Evelyn West
Encyclopedia
Evelyn West aka Evelyn "$50,000 Treasure Chest" West, aka "The Hubba-Hubba Girl", was a burlesque legend of the forties, fifties, and sixties.
Evelyn West was born Amy Mae Coomer, in Adair County, Kentucky
. Her parents were Henderson and Annie Coomer of the poor farming community of Elroy, Kentucky. A few years after her birth, her parents divorced. Annie and Amy moved to Illinois where her mother remarried Curtis Hinds of Petersburg, Illinois
, where Amy grew up on a farm.
Her two brothers, many years older than Amy remained in Kentucky with their father.
Amy started working at the Illinois State Fair in a sideshow. Her career was not recognized until she was seen in a 1940s newspaper clipping for a performance in Calumet City. During World War Two, Amy and her mother, Annie came to Sacramento, California. Amy went to work at Mather Army Air Field. After World War II, she got a job stripping at the President's Club on Market Street in San Francisco. In 1947, she made the film "A Night at the Follies" in Los Angeles. She left California for Missouri. In her act she used a dummy of "Esky" the mascot of Esquire magazine as her pseudo lover. By the 50s, Amy had married club promoter, Al Charles. They had no children together.
.
Quite the comedienne, she would often quip to her audience "I know you're looking at my shoes."
Evelyn West was also an ardent publicity seeker. She tried to legally change her name to Evelyn "$50,000 Treasure Chest" West at the Menard County Circuit Court, threw a tomato at rival Anita Ekberg
, appeared at nudist weddings, charged with indecent exposure, threatened legal action against contemporaries Tempest Storm
and Jane Russell
, and openly criticized Marilyn Monroe
and Jayne Mansfield
. According to one pinup fansite, Evelyn was quoted as saying,
West was widely photographed and depicted in pinup calendars and artwork. A couple examples of those who took Evelyn's picture are photographer/former model Bunny Yeager
and Tom Kelley (rose to fame for his Marilyn Monroe calendar). Her only known film credit was for A Night at the Follies (1947). She appeared uncredited as "the cook" in Rhythm on the River(1940) and as "woman in theater" in Birth of the Blues(1941).
. When Tempest Storm
and Blaze Starr
appeared to full houses at the Mitchell Brothers
in San Francisco, Art and Jim Mitchell approached West to come to their theatre. At nearly sixty, Evelyn West declined the offer. A long time St. Louis Cardinals
baseball fan, late in life she rooted for the Florida Marlins
. She sold collectibles through eBay
and made friends with fans online.
to publish her obituary since she had no known next of kin. After hearing of her death and years of hard research, some relatives have made the connection. Evelyn West's half-sister, Myrtie Coomer, born 1933 is alive and well near La Grange, IL.
She has many, many other relatives living in Wisconsin, California, Kentucky, and elsewhere.
Early years
Evelyn West was born Amy Mae Coomer, in Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population is 18,656. Its county seat is Columbia, Kentucky. The county is named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky ....
. Her parents were Henderson and Annie Coomer of the poor farming community of Elroy, Kentucky. A few years after her birth, her parents divorced. Annie and Amy moved to Illinois where her mother remarried Curtis Hinds of Petersburg, Illinois
Petersburg, Illinois
Petersburg is a city in Menard County, Illinois, on the bluffs and part of the floodplain overlooking the Sangamon River. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,299 at the 2000 census, and 2,185 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Menard...
, where Amy grew up on a farm.
Her two brothers, many years older than Amy remained in Kentucky with their father.
Amy started working at the Illinois State Fair in a sideshow. Her career was not recognized until she was seen in a 1940s newspaper clipping for a performance in Calumet City. During World War Two, Amy and her mother, Annie came to Sacramento, California. Amy went to work at Mather Army Air Field. After World War II, she got a job stripping at the President's Club on Market Street in San Francisco. In 1947, she made the film "A Night at the Follies" in Los Angeles. She left California for Missouri. In her act she used a dummy of "Esky" the mascot of Esquire magazine as her pseudo lover. By the 50s, Amy had married club promoter, Al Charles. They had no children together.
Career
A fixture at the Stardust on the old DeBaliviere Strip in St. Louis, Evelyn West was best known for her large (39½ inch) bustline. She was reported to have insured her breasts for $50,000 through Lloyd's of LondonLloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
.
Quite the comedienne, she would often quip to her audience "I know you're looking at my shoes."
Evelyn West was also an ardent publicity seeker. She tried to legally change her name to Evelyn "$50,000 Treasure Chest" West at the Menard County Circuit Court, threw a tomato at rival Anita Ekberg
Anita Ekberg
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
, appeared at nudist weddings, charged with indecent exposure, threatened legal action against contemporaries Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm is the stage name of an American stripper, burlesque star, and motion picture actress. Along with Lili St. Cyr and Blaze Starr, she was one of the best known burlesque performers of the 1950s and 1960s. She is regarded as having one of the longest careers as a burlesque performer,...
and Jane Russell
Jane Russell
Jane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
, and openly criticized Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
. According to one pinup fansite, Evelyn was quoted as saying,
"And what would you say if I told you, strictly on the Q.T., that Jane Russell's figure ain't what it used to be and that Marilyn Monroe's much-vaunted shape is as phony as her yearning for the Karamazov brothers?
"As far as Jane is concerned, she is way down from her erstwhile 38 bosom...and Marilyn is about four inches removed from the 36 they claim for her."
West was widely photographed and depicted in pinup calendars and artwork. A couple examples of those who took Evelyn's picture are photographer/former model Bunny Yeager
Bunny Yeager
Bunny Yeager is an American photographer and former pin-up model.Born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. Yeager became one of the most photographed models in Miami. After retiring from modeling, she began her career behind the camera. She met Bettie Page in 1954, and took most of her photographs...
and Tom Kelley (rose to fame for his Marilyn Monroe calendar). Her only known film credit was for A Night at the Follies (1947). She appeared uncredited as "the cook" in Rhythm on the River(1940) and as "woman in theater" in Birth of the Blues(1941).
Retirement
After her husband Al Charles died, West lived quietly as Amy Charles in Hollywood, FloridaHollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
. When Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm is the stage name of an American stripper, burlesque star, and motion picture actress. Along with Lili St. Cyr and Blaze Starr, she was one of the best known burlesque performers of the 1950s and 1960s. She is regarded as having one of the longest careers as a burlesque performer,...
and Blaze Starr
Blaze Starr
Blaze Starr is an American former stripper and American burlesque star. Her vivacious presence and inventive use of stage props earned her the nickname "The Hottest Blaze in Burlesque"...
appeared to full houses at the Mitchell Brothers
Mitchell brothers
The brothers James "Jim" Lloyd Mitchell and Artie Jay Mitchell were pioneers in the pornography and striptease club business in San Francisco and other parts of California from 1969 until 1991, when Jim was convicted of killing Artie.They opened the O'Farrell Theatre in 1969 as an adult cinema...
in San Francisco, Art and Jim Mitchell approached West to come to their theatre. At nearly sixty, Evelyn West declined the offer. A long time St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
baseball fan, late in life she rooted for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. She sold collectibles through eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
and made friends with fans online.
Death
Evelyn West died as Amy Charles in 2004 in Florida. Due to her reclusive lifestyle and no immediate family, her death almost went unnoticed. A fan of West's, Terry Klasek, was responsible for contacting the St. Louis Post-DispatchSt. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
to publish her obituary since she had no known next of kin. After hearing of her death and years of hard research, some relatives have made the connection. Evelyn West's half-sister, Myrtie Coomer, born 1933 is alive and well near La Grange, IL.
She has many, many other relatives living in Wisconsin, California, Kentucky, and elsewhere.