Boylesk!

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Because of much confusion in the burlesque world about what male burlesque is, I made this historical site.

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"Boylesk" is the art of using dancing, lighting, sets, music and the removing of the costume to create a heightened illusion of masculinity and male sexuality as entertainment. although it has its roots in female burlesque and vaudeville and boylesk venues often booked acts combining drag and comedy it as has a unique identity outside of these theatrical art forms. This page is an attempt to provide male burlesque a place to share photos and history. Eugene Sandow became the first nude male superstar in the 1890s. He exhibited himself with a fig leaf as a physical culturist. in 1912 an "afternoon of a faun" premieres in paris. the audience is shocked by Nijinsky's missing dance belt. The beginning of male burlesque was born in Paris music halls like the Lido in the 1930s, but the male dancers were in duos doing apache and flamenco acts as accessories to the women. In the 1950s underground venues like New York's "Club 82" had solo male strippers, one of these strippers was Jay Garvin and was documented in the film "Pink Narcissus". The formative era of Boylesk was from 1965 to 1985. Boylesk has evolved in many directions and hybrids since then and is still strutting his stuff.
- Marquis de Marquees