Let's Burlesque Podcast: The Legends, The Histories, The Scandals
Burlesque is an art form that has been around for nearly 200 years. Although its popularity has wavered in recent generations, it still thrives throughout the U.S. One person actively working with reviving Burlesque is podcaster, burlesque dancer, Instructor, Cosmetologist, and Trichologist Megan Bay.
Meagan, whose burlesque name is Mae December, works tirelessly to elevate Burlesque dancing to its former glory, starting with the Kansas City area. One of Meagan’s most valuable tools is her podcast, Let’s Burlesque.
Meagan tells us that, “Let’s Burlesque is a show about all things in the sparkly world of burlesque! We talk about the Legends, the history, current events and controversies. True crime and current happenings.”
The podcast began in January 2025 and, so far, has covered Burlesque stars such as Betty Rowland, Princess Lahoma, Thida Loy, and Sammy Davis’s roots in Vaudeville.
Meagan Bay confides:”My burlesque name is Mae December, so I only go by that name in burly circles. I have been a cosmetologist for almost 11 years, and I’ve done burlesque since 2021 in Colorado. I’ve always been a fan though, and I have a deep appreciation for history, so learning the history of my art was important to me.”
Meagan AKA Mae December — continues: “My husband, who is also a performer, and I listen to a lot of podcasts. The only burlesque one I really listen to is Viktor Devonne Weburlesque, so I felt a podcast about burlesque legends was an important thing to do.”
When we asked how she started the podcast, Meagan confessed: “I tried to find someone with experience producing, but I couldn’t so I just bought a program and some mics and figured it out.”
“It’s been a learning process, and I know it is getting better with every episode,” Meagan says, and after listening to all the episodes, I agree.
American burlesque shows were originally an offshoot of Victorian burlesque. The English genre had been successfully staged in New York from the 1840s, and it was popularized by a visiting British burlesque troupe, Lydia Thompson and the “British Blondes”, beginning in 1868. New York burlesque shows soon incorporated elements and the structure of the popular minstrel shows. They consisted of three parts: first, songs and ribald comic sketches by low comedians; second, assorted olios and male acts, such as acrobats, magicians, and solo singers; and third, chorus numbers and sometimes a burlesque in the English style on politics or a current play. An exotic dancer or a wrestling or boxing match usually concluded the entertainment.
By the early 20th century, two national circuits of burlesque shows had emerged, competing with the vaudeville circuit, as well as resident companies in New York. The strippers gradually supplanted the singing and dancing soubrettes; by 1932, there were at least 150 strip principals in the US.
Star strippers included Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee, Tempest Storm, Lili St. Cyr, Blaze Starr, Ann Corio and Margie Hart, who was celebrated enough to be mentioned in song lyrics by Lorenz Hart and Cole Porter.
By the late 1930s, burlesque shows would have up to six strippers supported by one or two comics and a master of ceremonies. Comics who appeared in burlesque early in their careers included Fanny Brice, Mae West, Abbott and Costello, W. C. Fields, Jackie Gleason, Danny Thomas, Phil Silvers, Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye, and Red Skelton.
I did some research and found precious little on Burlesque in podcasting. A podcast called The Pastie Tapes ran for 45 episodes, ending in 2021. The show had nuggets of wisdom and insights through thoughtful questions and engaging dialogue with host and producer Siomai Moore. Currently, there is a terrific podcast that combines cat lovers with Burlesque in New York City called Tails And Tassels.
The best way to describe the Tails And Tassels podcast is to allow the creator / host Gemma Smith to tell you herself. “Hello, kitty cats! Welcome to Tails and Tassels. I’m your host, Gemma Smith, and I’m passionate about growing a com-mew-nity of cat-loving creatives. By day, I’m a manager at a Kitten Nursery in New York City, and by night, I host the Catbaret, my cat-themed variety show!”
Meagan explains her take on Burlesque in podcasting this way: “A show about all things in the sparkly world of burlesque! We talk about the Legends, the history, current events, and controversies. True crime and current happenings. In each episode, burlesque performers and industry figures reveal their burlesque origin story, tease with tales from behind the scenes, and strip down to the naked truth of life on stage.”
There is a lot to like about this podcast, the subject notwithstanding. First, co-hosts Meagan — aka Mae December — and Creme De Violence made a strong team, sharing a sharp wit, a zest for fun, a curiosity about burlesque history and its stars, and a playful chemistry. As Indie podcasters with no “mic” experience, they are superb.
Meagan explains: “Creme and I met through my first round of teaching at Kansas City Burlesque Academy. She was a student and became a friend. Iona Fortune and I actually met via Facebook. She’s got an incredible history website, and I asked her to come on the show. When Creme needed to step away, she stepped up to the job.”
Episodes vary in length from approximately 40 minutes to one hour, which suggests that runtimes should be based on content, rather than some arbitrary rule that equates episode length with value.
Let’s Burlesque is yet another example of a superb independent podcast and an entrepreneurial, kick-ass podcaster, Meagan Bay. I highly recommend you listen to the show.
In case you are wondering, a Trichologist studies hair and scalp. If you’ve seen my profile picture, you'll notice that I've taken a photo of myself with my exposed scalp. The hair part is history. Meagan, please help!
***************************************************************************************