STARR STRUCK

Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match.

I’ve had these matches for years. They come from probably 1950 and have Blaze Starr on the cover. I never actually saw her dance because I would have been -10 in 1950, but some years ago, and I can’t remember where or when, I came to own this matchbook and it got me interested in burlesque. Today I have numerous photos, programs, coasters and all sorts of memorabilia that I imagine must constitute one of the better collections around. I saw this exact matchbook go on Ebay for forty dollars a while back, so I scanned mine and was going to auction it, but then I changed my mind. After all, Blaze got me started on this hobby, so I probably shouldn’t just sell her. But I had a feeling you would like this, so these scans are yours now.

Submitted by R. O’Carroll

Thanks for sharing. This is exactly the type of item we would never be able to acquire here, and that’s one big reason we put together the reader pulp interface. Nice sub-head, by the way. Not sure we would have thought of that. So, we don’t want to create a dilemma for you, but we did a quick search and found an auction site here where your matchbook sold for $146.18. Does that change your feelings about Miss Starr at all?

Baltimore, The 2 O'Clock Club, Blaze Starr, burlesque

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HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

October 5

1945—Hollywood Black Friday

A six month strike by Hollywood set decorators becomes a riot at the gates of Warner Brothers Studios when strikers and replacement workers clash. The event helps bring about the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, which, among other things, prohibits unions from contributing to political campaigns and requires union leaders to affirm they are not supporters of the Communist Party.

October 4

1957—Sputnik Circles Earth

The Soviet Union launches the satellite Sputnik I, which becomes the first artificial object to orbit the Earth. It orbits for two months and provides valuable information about the density of the upper atmosphere. It also panics the United States into a space race that eventually culminates in the U.S. moon landing.

October 4

1970—Janis Joplin Overdoses

American blues singer Janis Joplin is found dead on the floor of her motel room in Los Angeles. The cause of death is determined to be an overdose of heroin, possibly combined with the effects of alcohol.

October 3

1908—Pravda Founded

The newspaper Pravda is founded by Leon Trotsky, Adolph Joffe, Matvey Skobelev and other Russian exiles living in Vienna. The name means “truth” and the paper serves as an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991.

October 3

1957—Ferlinghetti Wins Obscenity Case

An obscenity trial brought against Lawrence Ferlinghetti, owner of the counterculture City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, reaches its conclusion when Judge Clayton Horn rules that Allen Ginsberg’s poetry collection Howl is not obscene.

October 3

1995—Simpson Acquitted

After a long trial watched by millions of people worldwide, former football star O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Simpson subsequently loses a civil suit and is ordered to pay millions in damages.

October 2

1919—Wilson Suffers Stroke

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffers a massive stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. He is confined to bed for weeks, but eventually resumes his duties, though his participation is little more than perfunctory. Wilson remains disabled throughout the remainder of his term in office, and the rest of his life.