Roger Houston: Dance Photos and Stories

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Patchouli

I don't remember when it started, but I began rubbing a drop or two of patchouli oil on me before I ran out from the dressing room to the stage. I loved the smell of patchouli all the way back to 60's with all the incense and candles and psychedelic music! And I still do!

Monday, January 31, 2022

Hung Jury

We had to start the show at 9 and I was stuck in Chicago with jury duty. Ron, my friend in the dance group was going to pick me up at the Picasso sculpture around 7:30 (I think?), when I was sure I would be done for the day. Then we would drive to the night club about 20 or 30 miles away.

I couldn't believe it but the jury was still trying to decide....guilty or not guilty, and it was getting later and later.................. *to be continued*

Monday, January 10, 2022

"Slippin' An' A Slidin' ".

Soon after I started dancing at the Crazy Horse Saloon my dancing improved. Some of it was just because I was dancing so much (working six days a week at the club). But one of the reasons, and it made a big difference!... was... I was able to slip and slide on the dance floor. Now, I don't mean I moved like James Brown or something, but I was slippin' an a slidin' on the stage!

I can't remember how it started, but I began using baby powder in my shoes so they would slip off easily. And I started throwing a handful of powder on the dance floor...so now I could slip and slide and spin around all I wanted!

Thursday, December 16, 2021

My Costumes

I started dancing at the Crazy Horse Saloon in North Miami Beach in November 1978. I had been going to Florida for about three years with visits of one week to six months totaling around four visits. The first trip was to Largo to see my old high school and college buddy, Jim. I stayed a week and I decided I loved Florida and was going to spend a lot of time there. All my later visits were south of Largo, way down to Miami and Key West.

I vacationed, but I worked also, at many jobs. My latest job was at Miami-Dade Community College North where I was a model for the art department. It was there, one day, I overheard the model for the earlier class talking to someone about a dancing job he was getting at the Crazy Horse. I got the phone number...called...auditioned...got the job...and I was dancing!

All I had to do now was get some costumes!

I first just used the clothes I came to Florida with...a suit or two and my normal underwear...swimsuit style

briefs...with the smaller one worn under the larger (& I would usually roll the waistband around on the first brief to make it small as possible!...I'm a kind of do-it-yourself guy!)

***To Be Continued***

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Valerie Craft & Tempest Storm

My girlfriend, Valerie Craft--Miss Nude America, had worked with Tempest in the 70's and wanted to say hi to her at the Admiral Theater in Chicago where Tempest was doing shows all week. Valerie had worked at the Admiral before so we were familiar with the theater. We drove over and Valerie asked them to call Tempest and say Valerie was in the lobby and wanted to say hi. They said Tempest said to come right up to the dressing room. I sat down and relaxed while Valerie visited with her friend. After twenty minutes or so they both came down and I was introduced to the legendary Tempest Storm. Boy, that was such an honor! And I even got a nice souvenir photo of the great Tempest Storm standing next to me!

Saturday, October 30, 2021

I CrashThrough The Barrel I Danced On!! Mid-80's Night Club (part 2)

I was dancing at a nightclub in Niles, Illinois on Milwaukee Ave. The audience was small but lively. I always tried to put on a good show for the ladies so when I saw these big wooden barrels I thought I'd get up on top and dance just like I'd dance on tables and chairs and whatever was available besides just a stage or dance floor. It was great for awhile but then the wood broke and I crashed right through the barrel down to the ground but I was OK because I kept my arms near my body and I didn't hit the sides of the big barrel on the way down! Whew! that was a close one!!

Monday, October 11, 2021

"There's No Business Like Show Business"!

I never even dreamed I would be a male stripper! I didn't have to go to any school or anything...I just started dancing and got better as I went along. I didn't have to spend much on costumes either.

And...my natural looks were OK, and I had worked out for a number of years with weights and liked to swim and bike ride, so I was physically fit...at least good enough for the girls to want to watch me do my act!