If you grew up in Philadelphia during the 1930s you lived under the yoke of the Pennsylvania Blue Laws which were originally enacted in the seventeenth century when the Commonwealth was founded by God-fearing Quakers. There were no movies on Sunday and you couldn't slake your thirst on the Sabbath unless you joined a private club. Moreover, the professional baseball teams - Athletics and Phillies - couldn't play after sundown on Sunday. WWII changed much as the defense plants were working 24/7. But amid this bastion of Bluenosed bumbling sat the TROC Burlesque Theatre at 10th & Arch Sts - north of Market St. (NOMA) featuring a baggy pants comedian Billy "Cheese & Crackers" Hagan followed by a parade of exotic dancers or "ecdysiasts" with names such as Tempest Storm, Jade Green or Sue Veneer. It might be raided on occasion but remained open as the politicians were probably among those bald headed guys in the front row. We juveniles referred to the place as the Theodore Roosevelt Opera Company.
tjs
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