Review: Honey

Dear Constant Reader, Here’s another one of these books I was sure I had reviewed long ago… Honey: The Life and Loves of Lenny’s Shady Lady by Honey Bruce with Dana Benenson, 1976. I first read this book as a teenager* when I was obsessed with Lenny Bruce and didn’t know the first thing about burlesque. Reading it again now from the perspective of a performer and historian brought new details into focus. As with so many of our Legends, Honey Bruce (née Harriet Jolliff) began her performance career as a teenager escaping a miserable home life. Her stepfather was strict and physically abusive and on her third attempt to run away, she, a girlfriend, and two Army draftees made it from Detroit to Florida. Her first taste of show business came when she was hired as a topless showgirl at the Tropics Club at in Miami. Billed as The Blue Bird, she lasted all of one night, hustling drinks and being groped by patrons. Unfortunately, their transport to Florida had been a series of stolen cars…