said, "How much do we owe?"

They were told to leave and never come back and to forget about the bill - just leave! That was alright with them. They figured they got a free meal and would probably never be in Buffalo again anyway. And if they were, that was not the only restaurant in town. The shocked look on the face of the waitress was worth getting kicked out and barred.

One time after work in Kansas City, Missouri, a customer who had the "hots" for me gave my friend, a stripper, and me a ride a few blocks away from the club where we were working to a party at a restaurant. He was a low-keyed quiet married man. We were all three in his pick-up truck. My friend was sitting in the middle. It was rush hour traffic. My friend pulled her top up and shook her breasts. He said, "Oh! My God!" She could have caused him to have a wreck. It was so funny to see the surprised look on his face that a wreck would have been worth it.

These are just examples of what most of us strippers liked to do for fun. The thrill of seeing the surprised, shocked, look on someone's face was fun and is fun to do.

 

A story from

 

100 STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER

By Opal Dockery

 

Now available on AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE and LULU:

 



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.”

100 STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER

By Opal Dockery

My Commission at the Two O'Clock Club

My Melissa St. John Days

at Lee Burlesk

At the Two O'Clock Club where I danced as a stripper in Boston, Massachusetts, I made quite a lot of money. I got paid for dancing as well as commission on the drinks I hustled. The management would sometimes pay the commission a day or two late which did not bother me because I always received it by Tuesday. But a lot of the dancers had trouble getting their money.

Then one Tuesday arrived, and I still had not got my commission money. I asked the guy that always paid me for it. He said, "Don't worry about it. You'll get it later in the week.” This really made me angry. I decided right then that I was not going to join the ranks of the "whiners" for their money.

I did my stage show as I was required to do and then went to the dressing room and sat down. I was not in there more than fifteen minutes when the big bouncer came back and hollered, "What are you doing in here?" I replied, "Sitting." He said, "Get out there and sell those drinks!" I answered, "I was hired to be a stripper. That's what my contract says. If I hustle the drinks, I want to get paid my commission for it. And I'm not gonna do anything but my shows tonight unless I get my commission money. I'm not doin' it free."

He left. I really did not care if they fired me because I had decided not to work free and not to wonder when I was going to get paid - if at all.

The bouncer was not gone more than five minutes. He came in the dressing room and handed me my commission money. He said, "Here!" I said, "Thanks!" and went out and started hustling drinks.

100 STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER

By Opal Dockery

Sundance 2014 - The Old Stripper, Indiegogo and Crowdfunding

Opal Dockery, THE OLD STRIPPER

This week at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival 

My feature documentary THE OLD STRIPPER is going to be shot this year.

This week we were at the Sundance Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Every time Jack and I are there it is a job. For the last 8 years, either a film of ours has played at Slamdance, or we are there with a project.

This year, it is my passion project.

This week, we partnered with Indiegogo to have a crowdfunding campaign for our inspirational documentary feature film The Old Stripper. Indiegogo was also at Sundance 2014 this week, so we partnered with Indiegogo to launch the new production campaign for The Old Stripper documentary to coincide with Sundance.

The new crowdfunding page is really neat and cool. Jack, my son and director of the film, did a great job putting the trailer of the movie on the Indiegogo Old Stripper site, great old pictures from my old burlesque dancing days, and more:

We have a lot to do. Jack and I spent all week at Sundance and Slamdance in Park City letting the independent film industry know about our new documentary film. Now, we have a lot of work to do before we start shooting the movie this Spring.

I want to make this film to bring to the public a way of life unimagined. 

As my contribution to society, it is my desire to share my memories with others regarding my quite unique past life which is very entertaining and interesting.

An unknown era. 

I was a burlesque stripper for over 20 years in the 1960's and 70's. As a 68 year old senior citizen, it gives me great joy to remember these days. They are quite unique, entertaining and interesting. It is my desire as a contribution to society to share these memories with others.  

This documentary is about a 68 year old woman's memories of her life and her children's lives while being a burlesque stripper for over 20 years as she takes a road trip to the various states she danced in the 1960's and '70's.

In this film, I want to take about 2 to 3 months to travel across the country to several cities I danced in back in the 60's and 70's. I want to go to the burlesque theater locations to see if they are still standing, and if not, what is in their place. I also want to interview people who remember the theater there and possible former customers.

This documentary will be very interesting as it brings to life this lost era.

But equally important and a big theme I want to weave into this film will be the human element of strippers. I want to show where strippers are human too. So many in our society think of us as saturations of sex. Dancing is just a job to strippers. Like any other job. That I know and have known - nothing more.

My son, award winning independent filmmaker Jack Truman, is also the director of the film. He was raised as a child in that environment starting when he was 6 years old. So a big part of the film will be from a viewpoint angle of Jack's as a filmmaker in a Michael Moore style of filmmaking.

There will be interviews with my children as to their views on this type of life, and their feelings of being raised this way.

This film will be shot in a very personal way with the road trip, interviews with family, friends, strippers, celebrities who worked and grew up in that era, and people who remember that time. Everything combined will make for a great story of a unique documentary that only I can make.

Jack - Offs Taking Us Girls Out to Eat

Being a stripper draws you to many men who are after your body. Some people refer to them as "stage-door Johnnys". Most of us strippers back then referred to them as "jack-offs". We would get everything we could out of them without going to bed with them. One thing we could always count on was a free meal out of them anytime. They were always wanting to "take us out to eat".

It got to the point where it was better to be hungry or buy my own food. Most of the time when a "jack-off" would take me out to eat, he would just stare at me. No matter what I talked about, I could see him undressing me with his eyes.

It was good to have these guys around to pick up the tab for a lot of things such as food or clothes or whatever else I could think to use them. But for the most part, the aggravation of their presence was not worth it.

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

Help Make This Film Happen 

on INDIEGOGO:

Rejection: a Story from The Old Stripper

REJECTION:

From Thoughts of a Stripper: A Mother's Story

By Opal Dockery

JANUARY 31, 1974

Yes, all her life she had received rejection. Every place that she searched for love and human affection – she found – only in the long run – rejection – until – One thoughtful moment she realized that she was searching for love, strength, warmth, etc. in the wrong direction. She directed her thoughts to herself – which is her own true, personal Spirit. From that moment on she never searched again for love or worried about rejection. Because she had found love and acceptance in her own self. Once she respected herself enough to value her own personal standards – then she no longer needed to worry about what anyone else thought because she had truly found herself.

The inspirational autobiography

THOUGHTS OF A STRIPPER:

A Mother's Story

By Opal Dockery