Tales of a Tassel Dancer
Monday, June 30, 2008
Photo Courtesy of Satan’s AngelSatan’s Angel:
The Devil’s Own Mistress
And then she was hit by a truck.
Normally, that’s the end of the story, but in the personal history of Satan’s Angel, a collision with an eighteen-wheeler was an early plot twist. Dark and stormy nights came closer to the end of her tale, and in between, a narrative with so much spin I nearly fell off my bar stool. Or maybe it was the vodka and soda I should blame. I’d never tried a vodka and soda before, but that’s what Angel asked for, and I figured I might as well join her.
How I came to be sitting in a bar at the Palms Casino with a tassel dancer who once dated Clint Eastwood is a nice little Vegas tale in itself. I went to the Palms on a Thursday night for a Japanese sake tasting that raised money for the new Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in downtown Las Vegas. (Drinking for Alzheimer’s research sounds like good material for a stand-up routine, but that’s another story.)
As I came back inside the casino from the Palms pool area, feeling somewhat anesthetized by untold tiny sips of rice wine, I noticed that the line waiting to get into the Ghostbar nightclub was populated with quite a few ladies in outfits even more provocative than ordinary Vegas “club wear.” I’m talking extreme corsetry here, along with mile-long boas, stiletto heels, fishnet hose and feathered hats.
A brief conversation with a gentleman who noticed my curiosity revealed that I was observing talent in town for the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. When I left the casino that night, my wrist sported a red band that would gain me entrance to the 18th-annual Miss Exotic World Pageant on Saturday night. Ten minutes earlier, I had had no idea there was such a pageant; now suddenly I was a VIP attendee. I could say it was magic or serendipity, but really, it was just Vegas. I’m hardly even surprised when stuff like that happens anymore. I decided then and there that I’d go.
I arrived at the Palms Saturday afternoon having done a bit of sleuthing on the Web. I had only just begun admiring the vintage costumes displayed at the “Burlesque Bazaar” in the Key West Ballroom when I noticed two women watching a striptease routine on a DVD player.
Photo by Megan EdwardsSatan’s Angel, the Devil’s Own
Mistress & Burlesque Legend
“My dad and I had a derriere conversation by e-mail,” said the one with a mane of blonde curls. “I’d send him one … he’d send one back.”
The speaker turned out to be burlesque legend Satan’s Angel. After she agreed to chat with me, we set out in search of matches and alcohol. It took a lot longer than either of us expected—this is Sin City, after all—but eventually we found a bar with a vacant table and a waiter with a light.
Angel’s story is worthy of far more space than I can give it here. It began in San Francisco when Angel was still young enough to need a fake ID and just ballsy enough to enter an amateur strip contest in North Beach. The $100 prize exceeded the amount she was paid for two weeks of clerical work, and—a bit of a long story short—a star was born. “Satan’s Angel, the Devil’s Own Mistress,” famous for her “tassels of fire,” played not only North Beach, but cities all over the world including (yeah, you had to see this coming) Las Vegas.
The Rat Pack was more than a distant celebrity constellation to Angel. Sammy Davis Jr. once bought her a multi-diamond ring on her birthday because her boyfriend, David Janssen (yeah, the original “Fugitive”), was more interested in whiskey and golf. Angel dated Clint Eastwood, too, but never thought the two-bit TV star would really go anywhere.
“Can you believe that?” she asked me.
Well, yeah, I did, because it was Angel doing the talking and she had this cool honesty thing going on. It came out when a guy walked up to our table to admire Angel’s glasses. She chatted with him a moment, but then said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m being interviewed here.”
“You must get that all the time,” I said.
“Not really,” she said. “I’m old. And he was interested in my glasses.”
Shortly after it began, Angel’s career almost came to an abrupt end. On the road to Sacramento, a big rig plowed into her 1956 Indian motorcycle and the driver left her for dead. But although the accident cost her a movie contract with MGM, it did not take her life. Once the casts were off, Angel resumed her career as a dancer.
Of course, the trouble with careers that flaunt youth is that youth is so transitory. One dark—and, metaphorically, at least—stormy night in New Jersey, the first harbingers of doom came Angel’s way in a seedy nightclub. The dancer that preceded her revealed quite a bit more than Angel ever did. When a subsequent gig paired Angel with “Tootsie Roll,” who billed herself as an “insertion dancer” (sorry, I’m not going to explain further), Angel decided the exotic dancing scene had lost its class. She hung up her G-string and tassels for good.
Unfortunately, cocaine filled the vacuum created by her imploded career. If a Harley-riding friend hadn’t intervened and scared her straight, Angel might not have been around to be drinking vodka and soda with me at the Palms. The happy ending to the story is the revival of interest in “old time” burlesque. Instead of an over-the-hill has-been, Satan’s Angel is now a revered “legend.” If I had been a little more clued in to the whole scene, I could have seen her perform her world-famous “tassels of fire” act Friday night, when she “passed the torch” to Pyra Sutra, “Queen of the Blazing Bustier.”
I could have listened to Angel talk a lot longer, but afternoon was giving way to evening and it was time for the Miss Exotic World Pageant.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go queen up,” Angel said. She smiled. “We legends don’t clean up—we queen up.”
Photo by Megan EdwardsThe 2008 Miss Exotic World
Pageant at the Palms
And queen up they did. The pageant, which took place on an outdoor stage next to the Palms pool, was a five-hour extravaganza of classic burlesque featuring dancers from places as far-flung as Australia and Sweden. Sometime past midnight, the winner was announced: Angie Pontani, a burlesque star from Brooklyn, New York, who looked like she was 20-something.
But for me, the star of the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend was Satan’s Angel, who is 60-something. Thanks to her, I got a real feel for the strength it took to survive a tassel-dancing career, from diamond rings to the depths of despair and back again. Flaming pasties are undeniably eye-catching, but they’re gone in a flash. Glowing embers, on the other hand, bear witness to a real fire. You only get to tell the stories when you stick around for the endgame.
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All I can say is fabulous! I also had the honor of meeting this most amazing woman during the MEW weekend & I’m still starstuck. I found a new idol that weekend in the Devil’s Own Mistress. I cannot wait til the next time I will hopefully cross paths with this outstanding lady.
Great write-up, one that certainly does her justice, although as noted there isn’t enough space on this page for all that should and could be said!
FABULOUS ARTICLE. YOU GUYS DON’T KNOW THE HAVE OF IT. THAT’S OUR GIRL, ANGEL - WE LOVE HER AND MISS HER.
YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW AND BROTHER IN NJ.
Thanks for your comments — Megan is on the road this week in Denver. That was really a great event and we hope to reprise this article next year.
Thanks again,
Mark
Just wait for the book people………Personal I am having a had time waiting and I know her.
Isis Starr
Another olde Legend
Fascinating article, Megan!
Megan, great article! I adore this woman. If you ever get to interview her again, have her mix ya up some Margi’s and get in the pool. That way when you pee from laughing so hard at the stories, no one will know (or care). Love you Angel!!!
I happen to be that Harley riding friend… but she gives me far too much credit. She’s the one who did the hard work… I was just someone who loved her friend dearly and could not keep my mouth shut!! Does that sound familiar Angel? hahahaha
I love ya girl and I’m soooo happy you’re still doing so well. May God continue to bless and keep you. You’re still the best!!
Chris (still in the cornfields in Indiana)
MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG DANCER JUST STARTING OUT IN BURLEZK, AN OLD LEGEND AT THE TIME TOLD ME: LOVERS YOU CAN ALWAYS GET! BUT TRUE FRIENDS ARE HARD TO COME BY!
AND SO I SAY THANK YOU TO MY DEAR FRIENDS FOR THERE LOVELY COMMENTS. IT WAS FUN DOING THIS INTERVIEW, AND MEGAN WAS THE BEST! I WAS INTERVIEWWD SEVEN TIMES AT MEW08 AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I’VE SEEN SO FAR! YOU GET THIS ALL THE TIME AS A LEGEND, BUT NEVER SEE THE RESULTS! AND I THANK MARK AND MEGAN AND ALL THERE STAFF FOR THIS FABULOUS WRITE UP!
SIGNING OFF WITH ONE OF MARKS FAVE PHRASE’S…..
WITH BURNING GRATITUDE,
SATANS ANGEL
THE ORIGINAL QUEEN OF THE FIRE TASSELS
AND *THE DEVILS OWN MISTRESS*
LIVING LEGEND OF BURLEZK!
WHEW!
It’s really amazing that such a fabulous article came out of a happy accident. Great interview of a great woman.
Very nice article Megan. Angel is a true legend and one of the most amazing women I have ever met. I agree that the book will be a page turner for sure. She inspires many of us on a daily basis and I am eternally grateful! I love you girls!
Thanks so much for all your comments! My biggest regret is that I had too few words to tell a big story… It killed me to have to leave out how Terry Earp wrote a play about Angel’s life — “Have Tassels, Will Travel.” It was also great to meet Angel’s life partner Vic. As Miss KeiKei de Murre said above, “there isn’t enough space on this page for all that should and could be said.” So true! I’m joining Isis in waiting for the book.
I’ve known Angel for over 40 years, I guess….first encounter was when a friend of mine [whom I miss, since his passing in May] and I saw her performance at the old Palace Burlesk, in Buffalo. She shuffled in and out…but we had to live there!
Perhaps twice a year, Dave and I went out for an evening of beer and Buffalo Wings [before Peoria ever heard of them] at the Anchor Bar — followed by just a tad of rowdiness at the Palace. Our minds were fried one evening by this incredibly beautiful dancer — who could spin the tassels in OPPOSITE directions, fer Chrissake, then reverse them!!
Upon return home, we just HAD to tell the wives all about it, getting what you would mildly call a stern reaction. “You PIGS”, they cried!
Henceforth, Dave and I, along with anyone else we could find, would occasionally venture forth for still another “Pig NIght”….but never again to come home with tales of a dancer like Angel…[and the sense not to rave to the wives about it, anyway]!
Segue’ about 40 years to a new century, when I asked a question of a mobile home’s seller on eBay….to rediscover this beautiful, wonderful, and totally charming old school broad…who remembers the old Palace Burlesk in Buffalo!
That’s right: BOFFO in BOF’LO!!
What a privilege to have been able to correspond with her for the past few years, as she returned to the life she loved and commanded! I am truly a lucky guy for knowing her, sharing most of her social and political views and hoping someday to be able to meet Angel and Vic in person.
My secret fantasy du jour? I want to see her slap BHO silly with those things, preferably while they’re on fire!!
God bless, every one! Thanks Angel, for sending me the link; and thanks, Megan, for some wonderful writing. Wish there were more…..
After several months I am back on the internet and when I spoke to Angel on the phone last week she told me about this interview and the write up so I couldn’t wait to read it. It’s the best write up I have personally seen on her yet and I was tickled to death with it.
Angel is my very best friend, she was my maid of honor when my partner and I were joined, Vic performed our ceremony and we spent the whole weekend getting to know one another and sharing stories and good times. SInce then we haven’t been able to reconnect in person but I never give up hope on that day coming.
Angel is one of a kind, a great lady, a marvelous dancer and I too am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting on that book release. Congrats baby girl on this great story about you and thanks Megan for writing it.
Thanks for the story, it inspired me to mention my mum who was ‘Miss Fluffles - the worlds greatest tassle dancer”. Coming from London in the 60’s, her act consisted of starting up her engines (the top two tassles) and then proceeded to get the other two going (which were on her bottom) - she eventually had all four tassles going at the same time - something I believe nobody was doing at the time.
Four tassles going at once — an pretty impressive feat! Thanks for sharing that memory and mental image with us!
—LLV Publisher
WELL, ACTUALLY I HAD BEEN IN THE BUSINESS PROBABLY A YEAR (1961), WHEN I WAS WORKING THE MOULIN ROUGE IN NORTH BEACH, IN SAN FRANCISCO. I MET THIS OLDER EXOTIC (I LAUGH NOW) SHE WAS ABOUT 35, AND SHE ASKED ME WHAT I DID FOR MY SIGNATURE ACT. I TOLD HER I TWIRLED FIVE TASSELS AT ONCE (HAVE A VIDEO OF ME DOING THEM ALL FROM THE 1970′S SHOW *MINSKY’S* BURLESQUE) SHE SAID : HMPH! BEEN DONE WAY TO MUCH! I SAID, YOUR KIDDING! SHE SAID TO ME YOU NEED A REAL GIMMICK! I LOOKED AT HER, AND SAID IN A SARCASTIC TONE! MAKE YA HAPPY IF I SET THEM ON FIRE????? THEN I THOUGHT….GOOD IDEA, BEEN DOING THEM EVER SINCE! TURA SATANA, SALLY KEITH, MISS FLUFFIES ETC, THERE WERE A FEW OF US DOING 4-5 TASSELS! RIGHT NOW THE BEST 4-5 TASSEL TWIRLER FOR THIS, IN THE NEW ERA OF BURLESQUE, MISS *INDIGO BLUE* AKA: TWIRLY GIRL! HOPE THIS GAVE YA ALL SOME INFO ON TASSEL TWIRLING!
FROM YOUR FIERY TWIRLYNESS,
SATANS ANGEL
LEGEND OF BURLEZK