endings

When the Great Depression bit into profits, Texas folded her tent and took it on the road. She took with her 40 --count 'em -- 40 fan dancers. She tried to open in Paris, but the French government denied her a permit. She promptly dubbed the show "Too Hot For Paris" and toured the U.S. instead. Unfortunately, she contracted amoebic dysentery while on tour in Vancouver, B.C. and died there on November 5, 1933. She was returned to New York, where 7,500 people attended her funeral. One month to the day after her death, prohibition was repealed.

After her death, she became something of a legend. There was the obligatory biopic from Hollywood: Incendiary Blonde (1945) a cleaned up vision starring the "spunky" Betty Hutton. There were also characters based on her persona in Lady for a Day ("Missouri Martin" 1933), Splendor in the Grass(played by Phyllis Dillar? Ouch! 1961), and The George Raft Story (1961). A television tribute was offered by Star Trek: The Next Generation, whose bar keeper was named Guinan (played by Whoopie Goldberg). A new film is in the works at this moment: Hello, Suckers. The first choice to star was Ms. Courtney Love, lead singer of Hole. When Ms. Love came a liitle, uh, unhinged, she was replaced by the singer currently named Esther (aka Madonna).

Texas Guinan

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