A Gentle Mind Confused: The Life and Death of a Famous Stripper

Ron Silliman, poet and critic, who maintains a highly trafficked poetry blog posted an obituary from The New York Times on the WOM-PO list serve, a list devoted to poetry by women. The obituary announces the passing of Candy Barr who, in her day, was a famous 1950s “stripper and stag film star.” The obituary was relevant to the WOM-PO list because Barr published a book of poems, A Gentle Mind Confused, in 1972, and The Times printed an excerpt from the book’s title poem. (The book is now going for $2,745 on amazon.com. The price of the book reflects the fact that Candy Barr has become a cult figure).

It goes without saying that the stripper’s “stage name” (her real name was Juanita Dale Slusher) emphasizes a certain type of sexual fantasy envisioning a woman as an inexpensive yet tasty, un-nourishing yet harmless item that can be savored and then forgotten about after it is gobbled up and the wrapper discarded.

Slusher, whose mother died when she was young, was ignored by her step-mother and sexually abused by a neighbor and a baby-sitter. We now know that neglect and sexual abuse are not uncommon features in the childhoods of women who become public sex objects. (Marilyn Monroe, among others, spoke out later in life about the sexual abuse she endured as a child). Barr went on to become a prostitute as a teenager. She claims that soon afterwards she was drugged and forced to perform in the “blue movie,” Smart Alec.

The obituary is a fascinating text. It both consciously and un-consciously comments on our culture’s attitudes and anxieties about the life of women who do sex-work.  Here is the title of the obituary: “Candy Barr, 70; 1950s Stripper and Stag Film Star Personified the Joy and Danger of Sex.”

I am interested in the obituary’s use of the word “joy” in its title, a strange choice in relation to a figure who herself claims that she was broken down and coerced into the sex work she went on to do.

Here is the excerpt from her poem:

        Hate the world that strikes you down,

        A warped lesson quickly learned,

        Rebellion, a universal sound,

        Nobody cares, No one's concerned.

        Fatigued by unyielding strife

        Self-pity consoles the abused,

        And the bludgeoning of daily life

        Leaves a gentle mind confused.

These lines are not particularly effective as far as poetry goes (they are replete with generalizations, abstractions, predictable rhyme and meter, and the ideas offered are mostly obvious and blandly stated). But there are a few powerful moments: “Rebellion, a universal sound” makes one think of rebellion as a sound, thereby causing the sound of the word itself to ring. Also, the rhyming of “abused” and “confused” links the two words, offering meaning in their connection.

The author of the poem was writing about violence.  Look at some of the language such as the phrase “strikes you down,” and the words “abused” and “bludgeoning.” Barr's own words sharply contrast with the language used to describe her in the obituary, which emphasizes an "angelic face" and how Barr "became a landmark in the sexual liberation of Texas men."  The obituary quotes an article from the 1970s, which states, "The body was perfect, but it was the innocence of the face that lured you on." Sentences like these suggest an anxiety about admitting to the brutality of Barr's life--an "angelic" or innocent face helps the viewer to deny the emotional turmoil and "confused" internal state of the sex-worker.

If poems say anything about the inner life of a poet, then it is not difficult to conclude that Barr was struggling to understand the effects of bodily violation and sadism. Yet there seems to be a strong will, on the part of contemporary writers who write about strippers, pornography workers, etc., to ignore this aspect of a sex-worker’s life. Again and again, writers employ positive language to defend these women's lives. The use of the word “joy” is just one example of this.

Several recent books debunk this myth of the sex worker including Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy and Pornified: How Pornography is Transforming Our Culture by Pamela Paul.

The obituary quotes from the autobiography of actress Joan Collins who was trained by Barr for her role in a film as an “exotic dancer.” Collins wrote that "[Barr] taught me more about sensuality than I had learned in all my years under contract."

This version of “sensuality” led to a fifteen-year prison sentence for the possession of a minute amount of marijuana.  The "liberated" Texan men sought to punish the woman for their own violently-voyeuristic beahavior, which only served to hammer home the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. Barr went on to divorce four times. It seems that the only way Barr finally escaped the "bludgeoning of daily life" was to separate from relationships. Barr retired to a reclusive life in Texas, surrounded by her pets, the obituary tells us, and she said in an interview in 2001, "I like being left alone."

Comments

[Joshua]

Incredibly interesting. Was thinking of our culture in terms of sexuality alot a few months ago. The explicitness of our culture is insulting; personally, explicit sexuality like our culture deifies, is trite, boring and old. It's frustrating when people label it as progressive or liberation. It just shows we aren't a very scientific culture because we don't look at the impact of sex on our society, whether marriages or other relationships. I'm ranting, I'll leave off now.

[Dean]

Is there a connection between her "liberated" lifestyle and the weakness of her poetry?

It seems to me the "liberated" often expend so much creative energy in purposeless sexual exploits there is little left to sublimate into more rigorous artistic pursuits.

The sexual revolution has done double damage. It has brought enormous pain into the lives of thousands while, at the same time, sapping their ability to express their suffering with power.

[sunnyday]

"This version of “sensuality” led to a fifteen-year prison sentence for the possession of a minute amount of marijuana."

Was the sentence actually carried out? And did she stay in prison for the whole 15 years?

Hers is truly one sad life. I hope she somehow experienced spiritual fulfillment during her reclusive years.

I agree with Joshua and Dean on many points...

[Eve]

Dear "sunnyday,"
Candy Barr was paroled after three years, in 1963, and in 1967, she was pardoned. In 1969 she was arrested again for possession of marijuana, but the charges were dropped because of lack of evidence.

She briefly tried to restart her career in her 30s as a stripper after her prison term by dancing in front of a back drop of prison bars.

Times critic Kevin Thomas wrote of these performances: "Time has been kind to Miss Barr...[who] is in good, if slightly gaunt, form and is still an energetic dancer...from the audience, she seems a young woman with an aura of sadness and sorrow who is doing the thing she knows best."

[sunnyday]

I hope people in my country get to know about Candy Barr's life and how she deteriorated in every way toward the end. Some lawmakers and women's rights advocates (radical feminists) have been pushing for the legalization of prostitution and other forms of "sex work", claiming that this would be beneficial for the sex workers. But if only people have more faith in these women and help them believe that they can be and do so much more, I know they'll resolve to get out of the industry they're part of.

Thanks for the info, Eve. =)

[Ken]

What kept jamming my brain was her stage name: "Candy Barr".

Is that one of those dumb-sounding "Bond Girl" names or what?

[rougy]

I don't understand why people are bashing on her poetry. It's commendable that she even cared enough to write it. She experienced things that most of us wouldn't dream of. Had she a better education, I'm sure she would have better expressed her feelings. A legend has passed.

[Kathy]

I became acquainted with Juanita (aka Candy Barr) in 1967 in Houston. I met her though a mutual friend.
At the time I did not know anything about her reputation except that she was a top name dancer out of Dallas who had been in prison in Goree at Huntsville for three years for possession of marajuana. As we got to know one another she told me that the reason they gave her a whopping 15 year sentence was to make "an example of me", ie, to send a message to others that Texas would not tolerate drugs.
I heard that someone is writing a book about Candy. Wish I knew who that is and what kind of stories he/she is going to write about.
I will say this, Candy was a pot smoker but she was not a heavy smoker at all. I never saw her take a drink and she did not smoke tobacco. She was jaded, and knowing all that I do now about her youth it is no wonder, however, I don't think she thought she could do any better though she was intelligent but not very smart. To my knowledge she never made any attempt to acquire any skills in order to procure a legitimate vocation.
Juanita had a soft side to her and I think she always wanted a normal life.

[J in TX]

Hi, I live in a small Texas town near where she spent some time in her later years, and where she was *unjustly* -as everyone in town will tell you that was around then- used as an example. I have a signed copy of her book and I was surprised to read in your article that one was going for that much on amazon. Was it selling for that much or was that simply what someone was asking for it?

Growing up in the same area as her, having an appreciation for poetry and not the talent to create it, I can appreciate her book and her life.

[Ken]

May she rest in peace.

[Gail]

I knew Nita very well, we were good friends, I visited with her in Edna when she moved on her kinfolks back forty as she put it. When she first moved into the old shandy it had no bathroom to speak of and she had to carry water in the little house. That was when my dear friend gave up. she was in her early sixties then, but still prety as a picture. I love to sew and when we lived at the lake, I would venture to say, I made most of her clothes, at the lake, she just made ends meet the best she could. Nita might have been a stripper in her younger years but upon giving it up and getting older she was still beautiful. Yes, between the time she started stripping until she quit, she was a bit rude and pretty short with her tongue but I figured that out I think because she used to laugh about her old times. She and I were like sisters and I loved her as such.
I moved to Odessa from the lake and would always go back home to Brownwood every other week to see her, I had a jet boat and we would go out and girl talk and laugh and drink beer. Then she moved to Edna and I would get off work to go see her about every three months. And it was a shock to me when she died. I was told her daughter buried her in Abilene. I want to go visit her grave. Could you tell me what cemetery she is buried at in Abilene or did her daughter bury her in Brownwood, All my family is buried at Greenleaf. I live in Tyler now and I do not get home as often as I like. PLease see if you can find out where she is truly buried, si I can visit the grave and visit her awhile.
I would appreciate your not putting this letter on the weblog. I just need your help in finding her final resting place.
Thank you

[Abe Weinstock]

I, too, had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Barr in her era in the 1960s. I met her through my sister who, like Ms. Barr, started off working in the famous strip clubs in Dallas as a cigarette girl. At that time, my sister charged $1 a pack which was an outrageous price in those days, but the house got a cut, then she got a cut, but made a huge amount of money when she sat with customers and ordered only the best (but cheapest)champagne. She often cleared $500 a week which was great money in the 60's.

When Ms. Barr was sentenced to prison, the owner of one of the clubs (I won't mention his name, but you see it in print constantly in connection with Ms. Barr)told my sister he would like for her to become the new stripper to take Ms. Barr's place. My sister was horrified at such an offer and came close to slapping the man's face. He looked at my sister and said, "It starts off at $2,000 a week plus tips". My sister replied,"Where do I hang my clothes?

My sister became a stripper and even went to Vegas, but she never became the talent that was Candy Barr.

I wish I could have known Ms. Barr as a human being, not as a sex symbol or famous stripper. The time I spent with her (and my sister, and the other 'girls')was mostly work related. Being the gay man I am, I made some pasties for her and she laughed every time I brought in several new pairs for her to use.

She personally told me that the reason she had the marijuana is because her gangster boyfriend had her stash some at her home, and she was told that she either went to prison and did the time which he should have done or else! I think we know how that would have ended had she not followed orders.

She was a glorious person. I wish she'd had more joy in her life. We will miss her.

[M Berlin]

is there any chance of seeing her book reprinted?

for most people the important part of the poetry is the thought and feeling expressed, not the structure and grammar... and the thoughts expressed in "a gentle mind ... confused" are quite touching.