Materials are arranged in the order created.
Accession No. TRI.2019.0053: Ambrosia Minge, 2020 February.
[identification of item], Satan's Angel Fire Tassels and Patent Drawings, SPEC.TRI.0075, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University
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Fire tassel poms should not be shown in exhibits and must be concealed behind the pasties prior to exhibiting. Tassels may be viewed and handled in the reading room. Researchers will be provided a copy of the Special Collections Handling Policy, informing them of their responsibilities under U.S. Copyright Law. As a term of the donor agreement, researchers will be informed that taking photographs or making sketches of the materials are prohibited. Schematics of the tassels may not be displayed on exhibit, but are available for viewing in the reading room. As a term of the donor agreement, researchers will be informed that making copies of the schematics is prohibited.
Processed by: Courtney Bishop, 2020 February; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2024 October
Angel Cecelia Helene Walker (1944-2019), better known by her stage name Satan's Angel, the Devil's Own Mistress, Queen of the Fire Tassels (Satan's Angel for short) was a burlesque dancer who began dancing in San Francisco nightclubs in 1961; she also played bass in an all girl topless cover band in North Beach, California. Satan's Angel's signature act was to light her tassels on fire and extinguish the flames by "strenuous mammary rotation." She performed in Las Vegas and toured the world with her act from the 1970s-mid 1980s. Satan's Angel retired from burlesque dancing in 1985, but came out of retirement in 2002 for select performances, and to give classes in burlesque and fire tassel twirling.
Satan's Angel Fire Tassels and Patent Drawings includes two original prototype tassel sets created by Satan's Angel. The center of each tassel has a cotton wick bound with wire attached by a ball chain to the pastie. The pasties are star-shaped and covered in gold sequins, with an adhesive backing. The pasties are intended to be adhered to the performer's breasts, the tassels lit aflame, and then spun to extinguish the flame. One set of tassels has been previously used. The tassels are accompanied by four patent drawings, depicting different views and components of the design. The drawings are dated from February 2018, and the tassels were created circa 2018.