The G-String Murders
The G-String Murders is a 1941 detective novel authored by American burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. The question of who truly wrote the book has sparked discussion, with some crediting mystery author Craig Rice. However, available evidence such as drafts and letters indicates that Lee was primarily responsible for the writing, working under the supervision of editor George Davis and receiving contributions from Rice. The novel has also appeared under the titles Lady of Burlesque and The Strip-Tease Murders. Set against the backdrop of a burlesque theater, it features Lee herself as the investigator unraveling murders in which strippers are killed by strangulation with their own G-strings.
In 2005, the Feminist Press at the City University of New York reissued the novel within its Women Write Pulp collection.
Plot summary
Narrated by Gypsy Rose Lee, the story revolves around a double homicide occurring backstage at New York City’s "Old Opera" burlesque house on 42nd Street.
The narrative explores a milieu filled with strippers, comedians, and costume vendors where criminal acts are frequent and women face challenges in making a livelihood.
This witty and comedic murder mystery highlights an unusual weapon—the G-string. Gypsy ultimately reveals that the murderer is Stachi, an elderly stagehand whose psychological trauma stems from discovering his granddaughter Lolita La Verne’s involvement as a performer. Before he can harm Gypsy herself, police apprehend him through a carefully orchestrated sting operation in which she serves as bait.
Characters
- Gypsy Rose Lee, narrator
- Lolita La Verne, stripper
- Gee Gee Graham, stripper
- Biff Brannigan, comedian
- Siggy, costume salesman
Literary significance and criticism
"Those interested in sexual themes in fiction will appreciate this competent work for its depiction of a performing troupe, its authentic details about stripping, and its clever clue presentation by an appealing lieutenant… Among backstage murder stories, this ranks as one of the more acceptable ones. Its first-person narration and occasional sentimental romance between the narrator and another character do not detract from its quality."
Adaptations
In 1943, the novel was adapted into the film Lady of Burlesque, directed by William Wellman, featuring Barbara Stanwyck as Dixie Daisy (the character based on Lee), alongside Michael O'Shea portraying her love interest, and Pinky Lee. The movie remains relatively faithful to the source material but is sanitized for content, notable for including musical numbers such as "Take It Off the E String, Play It on the G String," performed by Stanwyck. The film reflects the censorship standards of 1943 limiting explicit burlesque elements like "bumps" and "grinds," illustrating how commercial entertainment was shaped by prevailing moral restrictions.
Sources
- Lee, Gypsy Rose. The G-String Murders. New York: Feminist Press of the City University of New York, 2005, .