2020-12-09 Preliminary Inventory of the Dusty Sage Papers, 1920s-2017 SPEC.TRI.0074 Finding aid prepared by Sam Devereaux; Courtney Bishop Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2020 May; 2020 November This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-05-07T13:47-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Dusty Sage Papers SPEC.TRI.0074 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 6.57 Cubic feet 1920s-2017 As of 2020, Dusty Sage is a retired burlesque dancer who was active in Hollywood during the 1960s. In 2016, she published a book, "Burlesque In a Nutshell: Girls, Gimmicks & Gags," outlining her experiences and documenting stories of burlesque dancers from the 1920s to the 1950s. The Dusty Sage Papers contains black and white photographs of burlesque theaters, performers, and performances. Also included are burlesque magazines, programs, advertisement clippings, and scrapbooks used in research for Sage's book. Dusty Sage's burlesque gown and accessories are also included. Materials date 1920s-2017. (3) oversize flat boxes; (1) 5" letter document box; (1) oversize document box; (1) card box; (1) costume box English Sage, Dusty Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. TRI.2019.0051: Dusty Sage, 2020 November

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Dusty Sage Papers, SPEC.TRI.0074, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains color slides.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Sam Devereaux, 2020 May; Courtney Bishop, 2020 November

 Biographical Note

As of 2020, Dusty Sage is a retired burlesque dancer who was active in Hollywood during the 1960s. In her 2016 book, “Burlesque in a Nutshell: Girls, Gimmicks & Gags,” she outlines her own experiences and documents the stories of burlesque dancers from the 1920s to the 1950s. The book includes a chapter about Morton Minsky and his brothers, owners of burlesque theaters in New York City from 1912-1937.

 Scope and Contents

The Dusty Sage Papers contains black and white photographs, both reprints and originals, of burlesque theaters, performers, and performances. Also included are burlesque magazines, programs, advertisement clippings, film stills, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and lecture and speech notes used in research for Sage's book, "Burlesque in a Nutshell: Girls, Gimmicks & Gags." Dusty Sage's burlesque gown and accessories worn for performances are also included. Materials date 1920s-2017.

 Related Materials

Additional books and audio recordings that were donated by Dusty Sage can be found in the Ohio State University Libraries catalog.

 Sage, Dusty Advertisements Black-and-white photographs Burlesque (Theater)--United States--History--20th century Burlesque (Theater)--United States--Research--20th century Burlesque (Theater)--United States--Research--21st century Burlesque in a nutshell: Girls, gimmicks & gags Dance costume Magazines (periodicals) Programs (documents) Scrapbooks Stripteasers--United States--20th century Women authors, American--21st century Accession No. TRI.2019.0051 6.57 Cubic feet 1920s-2017 (3) oversize flat boxes; (1) 5" letter document box; (1) oversize document box; (1) card box; (1) costume box Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains color slides.

 Scope and Contents

Accession No. TRI.2019.0051 contains black and white photographs, both reprints and originals, of burlesque theaters, performers, and performances. Burlesque magazines, programs, advertisement clippings, scrapbooks, and film stills are also included. Research for Sage's book, "Burlesque In a Nutshell: Girls, Gimmicks & Gags" including clippings, correspondence, lecture and speech notes are included as well. The book outlines Sage's experiences and documents stories of burlesque dancers from the 1920s to the 1950s. Her burlesque gown and accessories that she wore for burlesque dances are included as well. Materials date 1920s-2017.

 "Cavalcade of Burlesque" magazines Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1951-1954 Detroit, Michigan comics and strippers photograph album Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940-1941 “Michael P. Iannucci presents Ann Corio in This Was Burlesque” program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1960s "Cabaret" magazine Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1957 April Burlesque shows photographs Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s Burlesque theaters postcards and photograph prints and reprints; article clipping Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1923, 1940s, 2000s Rand (Sally) photographs and reprints Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s, 2010s "Chorus Queens or Private Lives of the Hotcha Chorus Girls" booklet Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1937 “Bravo Burlesque!” program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s Burlesque photographs and reprints Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s, 2000s “Legends of Burlesque” booklet Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 late 1990s “Burlesque in Harlem” flyer Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1980s “Gilded Girl” photograph Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1937 November 1 “High Button Shoes” program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1950s Burlesque program; ventriloquist burlesque admittance card Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1930s "Burlesque in a Nutshell: Girls, Gimmicks, & Gags" burlesque advertisements from 1920s-1930s collage Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 circa 2016 Burlesque advertisements and clippings Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s “Striparama” magazine Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1963 “Star and Garter” souvenir program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1940s “Sugar Babies” program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 1960s Sage (Dusty) in burlesque gown photograph Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 2017 “Minsky’s slides” Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.001 circa 1979 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Color slides Minsky (Morton) photograph; speech Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1937, undated Passenger list; New York University Club membership dinner reservation confirmation, activities calendar, correspondence, and clippings Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 circa 1979 Part of a three-part endurance test essay; press releases; Gotham Theatre ticket; notes for a talk and lecture Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1936, undated “The Night They Raided Minsky’s” film stills Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 circa 1968 Slide inventory Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 circa 1979 Minsky articles and clippings; speech notes Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 undated NYU Mermoz lecture and other materials for talent show Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 circa 1979 Minsky (Morton) correspondence; clippings Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1978-1979 Hagan (Billy) and Anna Toebe photographs; “Follies” burlesque program; Billy Hagen registration card copy Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1920s-1931, 2000s Photograph replicas of circa 1930s burlesque ephemera, buildings, and Minsky Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 2000s Reprint photographs of the four Minsky brothers (from Morton Minsky’s personal slides); Minsky’s program Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1960, 2000s "Life" magazine Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1937 May 31, 1960 May 2 “Fortune” publication Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1935 February Cartwright (Bob and Vanessa) scrapbook of theatre advertisements Accession No. TRI.2019.0051.002 1940s-1950s Cartwright (Bob and Vanessa) personal scrapbook 5 1 1950s Minsky (Morton) attaché 4 1 1940s Pink sequin burlesque gown with pink and white feathers, beaded tassels, and accessories 2 1 3 1-5 1 1 1960s Scope and Contents

Accessories include: pink feather boa with note, bra, thong, necklace, and (2) wrist cuffs