1939
by Rand, Sally
1939. Photograph of Sally Rand's famous "Nude ranch [facsimile signature] was housed inside the fairgrounds at the Golden Gate International Exhibition at a club called The Music Box. she supposedly would perform in the buff but when she was challenged in court cases, she claimed there are audience never saw a thing because "the Rand is quicker than the eye" often leaving judges laughing (or frowning). Although she had been arrested at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair on the same charge, she had found the middle ground between absolute nudity and the illusion of being naked. Most collections lack this copy. The Bancroft Library has one picture of the girls standing before a fence. The Pennsylvania State University has four pictures but the photos are different. It is possible this is the only one not found in any of the standard libraries or museums. She was born as Harriet Beck and known originally as Billy Beck but Cecil B. DeMille created the name "Sally Rand" for her. (Inventory #: 025115)