Rusty Warren: Th Knockers Up Gal by Elizabeth Rizzo DuboisMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a poorly edited scrapbook of news articles, press releases, etc. It is bolstered with transcriptions of the Rusty Warren albums, her song lyrics, etc. This leads to a lot of repetition and a lack of depth. Here is an example of the need for editing, from the included content of Cool and Strange Music Magazine: June 2002; Matt Moses
So they had parties, and I was there party gal.
(I suspect “their” is used in the magazine itself.)
It is a chronological compilation of news stories and articles from her career dating from 1958 to present time.
I really liked reading of the 60s nightclub scene, especially in my old stomping ground of Detroit and new home of Louisiana:
Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette; 1960
In November 1960 Rusty returns to Detroit Michigan to play the Club Alamo. The newspapers are filled with articles about her return. Some of the articles do not have authors or dates but they are glued together in the same section of the scrapbook. ‘Sophistication’has long been a mark of stars at Club Alamo, now triumphantly presenting Rusty Warren. Her album, “Songs for Sinners” has listed the same of the personality gal, that ‘gets her nickname from the color of her hair. Now in person at the piano she delivers those songs and monologues that brings back memories of late Dwight Fiske, who played there. Rusty Warren pushes local sex at the Club Alamo, and says she's glad she's not the character she created …” God knows I couldn't live like Rusty Warren”
… She plans to record a third album in the Club Alamo here before she leaves. Flocks of her fans are Detroiters who first caught her in Fort Lauderdale.
- “This is Rusty, the Riballadeer”; “After Dark”; Detroit Free Press, Friday, November 18, 1960
The Shreveport Journal, Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana, Tuesday, staff journalist,
May 21, 1963 Rusty Warren plays at Stork Supper Club. Hitting the top bracket on the nightclub circuit calls for a particular kind of talent, the bulldozer type of perseverance and an uncanny ability to size up an audience and adjust one's act to suit its tastes. A slim figure, a gift for repartee and the stamina of an elephant all help, too, particularly if the performer is a woman. The performer who has, in addition, and is considerably quicker than Matt Dillon's trigger finger really has it made. Rusty Warren, who Monday night opened in a one-night stand at the Stork Supper Club in Bossier City, possesses all these attributes plus a personality that set the place vibrating. Her show, of course, is not for youngsters or the faint of heart. Fast paced Chatter. Wearing an ooh - la - la black gown with a cape effect in white organdy, she launched into a fast - paced program of chatter, songs and commentary which served to insert the needle points into the most vulnerable spots of the American hide. She kept it up for approximately one hour, coaxing and initially recalcitrant audience into eventual participation in full approval. The double entendre was her stock in trade. Miss Warren is a past mistress of the art of ad libbing, another requisite for the performer who makes a go of it on the nightclub route. Although she chose some of her material from her own record albums, the majority of it was fresh and spontaneous as an April shower. There were allusions to Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare and other television personalities currently in favor and one number built around the orbital space flight of astronaut Gordon Cooper. For several of the numbers, Miss Warren herself took to the keyboard, exhibiting a sense of timing and skill which probably emanated, at least partially, from her training as a classical pianist at the New England Conservatory of music. The singing of the satirical numbers was done in a gravelly voice perfectly adapted to the lyrics, but, when Miss Warren sang straight, she displayed a very pleasing, basically eloquent style. Her own drummer, Dick Odette of Phoenix, Arizona, provided percussive effects, and her secretary, Joe Quinn, served as master ceremonies. Jack Nelson's Stork Club Combo, normally a three - man outfit extended to five for the occasion, gave find support and incidentally, offered first - rate dance music through the evening. Mike Thedos, who tells us he plans to import Gomer, the comic gas station attendant from the Andy Griffith television show, for his next attraction, to pack them in with Miss Warren. Gomer, in real life comedian Jim Nabors, appears each Monday night on KSLA TV, Channel 12, The Journal Station. Lily Christine, the “Cat Girl” who has long been a favorite here and in New Orleans, also is in prospect. Theodos says. Meantime, for reasonably sophisticated tastes no great objection to the risqué, Rusty Warren should fill the bill nicely to be doing 24 shows nightly through Saturday with three shows slated for Friday night.
Birmingham Post – Herald; Emmett Weaver; 1963 The sensational Rusty Warren, in person at the Stork Club, May 20 - 25. You’ve heard her records that have sold in the millions, “Knockers Up” — “Songs For Sinners” — “Sinsational” — “Rusty Warren in Orbit”. Now hear her in person. Cover charge during Rusty Warren’s engagement only $ 4.00 per person, tax included. This is the only floor show in the Ark - La - Tex. Dancing to the Stork Club Band. Delightful dinners featuring charcoal broiled steaks and seafood, moderately priced. The Show Bar: Featuring one of the finest musical groups in the Country — the Five Jets with Miki Done, vocalist, with the songs her mother didn’t teach her. Hide - A - Way: A quiet retreat from stress, duress and address. Open 3p.m., ladies invited. Member: Diner’s Club, American Express, Carte Blanche. East Texas Street, Bossier City, LA. Phone. 746 - 2860. (full page ad)
As part of recounting the 1967 career (there’s basically a chapter for each year, Jack Ruby makes a cameo:
“I have this place in Dallas, the Carousel Club,” Jack Ruby was saying, “and next door to me this fellow Abe Weinstein owns the Colony Club. He brings in Rusty Warren. You know Rusty Warren.” “Rusty Warren is that loudmouth broad who sings,” Harry Bloomfield said. “But she draws,” Jack Ruby said. “They were coming from Waco to hear her. The line is all down the block. I was next - door doing nothing. So I get a big sign and hang it out. The sign says in big letters, ‘Rusty Warren. ‘Under it, in little letters, you need a telescope to see them; I put ‘on records’.” “Did it work?” “Caught a few customers. A customer is a customer.”
However, I admire Warren’s success, hard work, and pioneering spirit. She kept her lesbianism under wraps until 2008.
“Rusty Warren” was supposed to be the after dinner darling of “Mr. and Mrs. America” but she was absolutely not supposed at queer or be queer - - which I absolutely am and though I've never gone public about the fact until now.
- 2008 Daeida Magazine Interview
She built a career one gig at time with product that could only be sold discreetly. During the time, unsupported by TV or mainstream print media, she was dealt a cruel blow:
In 1963, Time magazine criticized her “Knockers Up” album by calling her “The Barnyard Girl.” Said Time: ‘she's just another dirty comedian who deprives sex of all its grace and sophistication.’
She was not above inflating her own role, even etymologically, claiming she…
…even coined the word “Knockers.” “It happened in 1957 when I was playing in the club in Dayton. I was playing a march rhythm and the manager of the club started to lead the patrons around the room. I told the woman to march with their boobs held high, knockers up, so to speak, and a new phrase was born. “The president of Jubilee Records, a company that I was later to own, said he would put the phrase on the cover. I said, “You wouldn't dare.” He did dare and the record was a smash success.
From the novel The First Person by Richard Mealand:
… from the Rev. Mr. Cannaday, “who winks at you to show that he’s one of the boys,” to the thrice-married Norma Norbridge, “who leans on her knockers instead of her elbows when she sits at a table.”
Warrned does give credit was credit is due, acknowledging following the trail blazed by Belle Barth etc.:
Influenced by the late Sophie Tucker
…started out as a concert pianist and teacher, served her apprenticeship on Fort Lauderdale Beach in the late 50s with Woody Woodbury in the late Belle Barth. “I was the baby of the risqué group,” she says.
And she had opinions on her peers:
George Carlin is a genius, she said. But Richard Pryor, she doesn't like as a performer or as a person.
So, in sum, can she really wear the crown of The Mother of the Sexual Revolution?
“Rusty Warren, After 30 Years in Comedy she still Laughing”; Todays Arizona Woman
She was 20 years ahead of her time, some say, because she stated and sang about sex when women weren't even supposed to enjoy doing it. She's been called “The Mother of the Sexual Revolution.”
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