Old Times Square Photos Of Follies Burlesk And The Gaiety

One of my favorite blogs is Jeremiah's Vanishing New York where the motto is "A New Yorker is someone who longs for New York." Sometimes, when I'm walking through the super corporate, blazingly bright Times Square of today, I long for a time a few decades past when things were a little more run down and rough around the edges. 

Back when I first arrived in town, one of my favorite spots for drinks and "a show" was the old Howard Johnson's on 48th and Broadway where, on the second floor, you could see a classy male strip show at The Gaiety (a joint made famous when Madonna shot part of her SEX book there). It was classy in that there was seating, a runway, and even punch and snacks in the back. Ah those were the gays... 

Anyway, today Jeremiah features some great old photos that predate my memories of that corner, when the Gaiety was a female "Burlesk" joint with a crazy old neon sign that promised an "all-live whirly girly revue." You know, when they put it like that, I think that's even something I'd have been interested in checking out way back in the day. This is the kinda place where ladies who wanted to by Gypsy Rose Lee would have strut their stuff so I'm sure the place was chock full of characters, and a few New York nuts too. 

Billy Eichner Kills It On CONAN With Super Bowl "Interviews"

Billy Eichner, one of my favorite NYC comedians, killed it on CONAN last night as a special correspondent reporting from the Super Bowl.  He basically ran around the parking lot at Lucas Oil Field, asking hardcore football fans if they were excited about seeing Madonna.  OMG--too funny!

Billy's trademark style of being too loud and too enthusiastic worked brilliantly in the Super Bowl setting.  And his insane excitement about Madonna gets some truly incredulous looks from the diehard football fans. Even better is when he gets on the football field at the end of the game and starts asking Giants players who have just won the Super Bowl what they thought of Madonna's halftime show.

In case you hadn't heard, Billy now has his own show on the Fuse network where he runs around New York City asking people insane questions and giving them money if he approves of their answers. Definitely worth watching!

Madonna Wins The Super Bowl

If you were on Twitter last night during the Big Game, the most trending topic was easily #Madonna.  Not to mention the flurry of opinions and wisecracks that filled Facebook before, during and after her much-anticipated half-time show at the Super Bowl.

Today, there are plenty of post-mortems online about her over-the-top and very entertaining 17-minute show. It has generally received great notices and rightfully so.  If Madonna knows anything after 30 some years in showbiz, it's how to put on a show!

Over at NPR.com, there was a nice appreciation of not only her half-time show but also Madonna in general.  Writer Linda Holmes remarks about the unlikely span and breadth of Madonna's career as an entertainer; one that began in 1984 with "Borderline" and has not let up since.  Holmes points out how many laughed at the Material Girl, expecting her to fade away like many of the neon-colored fads of the day. But the bottom line is that her staying power and her showmanship are remarkable by any standard.  So for all the criticism out there, you gotta admit that Madonna is still here and still putting on an incredible show.

Warning: Your Child Might Be Gay, Circa 1991

I saw this video posted on a couple friends' walls on Facebook this AM and, from the description, had to watch it.  It's from 1991 and is a video of a 9-year old boy Robert Jeffrey doing some amazing dance moves and lip-synch to Madonna's VOGUE.  It was recorded at a summer resort in New Hampshire and it is pure awesomeness. Seriously, this kid has got the moves! It's like he had been rehearsing for this moment for weeks in his bedroom watching the video on MTV over and over again but also adding his own crazily unique personal flair too.  Just amazing!

From what little information I found on Vimeo. Robert has not grown up to be a Broadway chorus boy but is actually a writer/filmmaker.  If one can consider this his first film, then I can't wait to see more. This video truly made my weekend and the weekend hasn't even started yet!  Enjoy :)


ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER '91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

The Inevitable Gaga/Madonna Mashup

On Friday, the big news of Hosni Mubarak's stunning departure from Egypt was competing with another major worldwide event;  the debut of Lady Gaga's new single.  Seriously. Both were competing trending topics on Facebook.  Since Friday, there has been a lot of hullabaloo about Gaga's "Born This Way" being a rip-off of Madonna's "Express Yourself".  I'd say it was definitely inspired by true pop events from 20 plus years ago.  Anyway, a young singer was so inspired he decided to make a mashup of the two hits and, in just a couple days, has garnered over 100,000 hits.  He's adorable but also has got some serious pipes.  Check it out below...

Worst Sexy Album Covers Of All Time

This is a funny feature from Cracked.com.  Remember Cracked magazine?  It was MAD for teenagers back in the day.  Except I thought it had gone the way of glitter iron-on tees.  I didn't know it was still around.  And maybe it isn't.  Except for this website. 


But the list they've compiled here is very funny and has some astounding images in very bad taste. You have been warned.  Semi-NSFW.

A Hot New GLEE Spring Preview

Yes--there was some actual melting of snow this weekend as the temperature inched above 30.  This means Spring is coming...along with 8 new episodes of GLEE.  A new promo was released last week which has some highlights, including a scene from the all Madonna episode.  The fun begins again on Tuesday April 13th, in its new time slot after AMERICAN IDOL.

Madonna Turns It Out For Haiti

Friday's Hope for Haiti telethon raised nearly $60 million dollars for the earthquake relief in that devastated country. The multi-network marathon featured many remarkable performances but, I gotta say, Madonna truly turned it out with a simple, nearly acapella version of "Like A Prayer" backed by a church-like choir of singers.  


The song will be available on iTunes soon, both as a single track and a whole album including other performances by Alicia Keys, Sting and Jay-Z. So, if you missed the show, buying the songs are a great way to continue to help the people of Haiti in their time of need.

Happy Birthday To Me

Celebrate with Madonna's new song "Celebration", filmed with some very interesting fans from Milan and Barcelona. And a special guest appearance by her now teenage(!) daughter Lourdes dressed like a virgin. Now...who says Madonna fans can't dance?