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Vander Clyde Broadway, aka Barbette

Stuff You Missed in History Class

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The Trapeze Disrobing Act

There was already a connection between disrobing and the trapeze around the same time that Vander was born. Another performer, Laverie Velie, performing under the stage named Charmian, had started to disrope while on the trapezes as part of her act. This was recorded to film in 1901 by Thomas Edison and was released as the two minute movie Trapeze Disrobing Act. It wouldn't have been completely unheard of by the time Barbette came along for an aerialist to incorporate undressing as part of the act.

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