Toni Elling
The shining starlets of San Francisco burlesque have come together
to raise funds for three venerable living legends of burlesque:
Lottie the Body (Detroit), Toni Elling (Detroit) and
Holiday O'Hara (San Francisco).
Lottie, Toni and Holiday were all burlesque performers in the
1960s and will be guests of honor at this year's event in Las Vegas.
The proceeds for this benefit show will go towards 100% of their travel
costs to Las Vegas, and the remaining amount will be
donated directly to Exotic World.
Featured in this show is San Francisco treat Kitten on the Keys,
Seattle’s Miss Indigo Blue, the recently crowned Queen
of Carnival, Kelita of Hot Pink Feathers,
hosts of the Hubba Hubba Revue Kingfish and Eddie,
and the infamous Detroit expatriate, co-producer Sparkly Devil
(recently seen on LA INK). The show is co-produced by Douglas Good
and The Flying Fox of the monthly cabaret Little Minksy’s.
Toni Elling is a timeless beauty of breathtaking grace and style,
and a protege of Duke Ellington, her namesake. She danced around
the world throughout the 1960s, rubbing elbows with Sammy Davis Jr.
and Jack the Bellboy, and opening doors everywhere to other dancers of
color. In 2007, Toni stepped onto a stage for the first time in over 30
years and performed at the Legends Showcase of Exotic World.
2008 will mark her final performance before retiring for good.
Lottie the Body is the most celebrated and beloved exotic dancer
in the history of Motown. Known as Detroit's answer to Gypsy Rose Lee,
she performed around the globe, alongside such legends as Louis
Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Aretha Franklin.
Her legendary proportions, grace and style set her apart from the rest.
Today, she remains a beloved local celebrity and beloved fixture of
Detroit's rich jazz and cultural scene.
Blonde bombshell Holiday O'Hara was involved in Burlesque from
1968 through 1983. She performed from coast to coast and half-way
around the world until 1980, and was the Stage & Theatre Manager of
The Sutter St Theatre, San Francisco's last bastion of Burlesque,
until 1983. She performed at Exotic World 2007 to a standing
ovation, and returned to the stage again for the international
burlesque convention Tease-o-Rama. She is also a Certified Clinical
Hypnotherapist, a CA Certified Sex Educator, and published author.
Lottie the Body