"This work reveals the often racy, ribald, and sexually charged nature of the vaudeville stage, looking at an array of provocative performers from disrobing dancers to nude posers to skimpily dressed athletes. Examining the ways in which big-time vaudeville nonetheless managed to market itself as pure, safe, and morally acceptable, this work compares the industry's marketing and promotional practices to those of other emergent mass-markets of the vaudeville era." "Important figures from the vaudeville stage such as Annette Kellerman and Eva Tanguay are presented in depth. The work provides an historical context for understanding these performers and appreciating their rebelliousness. It discusses censorship and content control, and concludes with an analysis of the role of the cinema in the fall of vaudeville. Many photographs, cartoons, and other illustrations are included."--BOOK JACKET.