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Legendary Stripper Carol Doda Dies At 78

“American striptease artist Carol Doda poses in a coat, miniskirt, and boots under a marquee baring her name outside the Condor, a strip bar in San Francisco, California, 1970s”. She died Monday, November 9, 2015 at age 78. Doda rode onto stage atop a piano on an elevator platform, debuting her act the same day President Lyndon B. Johnson drew half-a-million people in a visit to San Francisco. It wasn’t long before the big news in town was “The Girl on the Piano”. A neon sign was commissioned by the Condor Club that featured a likeness of Doda. Longtime friend Dick Winn told the San Francisco Chronicle that Doda was a “wonderfully caring person” and a good listener always willing to give advice.“She was much more than just dancing, ” Winn said.“For me and my pals Carol will always be one of the boys, ” Housekeeper added.Doda grew up in San Francisco and dropped out of school in the eighth grade.

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The Condor Club even marked the 50th anniversary of Doda’s first topless dancing performance with a 2014 celebration, complete with an appearance by drag queen D’Arcy Drollinger dressed up as the iconic performer.

Doda described performing in San Francisco during the height of the women’s liberation movement: “The women used to parade outside, saying, ‘Burn your bras, burn your bras, ‘ and I said, ‘What are you talking about?”

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She was not the first stripper to go completely bare-breasted but the first to do so in a USA venue where it was legally sanctioned, according to Condor assistant manager Mike Rickson. She never married or had children. Friends say Doda’s legacy should be her kindness and humor. She went on to form a band, the Lucky Stiffs, and later opened a lingerie store on Union Street, Champagne and Lace. She would also serve as spokesmodel for San Jose television station KGSC-TV Channel 36 (which would later become KTVU Fox 2’s sister station, KICU-TV 36), appearing in commercials promoting “the ideal 36”.

Carol Doda