Her name translated as "Pole Star" - her waist size was amazing (14"). Known as beautiful in France, she was called ugly in the United States.
![Our lady this week is Emilie Marie Bouchard (1874-1939), who went by the provocative stage name Polaire (“pole star”).
During a concert tour through New York in 1910, she was given a cruel sobriquet.
“Very unfairly and inaccurately, Willie Hammerstein [son of Oscar] billed Polaire as ‘the ugliest woman in the world’ and offered prizes to women who, with the aid of corsets, could beat Polaire’s 14-inch waist,” states The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville.
Polaire“In hindsight, it is difficult to comprehend how an actress noted in France for her beauty could be billed as ugly in the United States, but the description appears to have been based in large part on Polaire’s wearing a ring in her nose, a novelty with which American audiences were unfamiliar.”
Whether the description helped or hurt her in New York is uncertain. Polaire’s run appeared to be a success, and she returned to Manhattan at least once more, in 1913, before her popularity waned by World War I.](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p320x320/1069121_10152996288045277_1364123716_n.jpg)
Emilie Marie Bouchard (1874-1939) went by provocative stage name Polaire (“pole star”).
During a concert tour through New York in 1910, she was given a cruel sobriquet.
“Very unfairly and inaccurately, Willie Hammerstein [son of Oscar] billed Polaire as ‘the ugliest woman in the world’ and offered prizes to women who, with the aid of corsets, could beat Polaire’s 14-inch waist,” states The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville.
“Very unfairly and inaccurately, Willie Hammerstein [son of Oscar] billed Polaire as ‘the ugliest woman in the world’ and offered prizes to women who, with the aid of corsets, could beat Polaire’s 14-inch waist,” states The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville.
Polaire, “In hindsight, it is difficult to comprehend how an actress noted in France for her beauty could be billed as ugly in the United States, but the description appears to have been based in large part on Polaire’s wearing a ring in her nose, a novelty with which American audiences were unfamiliar.”
Whether the description helped or hurt her in New York is uncertain. Polaire’s run appeared to be a success, and she returned to Manhattan at least once more, in 1913, before her popularity waned by World War I.
No comments:
Post a Comment