Miss Nude Universe 1975 Tiffany Carter opens up about her Hollywood life, being arrested, and whether you really need a gimmick?
Image by Olena Sullivan
How was Tiffany carter born professionally?
I went to an agent in Hollywood named Cora Lee who told me that if I wanted to do burlesque I would need a new, more glamorous name. “I don’t have a Tiffany, how about Tiffany?” she said, and that was it! For a long time I was just known as Tiffany but as I got more successful and started to travel the time came where I had to add a second name. I was in Boston, headlining at the World famous 2 o”clock Lounge. I noticed that they has billed me as”Tiffany Carter“and when I asked why, they replied, “You look Irish!” The name just stuck.Years later I became very close friends with another dancer who eventually became my mentor named Angel Carter! Fate has its ways.
How important was it for you to stand out amongst other performers?
At first it wasn’t important to me, my aim was just to become one of the best. I used to go up on Sunset Blvd and see such beauties as Angel Carter, Tura Satana and Delilah Jones and I aspired to be as talented as they where. Once I started touring in 1971 I realised that if I wanted to be as good as my idols, my acts would need to become more individual. I create most of my acts through dreaming them. I come up with the idea in my head when I’m sleeping and when I wake up I make it a reality.
Tiffany Carter performing in the Montreal Burlesque Festival Image by Chris Hutcheson
Did you ever expect that you would be able to travel the world,working and having the experiences you have had?
No, and I am not finished yet! I’m headed to Austin, Texas in April for the festival there and I’m hoping to work in Europe some day.
Tiffany Carter, Hollywood, 1972
What is the best/worst experiences you’ve had on stage?
The worst was in Newport, Kentucky, at a little club called The Brass Ass, then owned by a guy named Vance Riley who was good friends with the owner of Hustler Magazine, Larry Flynt. There wasn’t a lot of protection given to the girls, if there was a problem sometimes you had to handle it yourself, (this was a problem in many places) One night a drunk was being very obnoxious and roudy, so I just jumped off the stage and hit him over the head with a beer bottle! I was a wild crazy red head at times!
Miss Nude Universe 1975
What is the biggest misconception in burlesque past or present?
Believe me it wasn’t all glamour and glitter, there were some hard dues paid and many hard times. I hated working theatres as the men in the front rows always exposed themselves and I was arrested several times, and did 90 days in the county jail in late 70s’.
A lot of performers today work another job in the daytime and just do burlesque as a hobby. Not as many are doing it as a full time career as we did. Some do depending on how well known they become or if they win pageants. It’s a lot of hard work and like the old saying goes “You gotta have a gimmick,” that is true today more than ever.
In the past 15 years or more through the resurgence of the art form, there’s been a need for the older generation to still be seen, acknowledged and perform, how does that make you feel?
Its very exciting, and I feel so blessed to be appreciated by so many, the response I still receive when I goon stage amazes me. I’ve been lucky enough to be featured in many great artists work including Scooter Harris and Rod North who just recently finished another epic painting of me. I love the fact that people still ask if I”m performing at events such as the Burlesque Hall of Fame, and that some many great photographers have taken photos of my performances. I love teaching and giving back to the new generation, and I’ve recently had the opportunity to do some fun stuff creating group numbers.
Any advice for the younger generation looking to make it a career in burlesque?
Yes, get all the knowledge you can from the legends because they’ve been there and seen and done it all! Pick and choose your teachers wisely, if you’re going to take classes, look at their history, their performances and check their credentials. Invest in beautiful costumes, be very creative,and remember, it’s not the audience you need to please, its yourself. If you are happy onstage it comes through and it shows. I know some people don’t like competitions but they can be a great experience whether you loose or win as even loosing can help you gain in the end. Keep up the good work and smile a lot!
Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans?
First of all I I’d like to thank all the promoters who have booked a legend at their event, we really appreciate it, its having the opportunity to work with these beautiful young performers that keeps us going!!! I have been the first legend at many festivals and I hope that I paved the way for more!
