Dixie Evans

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This article is about a deceased Burlesque performer

Autographed photo of Dixie Evans to Mistress Michelle Peters

Mary Lee "Dixie" Evans (✦August 28, 1926 – †August 3, 2013) ^{[Source 1]}was an American burlesque dancer and stripper.

Back in the era where most strippers had a gimmick, Evans was handed hers on a silver screen platter. Marilyn Monroe fever was running rampant due in no small part to the star's admission that she was indeed the nude model featured in the first issue of Playboy. Evans had been dancing on the circuit since the early 50's, but it wasn't until she decided to become burlesque's answer to Monroe that her career really took off. Comparatively, Evans and Monroe had the same general body type: 40-26-34 for Evans and 37-24-35 for Monroe. And in some publicity photos the resemblance is uncanny. With her transformation, Evans had hit blonde bombshell gold. The real Marilyn Monroe was too inaccessible to your average joe, but Evans (in her Monroe guise) could let these men's imagination run wild. If you couldn't have Monroe, you could have the next best thing. With Monroe's death in the early 60's, Evans gimmick was pulled out from under her. It wasn't until Evans decided to renew the act as a tribute that she got her career rolling again. As burlesque died away, Evans went into retirement.

It was only after the death of fellow stripper (and founder of Exotic World) Jennie Lee, that Evans took up the mantel as keeper of the burlesque flame.

Even though she is now in her late 60's, Evans can still be seen giving tours with a feature boa around her neck, a sway in her hips, and a glamorous gleam in her eye.

Harold Lloyd nexus

From Harold Lloyd's "Hollywood Nudes in 3-D": For burlesque star Dixie Evans, whom Harold Lloyd photographed throughout the 1950's, the gimmick was a spot-on imitation of Marilyn Monroe. When Dixie performed at Minsky's, a famous burlesque house, she imitated the actresses' facial expression and hippy walk perfectly.

"I love the burlesque shows," Harold once told her. When he was a boy, he worked backstage at the local burlesque house and would bring the performers coffee between their acts. He was fascinated by the baggy-pants comics and even more fascinated by the attractive young dancers.

Her profession always seemed more fascinating to him than his own career. One night in New York City, after dining at Gallagher's Steak House, they strolled across 52nd Street, and the doorman at all the nightclubs recognized Dixie. "Good evening, Miss Evans!" they called out. Everyone knew the glamorous burlesque, but no one recognized the famous film star without his trademark glasses. Harold found it all very amusing. "I'm out with a big star tonight," he beamed.