Weekly Burlesque: Got Pollys?

A Costume Fitting at Garo

The longer I’ve performed, the more serious I’ve gotten about dedicating a pair of shoes to a costume and not wearing them with anything else, no matter how strong the temptation.

Once you cannibalize a costume for another costume, you begin the descent into costume hell — “Is the whole costume in the bag?” is not a question you want to be asking in a dressing room right before a show, or even on the subway on the way to the venue.

The longer I’ve performed, the more serious I’ve gotten about dedicating a pair of shoes to a costume and not wearing them with anything else, no matter how strong the temptation.

Once you cannibalize a costume for another costume, you begin the descent into costume hell — “Is the whole costume in the bag?” is not a question you want to be asking in a dressing room right before a show, or even on the subway on the way to the venue.

I dedicated a pair of very special shoes to my Sherry Britton tribute, and even though they were wrong for the era, I knew that Sherry would approve.

A Costume Fitting at Garo's

When I very first started dancing in strip joints (1981? it’s all so fuzzy), I saw some of the dancers wearing amazing wood- and metal-heeled mules. I loved them, but the heels weren’t high enough for me.

I was, in my late teens, excruciatingly self-conscious about being only five feet tall; plus, I drank a lot, which meant I could wear excruciatingly high heels without feeling the excruciation.

I now could care less about my height, and I don’t drink, so my feet hurt pretty much all the time. I am so willing to rock those shoes now, and thank goodness, they are still available.

These are Pollys, and they have a history.

“These mules, with their laminated plywood platform and high heels, were first advertised in Frederick’s of Hollywood catalogs in the Spring of 1961, selling for $15.99.”
From Polly of California Glamour Mules.

The inspiration for my newest incarnation of my Pollys fixation is Bambi the Mermaid, who wears Pollys almost constantly.

Bunny and Bambi on the cruise at the 2006 New York Burlesque Festival
Bambi and Bunny at Coney Island 2008
Bambi performing at Exotic World in the lobster costume I made for her. Photo by Minitor
Bambi at Coney Island Benefit | Photo by Jo Weldon

Bambi at Exotic World, 2008, making the wind her bitch | Photo by Pepper.

Buy Pollys at Patricia Field

– Jo Weldon

Jo Weldon is Headmistress of the award-winning New York School of Burlesque and is a regular burlesque performer. Visit burlesquedaily.blogspot.com to read her daily blog.