Once a relic of the past, earthy art form sees a revival

From the turn of the century until the 1960s, the city was home to several burlesque houses. In downtown Boston, there was the Gaiety Theatre and Minsky's Park Burlesque on Washington Street. Burlesque performers also graced the stages of the Columbia Theatre in the South End, and, most famously, at the Old Howard in Scollay Square. Back when Scollay Square was a bustling entertainment district, burlesque was performed under the watch of city censors. Whenever the vice squad walked through the doors, performers quickly toned down their acts and switched to what they called the "Boston version."

Burlesque had come a long way from its origins hundreds of years ago. The word dates back to the 17th century and comes from a French term meaning comic or droll and the Spanish word burla, which means mockery or joke. Early burlesque included literary pieces and theatrical works that poked fun at people and issues of the day.

In the late 19th century, a new wave of burlesque comedy began appearing on American stages. It became a showcase for low-brow humor, chorus girls, and other variety acts, as well as bare-bellied (cooch) dancers, who shimmied in skimpy costumes. Working-class men, college boys, and servicemen flocked to see them.

While mainstream vaudeville productions continued to appeal to family audiences, some American burlesque shows began to get more racy. Burlesque promoters created their own touring circuits in the early 20th century, separate from vaudeville.

Today, there are no burlesque theaters in Boston. The Gaiety Theatre was demolished in 2005. The Park Theatre was razed in 1990. The Old Howard was closed by city censors in 1953, and burned down mysteriously in 1961. The rest of Scollay Square was reduced to rubble in the name of urban renewal to make way for Boston City Hall.

But that hasn't stopped burlesque from making a comeback. In recent years, a neo-burlesque movement has been pioneered by young women who perform tassel-twirling moves and dance routines inspired by the burlesque acts of the '20s, '30s, and '40s. Several of these modern-day burlesque troupes will convene in Cambridge tomorrow to kick off the Great Boston Burlesque Exposition and Vintage Fashion Fair.

The three-day event features shows, workshops, and a panel discussion with such famed performers as Lily Ann Rose, a Cambridge native who danced in Scollay Square in the '40s and '50s and was once arrested for appearing topless on stage. The Cambridge City Council recently passed a resolution proclaiming April 10 as "Lily Ann Rose Day."

The Great Boston Burlesque Expo runs from tomorrow through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency, 575 Memorial Drive in Cambridge. For more information, visit www.Burlesque-Expo.com.