Candy Barr: The Rise and Fall of an Early Burlesque Icon
The history of mid-century adult entertainment is often defined by a few pioneering figures who bridged the gap between underground cinema and mainstream notoriety. Among the most prominent was Candy Barr, a woman whose career spanned the worlds of early pornographic film, high-earning burlesque, and Hollywood technical advising, all while entangled in high-profile legal battles and associations with the criminal underworld.
The Early Years and the Birth of a Persona
Candy Barr's entry into the public eye began at the age of 16 when she appeared in Smart Alec (1951), one of the most widely circulated underground pornographic films of its era. Due to the film's popularity, media outlets later labeled her "the first porn star." Her accounts of this experience varied over time; she initially told a men's magazine she performed for money, but years later claimed she had been drugged and coerced without her consent.
Following the release of the film, while still underage, she was hired by Barney Weinstein as a stripper at the Theater Lounge in Dallas for $85 a week. It was during this period that Weinstein gave her the stage name "Candy Barr," reportedly inspired by her fondness for Snickers bars. To complete her image, she bleached her hair platinum blond and rose to fame.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Defining the Burlesque Aesthetic
Barr transitioned into a successful career in burlesque and striptease, performing at venues such as Weinstein's Colony Club. She developed a signature costume that blended Western motifs with provocative attire, consisting of a cowboy hat, pasties, scant panties, cowboy boots, and a pair of pearl-handled cap six-shooters in a hip holster.
Her professional network expanded in 1952 at the Vegas Club, where she became acquainted with owner Jack Ruby. While they maintained a casual friendship, Barr never worked for Ruby nor associated with him outside of the Vegas Club and the Silver Spur Inn.
Legal Turmoil and National Fame
The 1950s were marked by personal and legal volatility for Barr. Around 1953, she married her second husband, Troy B. Phillips, and had a daughter in 1954. In January 1956, Barr shot Phillips after he forced entry into her Dallas apartment. Although charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the charges were eventually dropped as Phillips survived the encounter.
In 1957, Barr briefly stepped onto the legitimate stage, playing Rita Marlowe in the Dallas Little Theater's production of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? However, her career was interrupted in October of that year when Dallas police raided her apartment and discovered four-fifths of an ounce of marijuana hidden in her bra. Despite her claims that she was merely holding the drugs for a friend and that the arrest was a setup, she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Paradoxically, the legal battle increased her nationwide fame. While appealing her sentence, she became a top draw at strip clubs in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and the Sho-Bar Club on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, earning as much as $2,000 per week.
Hollywood and the Underworld
While performing at the Largo Club on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Barr began a relationship with gangster Mickey Cohen. Cohen, who later detailed their relationship in his autobiography In My Own Words, assisted her in making bail. In an attempt to help her evade arrest, Cohen arranged for her to flee to Mexico with her daughter, providing her with $1,200 in cash, a fake Social Security card, a fake birth certificate, and a new hair color provided by celebrity hairdresser Jack Sahakian.
Despite the sanctuary, Barr grew restless and returned to the United States, during which time her relationship with Cohen faded. Her expertise in dance led to a professional engagement with 20th Century Fox Studios in 1959. She served as a technical advisor and choreographer for the film Seven Thieves (1960), specifically teaching actress Joan Collins how to perform as a stripper. Collins later praised Barr in her book Past Imperfect, describing her as a down-to-earth woman who taught her a great deal about sensuality.
The Final Appeal
In late 1959, Barr married Jack Sahakian in Las Vegas while headlining at the El Rancho Vegas Hotel. She briefly held hope for a legal reprieve when the U.S. Supreme Court informed the Dallas district attorney that her lawyers had 20 days to file for a rehearing. However, the Supreme Court ultimately denied her appeal, and the FBI arrested her shortly thereafter.
Key Facts
- Early Start: Appeared in the 1951 underground film Smart Alec at age 16.
- Stage Persona: Adopted the name "Candy Barr" and a signature Western-themed burlesque costume.
- Earnings: Reached a peak earning potential of $2,000 per week in major cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
- Hollywood Contribution: Acted as a technical advisor for 20th Century Fox, coaching Joan Collins for Seven Thieves.
- Legal Struggle: Sentenced to 15 years in prison following a 1957 marijuana possession charge in Dallas.
| Year | Event/Milestone | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Film Debut | Appeared in Smart Alec; later dubbed "the first porn star." |
| 1952 | Social Connection | Met Jack Ruby at the Vegas Club. |
| 1956 | Legal Incident | Shot husband Troy B. Phillips; charges later dropped. |
| 1957 | Conviction | Sentenced to 15 years for marijuana possession. |
| 1959 | Hollywood Work | Choreographer for Seven Thieves (20th Century Fox). |
| 1959 | Final Arrest | Arrested by FBI after Supreme Court denied her appeal. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Candy Barr called "the first porn star"?
She earned this title from the media due to her appearance in the 1951 film Smart Alec, which was one of the most famous and widely distributed underground pornographic films of the early era.
How did Candy Barr contribute to the film Seven Thieves?
She was hired by 20th Century Fox as a choreographer and technical advisor, specifically teaching actress Joan Collins how to dance for her role as a stripper.
What led to Candy Barr's 15-year prison sentence?
In October 1957, Dallas police raided her apartment and found four-fifths of an ounce of marijuana hidden in her bra, leading to her conviction for drug possession.
Who was Mickey Cohen and what was his role in her life?
Mickey Cohen was a gangster who became Barr's partner. He helped her make bail and attempted to help her evade arrest by arranging for her to hide in Mexico with a fake identity and financial support.
What was Candy Barr's signature burlesque look?
Her look featured platinum blond hair and a costume consisting of a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, pasties, scant panties, and pearl-handled cap six-shooters in a hip holster.