In 1937, the word "burlesque" was banned from New York City.

In January, striptease reigned. Not just in the houses of “burlycue” — 14 Broadway-sized theatres in NYC alone, filled with audiences eager to cheer for the erotic disrobing and groan at the antiquated comedy — but in night clubs, variety shows, and cabarets.

Yet trouble loomed. A confederacy of prudes conspired to expel ecdysiasts* from New York City. The reform-minded mayor and his hand-picked license commissioner were backed by religious leaders and the vigilant voyeurs of the Society for the Suppression of Vice. Their schemes were successful.

By year’s end, the words “burlesque” and “striptease” were banned from billboards, marquees, and advertising. Fans protested and anti-censorship advocates decried the abuse of power, but in vain. It was not long before burlesque’s excommunication from Gotham was complete, an injustice which persisted for almost two decades.

In 2025, burlesque performer and historian Jonny Porkpie embarked on a quest to find the undressers on the front lines of this battle against burlesque: the stripteasers who risked arrest to entertain audiences in that fateful year. 

These are those stripteasers, celebrated -- some for the very first time -- in their own collector cards feauring photos and eyewitness descriptions of their performances. 

Each deck includes 160 cards featuring 150+ stripteasers, in a magnetic closure rigid box. After a successful Kickstarters (600% funded!) the decks are now available for preorder. Projected shipping date: Early September.