Burlesque and Early Film
Thomas Edison pioneered the film industry, but mainly made films of panorama and non- theater related subjects. Though, The Trapeze Disrobing Act was the exception in the Thomas Edison film collection. The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company was the other early development in film. This company provides more examples of the entertainment industry on the stage affecting the one in film.
Other films not pertaining to the modern definition of burlesque that were made by Thomas Edison Inc. and the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company can be found at the Library of Congress American Memory. Within the site there's an article titled About These Motion Pictures
These films depict some burlesque performances as acted onstage in the earlier days. They show what vaudeville classified burlesque as, but only in one part of the definition. These are examples of precedessors to "Leg Shows", a term used in the article About These Motion Pictures. The reactions to the Trapeze Disrobing Act by the men is something comical. Just as the performers feigned shock at the Kiss Me poster are something to laugh at. Each of these five early films has the vaudeville stage as its background; literally and figuratively, which is the precursor to some individual's modern definition of burlesque.
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The Trapeze Disrobing Act created by Thomas Edison Inc. in 1901 shows two men watching a vaudeville or burlesque show. The woman is on a trapeze removes her jacket, does a flip and takes off her skirt, corset, shoes, stockings and garters, all of which are thrown at the men.
The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company made the film Kiss me in 1904. It shows a wall covered with burlesque troupe posters, all four of them contemporary producers such as Fred Irwin's Majestics, Rose Sydell (of her London Belles), Phil Sheridan's New City Sports (with the tag line "Ain't we three birds"), and the Rentz-Santley Co. The center poster is of a woman without anything covering her shoulders. Several women pass and are shocked, then a man passes and feels as though he was kissed by the picture. Upon leaving a woman sees him blow a kiss to the poster.
From Showgirl to Burlesque Queen was filmed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1903. The scene starts with a simple dressing room, and then a woman enters undressing seductively, smiling towards the camera. She emerges moments later to be dressed in another outfit but more scandalous.
Pity the Blind No.2 is vaudeville act that was filmed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1904. It has a man, blind with a sign stating "pity the blind." People pass him by and give him change a young woman comes by and adjusts her stocking; it becomes clear that the man is feigning his blindness.
Karina by created by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1902 is a film of a young woman in a seductive low cut top and long skirt. Once starting her dance she proceeds to twirl, kick up her heels, and lift up her skirt in a joyful exuberant manner.