Mama Rose's Turn : The True Story of America's Most Notorious Stage Mother

Hers is the show business saga you think you already know--but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Rose Thompson Hovick, mother of June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, went down in theatrical history as "The Stage Mother from Hell" after her immortalization on Broadway in Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Yet the musical was 75 percent fictionalized by playwright Arthur Laurents and condensed for the stage. Rose's full story is even more striking. Born fearless on the North Dakota prairie in 1891, Rose Thompson had a kind father and a gallivanting mother who sold lacy finery to prostitutes. She became an unhappy teenage bride whose marriage yielded two entrancing daughters, Louise and June. When June was discovered to be a child prodigy in ballet, capable of dancing en pointe by the age of three, Rose, without benefit of any theatrical training, set out to create onstage opportunities for her magical baby girl--and succeeded. Rose followed her own star and created two more in dramatic and colorful style: "Baby June" became a child headliner in vaudeville, and Louise grew up to be the well-known burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. The rest of Mama Rose's remarkable story included love affairs with both men and women, the operation of a "lesbian pick-up joint" where she sold homemade bathtub gin, wild attempts to extort money from Gypsy and June, two stints as a chicken farmer, and three allegations of cold-blooded murder--all of which was deemed unfit for the script of Gypsy. Here, at last, is the rollicking, wild saga that never made it to the stage. Hers Is The Show Business Saga You Think You Already Know--but You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet. Rose Thompson Hovick, Mother Of June Havoc And Gypsy Rose Lee, Went Down In Theatrical History As The Stage Mother From Hell After Her Immortalization On Broadway In Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Yet The Musical Was 75 Percent Fictionalized By Playwright Arthur Laurents And Condensed For The Stage. Rose's Full Story Is Even More Striking.born Fearless On The North Dakota Prairie In 1892, Rose Thompson Had A Kind Father And A Gallivanting Mother Who Sold Lacy Finery To Prostitutes. She Became An Unhappy Teenage Bride Whose Marriage Yielded Two Entrancing Daughters, Louise And June. When June Was Discovered To Be A Child Prodigy In Ballet, Capable Of Dancing En Pointe By The Age Of Three, Rose, Without Benefit Of Any Theatrical Training, Set Out To Create Onstage Opportunities For Her Magical Baby Girl--and Succeeded.rose Followed Her Own Star And Created Two More In Dramatic And Colorful Style: Baby June Became A Child Headliner In Vaudeville, And Louise Grew Up To Be The Well-known Burlesque Star Gypsy Rose Lee. The Rest Of Mama Rose's Remarkable Story Included Love Affairs With Both Men And Women, The Operation Of A Lesbian Pick-up Joint Where She Sold Homemade Bathtub Gin, Wild Attempts To Extort Money From Gypsy And June, Two Stints As A Chicken Farmer, And Three Allegations Of Cold-blooded Murder--all Of Which Was Deemed Unfit For The Script Of Gypsy. Here, At Last, Is The Rollicking, Wild Saga That Never Made It To The Stage-- Prologue: The All-american Original -- Pt.1. Hospitality. Resilience On The Prairie -- Wild Prairie Rose -- The Unvanquished Seattle Schoolgirl -- Pt. 2. Rose : The Woman. Hovick V. Hovick -- The Baby Stands On Her Toes -- Madam Hovick : The Developer Of Children -- The Act Gets Curbed -- Dainty Bolshevick -- Half A Dozen Junes -- Front And Center -- Bathtub Gin -- The Malevolent Cipher -- Dr. Jekyll And Mrs. Hovick -- Hot Soup -- The Legal Debacle Follies -- West Coast Whirlwind -- Best Rest And Blackmail -- One Last Laugh -- Pt. 3. Rose : The Legend. Gypsy, A Musical Fable. Carolyn Quinn. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 261-306) And Index. Hers is the show business saga you think you already know--but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Rose Thompson Hovick, mother of June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, went down in theatrical history as "The Stage Mother from Hell" after her immortalization on Broadway in A Musical Fable . Yet the musical was 75 percent fictionalized by playwright Arthur Laurents, tailored to fit the larger-than-life personality of Broadway star Ethel Merman, and condensed for the stage. Rose's full story is even more striking. Born fearless on the North Dakota prairie in 1891, Rose Thompson had a kind father and a gallivanting mother who sold lacy finery to prostitutes. She became an unhappy teenage bride whose marriage yielded two entrancing daughters, Louise and June. When June was discovered to be a child prodigy in ballet, capable of dancing en pointe by the age of three, Rose, without benefit of any theatrical training, set out to create onstage opportunities for her magical baby girl--and succeeded. Rose followed her own star and created two more in dramatic and colorful "Baby June" became a child headliner in vaudeville, and Louise grew up to be the well-known burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. The rest of Mama Rose's remarkable story included two husbands and countless love affairs, the operation of a "pick-up joint" where she charged admission and sold homemade bathtub gin, wild attempts to extort money from Gypsy and June, two stints as a chicken farmer, and three allegations of cold-blooded murder--all of which was deemed unfit for the script of Gypsy . Here, at last, is the rollicking, wild saga that never made it to the stage. "Hers is the show business saga you think you already know--but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Rose Thompson Hovick, mother of June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, went down in theatrical history as "The Stage Mother from Hell" after her immortalization on Broadway in Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Yet the musical was 75 percent fictionalized by playwright Arthur Laurents and condensed for the stage. Rose's full story is even more striking. Born fearless on the North Dakota prairie in 1892, Rose Thompson had a kind father and a gallivanting mother who sold lacy finery to prostitutes. She became an unhappy teenage bride whose marriage yielded two entrancing daughters, Louise and June. When June was discovered to be a child prodigy in ballet, capable of dancing en pointe by the age of three, Rose, without benefit of any theatrical training, set out to create onstage opportunities for her magical baby girl--and succeeded. Rose followed her own star and created two more in dramatic and colorful style: "Baby June" became a child headliner in vaudeville, and Louise grew up to be the well-known burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. The rest of Mama Rose's remarkable story included love affairs with both men and women, the operation of a "lesbian pick-up joint" where she sold homemade bathtub gin, wild attempts to extort money from Gypsy and June, two stints as a chicken farmer, and three allegations of cold-blooded murder--all of which was deemed unfit for the script of Gypsy. Here, at last, is the rollicking, wild saga that never made it to the stage"-- Provided by publisher Hers is the show business saga you think you already know - but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Rose Thompson Hovick, mother of June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, went down in theatrical history as "The Stage Mother from Hell" after her immortalization on Broadway in Gypsy : A Musical Fable. Yet the musical was 75 percent fictionalized by playwright Arthur Laurents and condensed for the stage. Rose's full story is even more striking. Born fearless on the North Dakota prairie in 1892, Rose Thompson had a kind father and a gallivanting mother who sold lacy finery to prostitutes. She became an unhappy teenage bride whose marriage yielded two entrancing daughters, Louise and June. When June was discovered to be a child prodigy in ballet, capable of dancing en pointe by the age of three, Rose, without benefit of any theatrical training, set out to create onstage opportunities for her magical baby girl - and succeeded. Rose followed her own star and created two more in dramatic and colorful style: "Baby June" became a child headliner in vaudeville, and Louise grew up to be the well-known burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. The rest of Mama Rose's remarkable story included love affairs with both men and women, the operation of a "lesbian pick-up joint" where she sold homemade bathtub gin, wild attempts to extort money from Gypsy and June, two stints as a chicken farmer, and three allegations of cold-blooded murder - all of which was deemed unfit for the script of Gypsy. Here, at last, is the saga that never made it to the stage.--description provided by publisher