Blaze Starr

Some time ago I was sent this signed book by Blaze Starr complete with one red stocking tucked inside.

The book also came with 2 sweet little letters. One letter was about the night out with “friends” when Bryan “Cherokee” Smith met Blaze and asked to see her feet. Blaze removed one stocking and rubbed it in his face and signed the book. Bryan didn’t want his “friends” that evening to know his real name so he had Blaze sign the book to “Harry”.

I’ve never met Brian face to face but if I do I’m calling him “Harry” and giving him a big ole hug! Of course I’ll make him wear a mask for that and he will respect that.

Then I’ll remove one well worn stocking and shove it lovingly in his face and tell him thank you💗

Blaze was born Wilsondale, W.Va. 8th of 12 siblings and returned later in life after her touring had finished. Blaze lived vibrantly into her 80’s, passing at 83 years young in 2015.

Before his passing Blaze took up with a Louisiana governor and their love affair was the focus of the 1989 movie, “Blaze”.

Blazes fiery affair with Gov. Earl K. Long was documented in this book, published in 1974 and that story is what drew names like Paul Newman to choose to work on the film.

Long passed away in 1960 after falling in love with Blaze and becoming engaged, but his last marriage was still in its death throes without his divorce being finalized upon his passing but Blaze continued to wear her 5kt engagement ring in memory of her love, Gov. Earl K. Long.

Blaze started stripping at 15 years old and 2 of her sisters followed her to work the adult entertainment circuit.

Much like Lorraine Gail Smith, Blaze was bored backstage. She did not want to waste her time waiting around to go back on stage so she started sewing, Opting to make her own beautiful costumes instead of paying hundreds or thousands for a designer costume set.

Her resourcefulness is seen in the costumes of hers that I have in my collection.

In additional her handmade costumes, she really loved Fredericks of Hollywood lingerie. Many of her Fredericks pieces have found their way into my collection as well. Lots and lots of her Fredericks pieces were gifted to suitors, patrons and fans.

Blaze was known for treating her fans very well, often sending them stage worn panties, bras, stockings and dressing gowns for them to remember her by.

She would send them sweet little hand written notes regularly with her worn lingerie. My collection of her notes are some of my favorite parts of this collection. One really gets a sense of her through her writing. Her personality was truly built for the flirt.

Blaze loved to make her fans feel loved and then loved some more.

It’s No wonder that she was long hailed as the one of the most influential Queens of Burlesque.

When Blaze was asked whether she would go back and change anything in her life she responded proudly, “Not a thing, I would just do a lot more of it and try a lot harder, and seduce a lot more men than I did.”