“Mother was,' June thought, 'a beautiful little ornament that was damaged.' Her broken edges cut her daughters in ways both emotional and physical, and only sharpened with age.” — Karen Abbott Copy Share Image
The real Rose Hovick was seriously mentally disturbed; June Havoc called her a beautiful little ornament that was damaged. — Karen Abbott Copy Share Image
“A Republican is a man who wants you to go t'church every Sunday. A Democrat says if a man wants to have a glass… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
I think Gypsy [Rose Lee] would be appalled at today's rawer, more blatant displays of the female form. She was, in her own way,… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
I spent three years researching American Rose, research that included connecting with Gypsy's sister, the late actress June Havoc (I was the last person… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
Gypsy [Rose Lee ] was a masterful storyteller, and her memoir and by extension, the musical weren't only Gypsy's monument; they were also her… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
Vaudeville was characterized by sunny optimism, acts that were uplifting, cheerful, and clean. It provided a fanciful, magical escape, but after Black Friday, the… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
An amusing city, Chicago, any way you look at it. I'm afraid we are in for the time of our lives. — Karen Abbott Copy Share
The cousin said that Gypsy [Rose Lee] took a full fifteen minutes to peel off a single glove, and that she was so damn… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
“He was just a taker. She was a taker in her way too. They were taking each other, and they loved each other for… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
In the beginning of the war, Southern women wanted their men to leave - in droves, and as quickly as possible. They were the… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
I thought both she [Gypsy Rose Lee] and her story would be ill-served by a conventional, birth-to-death narrative, and so I structured the book… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
“And truth is malleable, something to be bent or stretched or made to disappear, but direct lies always find the path back to the… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
“Mother was,' June thought, 'a beautiful little ornament that was damaged.' Her broken edges cut her daughters in ways both emotional and physical, and… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
Gypsy [Rose Lee] is as unique as she is timeless. Her story is classic Americana, and the strangest rags-to-riches saga you'll ever read; I… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
Female spies typically represented one of two extremes: the seductress who employed her wiles to manipulate men, and the cross-dresser who blended in by… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
“A Republican is a man who wants you to go t’church every Sunday,” Bathhouse John pointed out. “A Democrat says if a man wants… — Karen Abbott Copy Share
