The Knees of Gaby Deslys!

Gaby Deslys was a  vaudeville performer and actress most popular in the 1910’s. Her French stage name is a contraction of Gabrielle of the Lillies. Her success in Europe lead to her making later $4,000 a week in the United States alone. But how she got to this success was not without scandal and men telling her what she could and could not do with her body and her visibility onstage. Born in France in the 1881, She made her debut onstage 9 October 1902 as a chorus girl in Y a des Surprises. She quickly rose up into celebrity. Gaby left Paris in August of 1906 to fulfill a three-month contract with the Gaiety Theatre, after catching they eyes of George Grossmith, Jr. and, more importantly, his friend George Edwardes, who owned the Gaiety and scooped her up as talent for his venue as well as his own personal interests. Her rise to stardom had her gracing the stages of the Shubert Theatre in America & even back again to Paris for The Moulin Rouge. But imagine doing your job, being a woman in showbusiness, just doing your best in your career in Europe, paying your bills and creating art, and then meet the eras all white male equivalent of  the Westboro protestors picket lining your shows, over the fact they could see your knees onstage. This is what happened to Gaby in 1913. Her life and shows were interrupted by a group of English clergymen protesting her performance at the Palace Theatre. So concerned about her knees, a representative of this group of priests & the Bishop of Kensington stomped into the offices of The Lord Chamberlain about the performance demanding the show close. “A La Carte” was such a scandal it was all the papers could talk about in November & October of 1913 for London. In fact, the same newspaper we read online in news apps today for political and social news, The Guardian, is the same newspaper that broke this story of riled up priests crying INDECENT over a showgirls knees. The production had already passed The Censor, a rigorous system that was in charge of what shows in Londons theatres could go onstage before the public IF they followed morality codes. The Manager of the Palace theatre at the time, Mr Alfred Butt (What a missed opportunity for a burlesque career with that name, sir!) claimed to the press that the production had already been going on for eight weeks straight without complaint. But this group of clergymen where determined to have it taken down and hold Gaby accountable for her visible knees and indecentness of the scene she performed. One reporter even gave us details of the scene in which Gaby powders her knees, as part of a story in a setting; “The vision of Mdile. Gaby Deslys in her dressing room was originally in the third scene”  as “Purely a piece of high spirited tomfoolery.” after weeks of performances the clergymen demanded the Lord chamberlain to remove their licence to operate, essentially shutting down their show, putting Gaby & the hundred or so people involved in the production out of work for the rest of the contracted season. The Lord Chamberlain sent a few representatives of his department to see the show and discuss it with those involved. Both Gaby & a reverend, A.J. Waldron where interviewed towards the end of the debate. Ever the clever girl and skilled actress, Gaby had found a way to appeal to the representative of her oppressors, Rev. Waldron. She met with him on October 23rd and talked to him personally, charming him around the fact that she was a good girl, and he hadn’t even seen her production. Mr. Waldron seemed delight and won over, stating that she even showed him a crucifix she wore around her neck telling him “I’m a good girl, i was brought up in a convent, The last thing I want to do is be inmodest.” and so when the Lord chamberlain declared on October 24th that “The Matter was Closes” Reverand Waldron was not mad about it, and let it be. WHile other clergymen seemed disgruntled to be beaten. But Gaby could resume her show after two months of scandal and dragged out stress of the situation. When Interviewed with the Press during this victory she said “My performance is not in the least suggestive. It is simply an irresponsible gambol- a little roguish romp.” Her parisian knees had a solid leg to stand on in this victory. 
But it wasn’t the last time what she wore got her in the press. In 1919, the famous artist Erté began work with Gaby on her costumes, including the Harem Pants. This eastern inspired look was for her appearance in the production of "Les Rois des Legendes." Women wearing pants was a upraising of eyebrows and scandal within itself, and her gold threaded versions where no exception. Both Gaby & Erté knew that this type of press resulted in ticket sales and fame that was more beneficial than career ending, they rode this out as well to much success. In fact, thanks to his costumer beginnings with the showgirl, Erté would later be called the father of the ‘Art Deco’ movement. He later became a huge feature in Harper's Bazaar & Vogue. Who knew little ruckus for womens agency could be so chic that you could have a career around it? ​

---

For more information on showgirls bodies being scandalized, read Policing Muses, available in hardback and paperback and ebook the fall of 2020!