Landon Key West: Burlesque Under Fire (Cue Dramatic Music!)

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July 11, 2008

Burlesque Under Fire (Cue Dramatic Music!)

Today is a guest entry from Marky P. It seems that Key West Burlesque got a little email....

Von Teese Laywers seek to confiscate KWBLQ Props…
By markyp

While thumbing through my emails after a long day at work, I stumbled upon a peculiar message.
A practical joke? I pondered-
A humorous quip that one of our wild and wacky performers set up? I queried…

Before I read the next paragraph I decided to find out if this message was authentic. I Googled the Law office- I Googled Ms Sweet- I Googled oversized champagne glass- (I actually use ASK- but Google rolls of the tongue better) All things checked out real enough to have cozy and informative websites and images- which made the words I was reading more surreal by the moment-

Dazed and befuddled I continued down the document sent to me from the law offices of Keith A Fink & Associates, representatives of Ms Von Teese.

It appears we at KWBLQ have violated some sort of trademark or copyright although none were actually mentioned.

We have been simply asked quite nicely to stop making oversized glasses for burlesque shows. For we have been told they are the same ones “as featured in Ms Sweet’s world-famous burlesque shows”

They also sweetly reminded me that “Ms Sweet- (Dita) has not licensed or permitted me to manufacture or distribute” my burlesque props.

Further more the oversized glasses we have NOW are to be immediately taken out of our ‘inventory’ and that all such products are to be “retained for their retrieval”

I stare out my studio window waiting for the men in rhinestone black suits donning black feather boas and fedoras to waltz into the back yard, and retrieve our glasses. No one has come yet but I plan on chaining all of the glasses together tonight and letting out my 10 lb attack jack russell, just in case.

Although we appreciate and respect the dynamic and amazingly dazzling shows performed by Ms Teese- We here at KWBLQ are puzzled as to how an artistic interpretation of a vintage pin-up and burlesque piece can be controlled or liscecened by Ms Teese. Our show includes an oversized glass piece that has been around as a documented image for at least 100 years and an act for at least 50 years. How now we are to be stopped is amusing and charming on many fronts.

Quite possibly there has been a mix-up, or some sort of misunderstanding. Or maybe we here down in the friendly town of Key West are naïve to the wide-sweeping powers Ms Teese has over these sorts of things. Maybe somewhere in the Homeland Security underwriting Ms Teese has slid in some sort of non-compete clause. Either way we are delighted and honored to be a topic of discussion at the Teese house and wish nothing but the best for Ms Sweet in all of her endeavors.

As for an actual lawsuit I would love to produce just such a showcase. We have been inspired to start casting for the greatest variety show ever performed. First we need a very witty and charming yet slimy lawyer who must look dashing in a vintage suit. Were thinking the The Blue Bunny is perfect if we can afford him. Tons of burlesque starlets of yesteryear will take the stand one by one- glowing- dazzling- and flamboyantly telling tales of their travels. The Jury will pay a small door charge to watch reenactments by today’s hottest burlesque dames as they twirl, grind, and strip across the courtroom stage. As for the closing arguments, non other than Ms Teese herself, with perform head to head with Ms Dujour in an all out Burlesque-Off featuring the two oversized glasses.

In the end we all will win. A fabulous show with amazing performances by all! I would have of course have filmed it all and had promotional t-shirts, posters, and memorabilia for this most amazing show I will have ever produced…

Burlesque Court...

Posted by landon at July 11, 2008 10:32 AM

Comments

And how come I haven't been cast!

Posted by: Tony at July 11, 2008 11:48 AM

I really wanna hear the rest of this. This is totally out of line. The glass act has been done,and done and done and done by some of the best in the business. Please keep me posted. Thanks.

--Daiq

Posted by: Daiquiri St John at July 12, 2008 2:35 AM

Hey M!
Tahtah told me...and yes, it's rather amusing in a surreal sort of way. I love your very inspired "Court-room Burlesque" scenario!

Posted by: Torchy at July 12, 2008 1:31 PM

Wow!

It was good that that asked nicely, but from my understanding they don't have any legal weight behind this - especially as you state there are examples of 'prior art'.

Its like asking a magician not to do the bunny with hat trick...

And I'm not a lawyer...

Posted by: michael at July 15, 2008 3:13 PM

F@*k 'em!!! Its like when Jimmy's lawyers told someone that they couldn't use "Coconut Telegraph" hogwash I say, hogwash!

Posted by: beach at July 15, 2008 5:12 PM

Well I myself have been a dancer perfomer of many styles (inculding Bulesque) since 1990. I donot feel it is right fo someone to ask any prop maker to NOT make props for other performers. You might as well ask to not have dancers wear pasties, boas and everything else we have been dancing with for over 50 years. It is ludicrous and absurd . By the way I googled "oversize champagne glasses" and I found his page. I am still interested in purchasing one(diffent size and shape. PLease get back to me. My show is nothing like hers. I am going for a totally different style Glamourous but just different. By the way how about a Spider Web , Vampire Wine bottle or Coffin he he? I am serious.....
Diviana Devour

Posted by: DD at September 7, 2008 10:18 PM

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Burlesque Under Fire (Cue Dramatic Music!)

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