Legend: Lili St. Cyr

Lili St. Cyr: Featured Legend of Red Hots Burlesque

Your ha-cha-cha legend this week is Lili St. Cyr!

LILI ST. CYR
Died Jan. 29, 1999

Before Marilyn Monroe there was Lili St. Cyr, a statuesque blonde bombshell with a mind for clever stripteases. In the ’50s she bumped Gypsy Rose Lee and other performers as the highest paid naked lady. St. Cyr, whose name Janet blesses in the pool scene of cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, was known for her reverse striptease where she would take a bubble bath on stage before slipping into opulent gowns. She was arrested for lewd and lascivious conduct for this number, but was found innocent by a jury after offering to perform the act for the court. She spent the later part of her life creating her own line of lingerie. For those of us that have always admired Elvira’s cleavage, we’ve got Lili St. Cyr to thank for that: Elvira wore a Lili St. Cyr bra to get the effect.