Black Venue

  Dora Dean was born in Covington in 1872, and got into show business as the "Black Venus."  She was born as Dora Babbige; Dean was evidently her stage name.  Her initial job in show business was as a "statute girl" - essentially striking dramatic poses and looking pretty.  She eventually took on a partner, a tap dancer named Charles E. Johnson, and together they … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: Black Burlesque and Vaudeville Perfomers