Burlesque has long been a stage for bold creativity, merging humor, satire, and a hint of the risqué. One captivating trend from its golden era was the “1/2 and 1/2” costume act, where dancers sported a “normal” stage dress on one side, only to reveal a dramatic twist on the other—be it a man’s suit, a gorilla costume, or the devil himself! This style surged in popularity after the 1933 release of King Kong, sparking a wave of girl/gorilla acts, while devil-themed performances added a layer of dark allure.

Dating back to the early 1930s, burlesque performers donned devilish masks and satanic capes, creating a theatrical interplay of power and submission that echoes BDSM dynamics. These acts, often slightly NSFW, featured dancers wielding whips or posing in commanding stances, mirroring the dominance and surrender central to BDSM culture. The horned masks and restrained poses hinted at a playful exploration of control, consent, and role-play, themes that resonate with the BDSM community’s emphasis on trust and theatricality.

This connection deepened in the pre-Code Hollywood era, where provocative costumes pushed boundaries, blending burlesque’s tease with the psychological intensity of power exchange. The influence of King Kong introduced exotic, primal elements, while devil acts evoked a dominant-submissive narrative—think of a masked “master” guiding a “captive” dancer. Modern burlesque could revive this by integrating safe, consensual BDSM-inspired choreography, like aerial silk routines with bondage aesthetics or masked duets exploring power dynamics.

Whether it’s the seductive command of a whip-wielding devil or the wild submission of a gorilla act, this vintage style offers a rich canvas for BDSM expression. Let’s celebrate these daring performers and their masked magic, bringing a 1930s devilry infused with contemporary kink back to the stage.

I got inspired by this blog by the second photo which I had uploaded to FetLife in 2015.

1. Actress Marian Martin in a Satan-themed burlesque cape. Martin actually played a dancer named ‘Pinky Lee’ in the 1943 film, ‘Lady of Burlesque’ which was based on the novel ‘The G-String Murders’ written by strip tease queen Gypsy Rose Lee. Martin was not a burlesque performer, but her costume is in the satanic burlesque spirit of this post.
2. Gilda Gray (1895 – 1959) in The Devil Dancer, 1927
3. Burlesque performer Diane de Lys in a publicity photo for her show ‘The Devil and the Virgin,’ 1953.
4. Anonymous peformer
5. Anonymous performer
6. Burlesque performer Pat-Z and her 1/2 and 1/2 devil routine.