Many burlesque performers do tribute acts. I have one, a tribute to Marlene Dietrich simply called Marlene Dietrich Tribute Act. The idea is to capture that sexy nonchalance and transgender sexuality Dietrich oozes.
While researching Marlene, I found one of my favorite actresses Carol Channing doing a satirical imitation of Marlene. It´s hysterical I just love it!
Carol Channing was cast as Lorelei Lee in the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefers Blondes, before it was turned in to a movie starring Marilyn Monroe, as the golden Lorelei. Channing was also the original Dolly in Hello Dolly. She has had a great acting career and has won many prizes. If you have not seen her you are in for a treat. This is what she has to say about her first encounter with the theatre, I found it very inspiring and to be quite true.
Channing was introduced to the stage while working for her mother. In a 2005 interview with the Austin Chronicle, Channing recounted this experience:
“My mother said, ‘Carol, would you like to help me distribute Christian Science Monitors backstage at the live theatres in San Francisco?’ And I said, ‘All right, I’ll help you.’ I don’t know how old I was. I must have been little. We went through the stage door alley (for the Curran Theatre), and I couldn’t get the stage door open. My mother came and opened it very well. Anyway, my mother went to put the Monitors where they were supposed to go for the actors and the crew and the musicians, and she left me alone. And I stood there and realized – I’ll never forget it because it came over me so strongly – that this is a temple. This is a cathedral. It’s a mosque. It’s a mother church. This is for people who have gotten a glimpse of creation and all they do is recreate it. I stood there and wanted to kiss the floorboards.”
A toast to a remarkable, amazing and talented actress!!!
