Gaiety Burlesque

Gaiety Burlesque — Reginald Marsh. 1930.

Medium: etching. Dimensions: Platemark: 30.2 x 25 cm (11 7/8 x 9 13/16 in.); Sheet: 38.1 x 28 cm (15 x 11 in.).

Collection record: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Museum connection according to this source; current display unverified.

In addition to the grand opera houses and symphony halls that attracted new audiences in New York City, burlesque theaters and dance halls offered a less expensive and seamier side of entertainment that was just as popular, though with a primarily male crowd. The Gaiety Theatre opened in Manhattan's midtown in 1909. Its burlesque shows featured comedy acts, skits, songs, and, increasingly by the 1920s, a striptease. In this image, the female dancer wades across a narrow stage while navigating the men’s leering gazes.

Source: official collection record. Metadata selected and normalized by Artline from the source export, accessed 10 September 2026; no museum endorsement. Reproduction rights are separate.