One of the most glamorous Burlesque performers of the past, Sherry Britton has passed away. She was most recently featured in Liz Goldwyn's HBO documentary 'Pretty Things'.
From the 'Pretty Things' synopsis page~Sherry Britton - Among the most stunning of yesteryear's burlesque stars, with jet-black hair and an hourglass figure to die for, Britton is remembered by Zorita as "without a doubt the sexiest broad that I ever met in my life... You take Sherry Britton, honey, and you can ride along in a taxi with her and she'll pop your cookie." In her heyday, Britton had her share of rich admirers. She's now a wealthy widow with a law degree, and lives in New York with her poodle, "Miss Rich Bitch."
NY Daily News~
Burlesque legend Sherry Britton dies
BY OWEN MORITZ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008, 7:03 PM
Sherry Britton, a brainy, sexy stripper who was the queen of Broadway burlesque in her 20s, was barred from the World's Fair in her 40s and graduated from college in her 60s, has died.
"She had an IQ of 165, lived on Gramercy Park and aged gracefully," said a cousin, Karen Britton.
Britton, dubbed Great Britton and once made an honorary brigadier general by President Roosevelt for her work entertaining World War II troops, died Tuesday in Beth Israel Hospital of natural causes. She was 89.
The irrepressible Britton was singled out in a recent HBO documentary as "among the most stunning of yesterday's burlesque stars...."She had 'jet black hair and an hourglass figure to die for.' "
The documentary said Britton "had her share of rich admirers" and lived in Manhattan with her poodle, Miss Rich Bitch.
In a succession of foster homes after her parents divorced when she was 2 1/2, the precocious and photogenic Britton became a stripper in early teens.
Some newspaper stories claim she graduated from Tilden High School in Brooklyn at 13, but she told interviewers that was just some press agent hyperbole.
She did, however, enroll in Fordham University Law School late in life and graduate pre-law magna cum laude at age 63.
In her prime, she starred in Minksy's Gaiety Theater on Broadway and became a national celebrity.
She was quotable and controversial.
"I strip but I don't tease," she once said.
As late as 1958 she was making headlines in Washington by performing at a club two blocks from the Eisenhower White House.
"One of the world's 10 best undressed women currently is performing one of the oldest arts of the American theater," Daily News Washington columnist Gwen Gibson wrote. "That would be Miss Sherry (Fabulous Body) Britton."
Robert Moses barred her from the 1964 World's Fair because she was too risque. She later became a cabaret singer and performed in dozens of theater productions.
She marked her 75th birthday by performing at Broadway's Marriott Marquee hotel, which sits on the site of the old Minsky's.
Britton was divorced from her first husband; her second marriage was annulled.
She is survived by a sister and several cousins. A private service will be held today at Riverside Memorial Chapel in Manhattan.
