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Lili St. CyrFamous American burlesque stripper
Date of Birth: 03.06.1918
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Lily St. Cyr
Lily St. Cyr was a well-known American burlesque stripper who was married six times. Her most famous husbands included motorcycle racer Cordy Milne, musical comedy actor and former ballet artist Paul Valentine, restaurateur Armando Orsini, and actor Ted Jordan. St. Cyr was born as Willis Marie Van Schaack on June 3, 1918, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She started taking ballet lessons during her youth and began dancing professionally in Hollywood. She initially had to beg a club manager for a solo performance opportunity. Eventually, fate led her to the "Music Box" club in San Francisco, where she became part of the "Duncan Sisters" act. It was here that Lily realized that the salary of a dancer was only a small part of a burlesque star's earnings. Throughout the 1940s and most of the 1950s, St. Cyr performed striptease acts with Gypsy Rose Lee and Ann Corio. Although information about Lily's life is quite obscure, the tabloids of the 1950s constantly reported on her numerous husbands, scandals, and suicide attempts.
Notable Performances
One of Lily's signature acts was called "The Flying G," during which workers on stage would pull her panties with a fishing rod at the end. Many of her other performances were also memorable, including acts such as "The Wolf Woman," "Afternoon of a Faun," "The Ballet Dancer," "In a Persian Harem," and "The Chinese Virgin." In the act "Suicide," Lily would attempt to seduce a wandering lover by showcasing her body, while in "Jungle Goddess," she would appear to make love to a parrot.
Controversies and Legal Battles
Becoming one of the most famous women in Montreal in the late 1940s, St. Cyr faced condemnation from the Catholic clergy of Quebec, claiming that a "sexual frenzy" permeated the theater whenever Lily danced. The Public Morality Committee supported the protests of the clergy, which led to Lily's arrest and accusations of "immoral, indecent, and unseemly" behavior. Although she was acquitted, the authorities eventually closed Gayety Theatre, where she performed. While performing the act "Anatomic Bomb" at Hollywood's "Ciro's" club, Lily received a court summons from a customer who deemed her actions obscene and lascivious. In court, St. Cyr argued that her actions were actually refined and elegant. She detailed how her dress slipped off, then she put on a hat, followed by removing her bra and donning a negligee. She then discreetly undressed and immersed herself in a jacuzzi before coming out somewhat dressed again. After her testimony, newspapers reported, "The defense rested, as did everyone else." St. Cyr was acquitted.
Later Life and Legacy
Lily was also known as a photogenic beauty, particularly in photographs taken by Bruno Bernard, known in professional circles as "Hollywood Bernard." He was the leading glamour photographer of Hollywood's golden era. Bruno claimed that St. Cyr became his favorite model and referred to her as his muse. After retiring from the stage, Lily remained connected to lingerie, even designing costumes for striptease. Her catalogs included photographs or drawings with detailed descriptions of each model. In her final years, St. Cyr lived in obscurity and seclusion, caring for her cats.
Lily St. Cyr passed away on January 29, 1999, in Los Angeles. She did not have any children.
