Made with love and empowerment by Pole Parlour, in solidarity with the Fistful of Steel Documentary.

Though far from being a detailed, cohesive timeline, this video was created to provide an outline of the industry and pioneers from which contemporary pole dance emerged. We are still on a mission to research, document, and celebrate the robust history of pole, so if you have any additional information, please contact me here!

VIDEO REFERENCES:

Opening Video:
Pantera Blacksmith

00:05
Image: The Follies Sideshow, 1922

00:10
Source: “Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show” by Rachel Shteir
(Image: Girlies on the Midway Michigan State Fair)

00:13
Source: “The History of Stripping”
(Video: 1940s Coney Island)

00:20
Source: “The History of Stripping” and "Girl Show: Into the Canvas World of Bump and Grind" by A W Stencell
(Image: Old Carnival Midway Peep Show, 1940s)

00:32
Source: “The History of Stripping”
(Video: 1950s Strip Club)

00:40
Source: “Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show” by Rachel Shteir
(Image: Club Samoa, New York City)

00:45
Image: Carol Doda, San Francisco

00:55
Source: Wikipedia
(Video: 1970s US Strip Club Neon Signs)

01:07
Source: “Burlesque West: Showgirls, Sex, and Sin in Postwar Vancouver” by Becki Ross

01:14
Video: clip from HBO show “G-String Divas”

01:20
Source: “Burlesque West: Showgirls, Sex, and Sin in Postwar Vancouver” by Becki Ross
(Image: Jack Cooney and Darcy Taylor, Vancouver 1982)

01:32
JK Defies Gravity: Extreme Pole Work

01:40
Source: Fawnia Mondey (quote on Facebook, October 2016)
(Video: Fawnia Mondey Bringing Sexy Back 2014)

01:48
Source: S Factor Website
(Video: S Factor Pole Dance 101 Work Out at Home DVD)

02:00
Tapes, DVDs, and kits include:
- “The Art of Exotic Dancing Volume 1” and “Pole Work” by Fawnia Mondey
- “Pole Tricks 101” by Pantera Blacksmith
- “Sheila Kelley S Factor Pole Work 101”
- “Vertical Dance Workout–Lets Get Vertically Fit!”
- Carmen Electra’s “Electra-Pole” pole kit
- “Dr. Amy’s Pole Workout, Volume 1”
- “Pole Dancing for You” by Edith Aboul-Hosan
- “Pole Exercise: Pole Dancing Evolved”
- Lil’ Mynx pole kit
- “Leigh Ann’s Advanced Pole Dance Workout” by Leigh Ann Reilly/BeSpun
- “World Champion Felix Can Pole Dance DVD Instructional Series”
- “The Art of Pole” by Jamilla Deville

02:08
Robbie McIntyre aka Star Please also see pole legend Karol Helms (aka Hailey) in this video as well!

02:09
Leigh Ann Reilly

02:11
Tara Karina

02:13
Sarah Cretul

02:14
Bobbi of Bobbi’s Pole Studio

02:17
World Pole Dance Championship 2005, Reiko

02:20
World Pole Dance Championship 2005, Tammy Morris

02:24
Miss Pole Dance UK 2005, Elena Gibson

02:26
Rob Mays

02:29
Alethea Austin

02:30
Natasha Wang

02:32
Marlo Fisken and Kyle DesChamps