Alexandra The Great 48 on Blogger: August 2019

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend Celebrates Past and Present

Las Vegas Welcome sign

During her 15 years as a burlesque performer, Alexandra the Great 48 headlined shows across the world. The striking woman once stopped traffic in Honolulu while walking around in costume. Alexandra the Great 48 performed to crowds of up to 3,000 before retiring to become a beautician and start her own line of beauty products. She was a major star in a performance style that is celebrated and studied by the Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHoF).

The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend is an annual fundraiser for the BHoF. The four-day event is packed full of performances and events honoring the rich past and present of burlesque entertainment. This year, the event was held in June in Las Vegas, where the BHoF is located.

The weekend kicked off with a celebration of today’s burlesque performers. The Movers, Shakers and Innovators Showcase featured contemporary acts from all over the world. The following day went back to the past: The 62nd Annual Titans of Tease Showcase honored the stars of the Golden Age of burlesque (through 1970). Next up was the 29th Annual Tournament of Tease, which culminated in the crowning of Frankie Fictitious as Miss Exotic World. The weekend wrapped up with the Icons and All Stars Showcase, combining past and present burlesque stars.

Alexandra the Great 48 was a prominent star within the international burlesque world during the late 1950’s , 60’’s, and 70’s She received acclaim in part for her physique, with measurements of 48-25-42, and was also inducted into the Burlesque Hall of Fame. In her later years, Alexandra the Great 48 worked as a make up artist for Universal Studios and she developed and sold her own line of innovative skin and beauty products until her death.

Before assuming her stage name for her unique figure, she was Geraldine “Gerri” Paredes. Her parents, who were based in St. Louis, were also in show business. Her father worked as a bandleader, and her mother was a singer. This helped her launch her career, and the actress Rose la Rose soon took her under her wing, training her in the art of burlesque stripping at her club, the Town Hall, located in Toledo, Ohio. Of the experience, she said, “She [Rose] taught me only part of what I knew. I learned the rest, and it didn’t take long. Believe me, you find out quickly what an audience wants.”

Bearing a strong resemblance to Sophia Loren, she began to perform around the world as a headliner, with a focus on Hawaii. She worked alongside such famous performers as Tempest Storm, April March, Blaze Starr, and Sally Rand. Today, vintage photos of her performances, as well as video interviews, can be found across the internet.