Tempest Storm
American burlesque star and 'Queen Of Exotic Dancers.'
Tempest Storm, born Annie Blanche Banks on February 29, 1928, in Eastman, Georgia, was an American burlesque star, stripper, and film actress. Known as "The Queen Of Exotic Dancers," she ranked among the most famous burlesque performers of the mid-20th century, alongside Lili St. Cyr, Sally Rand, and Blaze Starr. Her career in exotic dance lasted over 60 years, and she continued performing into the early 2000s.
Storm left school after sixth grade and later revealed in 2016 that she had been sexually abused around that time. At 14, she worked as a waitress in Columbus, Georgia, and quickly married a U.S. Marine to gain emancipation from her parents, annulling the marriage after 24 hours. At 16, she married a shoe salesman; his sister worked with Storm at a hosiery mill. In a 1968 interview with Roger Ebert, Storm said she left that marriage after six months, still determined to reach Hollywood.
Around 1945, at age 17, Storm worked as a carhop at Simon’s Drive-In in Los Angeles, then as an underage cocktail waitress. A patron suggested striptease and arranged an audition with Follies Theater talent manager Lillian Hunt. Hired as a chorus dancer at $40 a week, Storm accepted a promotion to $60 a week as a stripper three weeks later. Hunt proposed the stage name Tempest Storm; when Storm asked for alternatives, Hunt offered Sunny Day. Storm chose Tempest Storm. She legally changed her name in 1957, one of the few strippers to do so.
Storm performed regularly at Oakland’s El Rey theater and clubs across the U.S., including Las Vegas. She appeared in men’s magazines and burlesque films such as *French Peep Show* (1950), *Paris After Midnight* (1951), *Striptease Girl* (1952), *Teaserama* (1955), and *Buxom Beautease* (1956). In 1953, she moved to Portland, Oregon, working at the Star Theater. After her then-husband John Becker bought the Capital Theater down the street, the Star’s owner brought Becker’s ex-wife, rival burlesque star Arabelle Andre, to perform as “John’s Other Wife,” sparking a “burlesque war” covered by *Life* magazine on November 30, 1953. In 1954, Storm was barred from billing herself as the “$50,000 Hollywood Treasure Chest” after a lawsuit by Evelyn West, the “Treasure Chest Girl.”
Storm’s life story, dictated to writer Bill Boyd, became the 1987 book *Tempest Storm: The Lady Is a Vamp*.
- Born
- February 29, 1928, Eastman, Georgia
- Died
- April 20, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Field
- Burlesque, striptease, motion picture acting
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Being one of the best-known burlesque performers of the 1950s–1970s; dubbed 'The Queen Of Exotic Dancers'; career spanning over 60 years
Lore & Background
Tempest Storm was born Annie Blanche Banks on February 29, 1928, in Eastman, Georgia. She left school in sixth grade and later revealed she had been sexually abused around that time. At 14, she worked as a waitress in Columbus, Georgia, and quickly married a U.S. Marine to emancipate herself from her parents; the marriage was annulled after 24 hours. At 16, she married a shoe salesman, but left after six months to pursue her dream of going to Hollywood. In Los Angeles circa 1945 at age 17, she worked as a carhop and then a cocktail waitress. A patron suggested striptease and arranged an audition with Follies Theater talent manager Lillian Hunt. After three weeks as a chorus dancer at $40 a week, she accepted a promotion to $60 a week as a stripper. Hunt proposed the stage name Tempest Storm; when Storm asked for alternatives, Hunt offered Sunny Day. Storm chose Tempest Storm. She legally changed her name in 1957, one of the few strippers to do so.
Reader's Guide
Tempest Storm's significance lies in her enduring career as a top burlesque performer during the mid-20th century, a period when burlesque was a major form of entertainment. She was one of a handful of performers—alongside Lili St. Cyr, Sally Rand, and Blaze Starr—who defined the era. Her career spanned more than 60 years, continuing into the early 21st century, which is unusual for the field. She was inducted into the Burlesque Hall of Fame, and one of her G-strings is part of the museum's display. Her 1987 autobiography, Tempest Storm: The Lady Is a Vamp, was based on dictations to writer Bill Boyd. She also appears in the 2016 documentary film Tempest Storm. Her personal life included four marriages, the last to actor and singer Herb Jeffries, which broke midcentury racial taboos and cost her work. She died in Las Vegas on April 20, 2021, at age 93.
Did You Know?
- Tempest Storm was born on February 29, 1928, making her a leap day baby.
- She legally changed her name from Annie Blanche Banks to Tempest Storm in 1957, one of the few strippers to do so.
- Her marriage to Herb Jeffries broke midcentury racial taboos, costing her work.
- She was still performing in the early 21st century, including at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Pageant events at least through 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tempest Storm?
Tempest Storm was an American burlesque performer, stripper, and film actress born Annie Blanche Banks on February 29, 1928, in Eastman, Georgia. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent exotic dancers of the mid-20th century.
What was Tempest Storm known for?
She earned the nickname 'The Queen Of Exotic Dancers' and was celebrated as one of the top burlesque and striptease acts of the 1950s through the 1970s, often mentioned in the same breath as Sally Rand, Blaze Starr, and Lili St. Cyr.
How long did Tempest Storm's career last?
Her stage career in exotic dance spanned more than sixty years, and she was still performing into the early 2000s, well after many of her contemporaries had retired.
What was Tempest Storm's real name and where did she come from?
Her birth name was Annie Blanche Banks, and she was raised in Eastman, Georgia, where she left formal schooling after sixth grade before eventually working as a waitress in Columbus and entering the entertainment world.
When and where did Tempest Storm die?
She passed away on April 20, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 93, bringing a close to a career that had defined the burlesque stage for generations.
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