I spent three years researching American Rose, research that included connecting with Gypsy's sister, the late actress June Havoc (I was the… — 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
Gypsy [Rose Lee], who was called Louise as a kid, gave her first performances here with her sister [June Hovac], playing for… — Karen Abbott Copy Share Image
Her sister [June Havoc] said the musical portrayed who Gypsy [Rose Lee] wanted to be before the burlesque thing happened she wanted… — Karen Abbott Copy Share Image
It was a great challenge to reconstruct Gypsy Rose Lee life, and my interviews with her sister [June Havoc] proved invaluable. It's… — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
![“Gypsy [Rose Lee], who was called Louise as a kid, gave her first performances here with her sister [June Hovac], playing for the local Masonic lodge halls. It was a tight-knit community, and the support and success the act enjoyed here enabled them to hit the road and make it in big-time vaudeville.” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c33/karen-abbott-13658_bigs_gypsy-rose-lee-who-was-called-louise-as_2173429.jpg)
![“Her sister [June Havoc] said the musical portrayed who Gypsy [Rose Lee] wanted to be before the burlesque thing happened she wanted to be this beautiful, romantic person with dreams. So Gypsy told the story of her life as she wished she'd lived it: embellishing, softening the edges, eliminating…” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9d/karen-abbott-13658_beautiful_her-sister-june-havoc-said-the-musical-p_3013386.jpg)
![“It was a great challenge to reconstruct Gypsy Rose Lee life, and my interviews with her sister [June Havoc] proved invaluable. It's not often that writers have access to living primary source material; this was the only person who experienced life on the vaudeville circuit with Gypsy during the…” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6d4/karen-abbott-13658_1930s_it-was-a-great-challenge-to-reconstruct_3186142.jpg)
![“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, a prude.” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35c/karen-abbott-13658_display_i-think-gypsy-rose-lee-would-be-appalled_10445.jpg)
![“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 chance for monumental revisionism.” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe2/karen-abbott-13658_chance_gypsy-rose-lee-was-a-masterful-storytell_259518.jpg)
![“The cousin said that Gypsy [Rose Lee] took a full fifteen minutes to peel off a single glove, and that she was so damn good at it he gladly would've given her fifteen more. So this story got me thinking, who was Gypsy Rose Lee? Who could possibly take the simple act of peeling off a glove and make…” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/424/karen-abbott-13658_articles_the-cousin-said-that-gypsy-rose-lee-took_512540.jpg)
![“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 like one of her stripteases: revealing a peek of shoulder, then a glimpse of knee, pulling back a bit before you go a bit further, until all is revealed…” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba0/karen-abbott-13658_birth_i-thought-both-she-gypsy-rose-lee-and-he_637177.jpg)
