Extremely rare unboxing of 1930’s Cooch Tent carnival costumes made and worn by Fay Parker AKA Francis Parks

Francis parks

Not so long ago I stumbled upon a gorgeous lot of vintage, 1930’s burlesque costumes from an extraordinary vintage dealer, Cindy at "Petticoats plus", a great vintage Etsy shop. I'm so impressed that Cindy had the forethought to take down some history on this talented designer/dancer, these lovely garments belonged to all those years ago. Not only did she inquire about the history but when I asked if she could possibly find out any more info, she gladly put me in touch with the dancers family! I was honored to speak with this dancers son and daughter in law. Because of Cindy at "Petticoats Plus" we have history one one more previously unknown dancer! These ladies are all too often lost from the limelight in a whisper and hush outro. Well... I'm not about to let that happen again! I've spent years collecting and caring for vintage burlesque costumes and tracking down their history. Today, you will see the enearthed costume collection of Midway Burlesque Star, Fay Parker!

"Fay Parker"... her Christian name, Frances Parks.

A true performer from her early days.

As a young lady Fay Parker started her Burlesque career at the "Greater Corey carnival show" in Alabama. Where She met the love of her life Lee Parks (from Florida)

Fay grew up Francis Gaito in West Virginia, the eldest of 12 siblings.

Fay had 2 sons that she was deeply invested in raising. She took pride in her dance and carnival career while caring for her boys with her husband, Lee, at her side. Hell! He even ran her ticket booth!

Fay and Lee continued to tour after she had her first son bill at the tender age of 21. Bill traveled with mom and dad, helping sew beads onto Mom's dresses and being entertained by the beautiful showgirls, who helped look after him till he left the carnival life at 5 years old.

Bill reminisced about one day when he was just a toddler and got lost at the carnival. A distraught Fay called security and searched with the other burlesque dancers, when finally at a loss she approached the ticket booth at the show tent to hear her little Billy giggling, hiding inside the booth! Bills wife Carol tells me that the girls would dance for him to cheer him up if he was bored or needed entertaining . She adds "he always did like a floor show, ha!"

Bill says that his mother always provided a laid back environment and that he had fun on the road. It sounds like these carnival folks were also his family.

Fay painstakingly Hand made all of her costumes And was deeply inspired by costuming as you can see throughout her collection. You can tell that everything that she made was quality and the best that she could find. She was no rag tag performer… this woman wanted to sparkle on stage! I'm touched at how well preserved her costumes are. That much wear and tear on these garments and they're still intact and usable! What a rare find! I own many of her costumes, each one brimming with her bubbly personality. Fay lifted the spirits of locals by performed at elks lodges and lions clubs, in Pittsburgh when she wasn't on the road performing.

She was 26 when she moved to Pittsburgh

And Performed for republican woman's lunches well into her 60's as she was very Active in politics, especially the Last 15 years her life while living in Raleigh Missouri.

She was an Eastern Star and her husband Lee, a mason.

We're it not for arthritis she would have never stopped performing.

Fay Worked with boyscouts and was a Cub Scout leader.

Fay's husband, Lee, passed in 2003

The mother, dancer and patriot, Fay Parker, Passed away 1 month shy of 99 years young just last year in 2016.

Directly following the passing of her youngest son. I'm sure that loss took its toll on her heart as she was such a devoted mother and grandmother.

I have truly loved getting to know her life story through these exquisite, vintage, handmade creations . Thank you "Fay Parker" for shining your light on us!

https://vimeo.com/1001986580/69727b869d