Phyllis Dixey
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Dixey was a British singer, dancer and impresario
. Her earlier career was as a singer in variety shows in Britain. During World War II
, she joined ENSA
and entertained the British forces. She sang, recited and posed in naked tableaux
for them, which were very popular.
In 1942 she formed her own company of girls and rented the Whitehall Theatre in London
to put on a review called The Whitehall Follies. This was the first striptease
show put on in the West End
of London, but not the first show to have nude studies as the Windmill reviews were already in existence. She stayed at the Whitehall for the next five years producing the Peek-a-boo reviews. Her performance was at the time considered artistic and she thought that it was an art form, although the mostly male audience doubtless had other thoughts. She was known as the "Queen of Striptease".
. It was written by Philip Purser
.
Cemetery was restored by the British Music Hall Society.
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
. Her earlier career was as a singer in variety shows in Britain. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she joined ENSA
Entertainments National Service Association
The Entertainments National Service Association or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes...
and entertained the British forces. She sang, recited and posed in naked tableaux
Tableau vivant
Tableau vivant is French for "living picture." The term describes a striking group of suitably costumed actors or artist's models, carefully posed and often theatrically lit. Throughout the duration of the display, the people shown do not speak or move...
for them, which were very popular.
In 1942 she formed her own company of girls and rented the Whitehall Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to put on a review called The Whitehall Follies. This was the first striptease
Striptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
show put on in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
of London, but not the first show to have nude studies as the Windmill reviews were already in existence. She stayed at the Whitehall for the next five years producing the Peek-a-boo reviews. Her performance was at the time considered artistic and she thought that it was an art form, although the mostly male audience doubtless had other thoughts. She was known as the "Queen of Striptease".
Film and theatre
She appeared in two films Love up the Pole in 1936 and Dual Alibi in 1946. In 2009, a play about Dixey was staged at the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield called Barely Phyllis. Her life was portrayed in the 1978 British TV-movie The One and Only Phyllis Dixey, in which she was played by Lesley-Anne DownLesley-Anne Down
Lesley-Anne Down is a British film and television actress, former model and singer.Down achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
. It was written by Philip Purser
Philip Purser
Philip Purser is a British television critic and novelist.A contributor to the News Chronicle in the 1950s, he was television critic of The Sunday Telegraph from its launch in 1961 until he was sacked in 1987 by Peregrine Worsthorne, the then editor...
.
Last years
By 1947 the tastes of the London audience had changed, and Phyllis Dixey was forced to return to the provinces. She was not able to adapt to the direction that the public required. leaving the stage, in the late 1950s, bankrupt.Posthumous
In 2005 Dixey's grave in Epsom and EwellEpsom and Ewell
Epsom and Ewell is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England, covering the town of Epsom and the village of Ewell. The borough was formed as an urban district in 1894, and was known as Epsom until 1934. It was made a municipal borough in 1937...
Cemetery was restored by the British Music Hall Society.