The city’s theatres including the Empire and City Varieties played host to shows from Europe and beyond aimed at providing titillation for audiences during the 1950s and 1960s. Each show boasted suggestive and seductive names from Striptease Continentale through to Bubble and Peep. Others used the names of the headline acts such as Peaches Page, Alma Cadillac and Tui Alba to sell tickets for twice nightly shows and a matinee performance. These playbills showcase a different era of taste and decency and showcase society’s attitudes towards sex, nudity and beauty. They are published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: 43 closed Leeds pubs which will stir fond memories for drinkers LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP NEWSLETTERS: Sign up for free news and sport emails
![Memories of peep shows which served up a saucy striptease on stage in Leeds.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgwYzE4M2VmLThjYjgtNDlhYS04N2QyLTRlN2Q2NTU1NmQ3MTozMjJkNGEyZS1mMmVlLTQyOWItYTU3Ny0yMDg1MGFhNTg0MTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
1. Peep shows
Memories of peep shows which served up a saucy striptease on stage in Leeds.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
!['Fabulous strip star from Vienna' Alma Cadillac took centre stage in this show at the City Varieties in October 1960.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzYzBmNDhhLWNlMjItNDZmNC1hYjU0LTBkNWM3OTkwZGMxMTo0M2RhNDQzOS03NzBlLTQzYjctODI4Yi1iMjg5NWE5ZTc4MjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
2. Spectacle of Striptease
'Fabulous strip star from Vienna' Alma Cadillac took centre stage in this show at the City Varieties in October 1960.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![The Latin Quarter Peep Show staged at the City Varieties in April 1967 featured 'exotic New Zealand strip star' Tui Alba.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM2ZDQzOWZjLTM4NDEtNGVlYS05YTUxLTc2N2FkMTQ3ZTU2MDpjOGMwNDZhYS1jYmExLTRkZjItYWEwOC1lZWNlYmIxN2EyY2I=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
3. Latin Quarter Peep Show
The Latin Quarter Peep Show staged at the City Varieties in April 1967 featured 'exotic New Zealand strip star' Tui Alba.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![July 1957 and audiences at the Empire Theatre were looking forward to a new high speed Parisienne peep-show. It featured the exotic Abul La Fleur, a sensation of two continents whose act included Europe's greatest 'shake' dance.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFkZTlhNWE3LTQ4MDctNDk0ZC04MjRmLTE4NmQwNjIzM2E2NjoyZmMyN2I4ZC01MWY1LTQwNWMtOTNhNy0xZjc5MWJmNDg4MDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
4. Toujour L'Amour
July 1957 and audiences at the Empire Theatre were looking forward to a new high speed Parisienne peep-show. It featured the exotic Abul La Fleur, a sensation of two continents whose act included Europe's greatest 'shake' dance.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![The Empire Theatre staged the French Folies-Revue in July 1956 which pledged 'French models' and 'the sauciest of shows'.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY4MWNiZjhiLWE2ZjMtNDgzYi04MzFmLWMxMDA1NDhjZjBkMTo1ZjMwMWM3NS1lNDQ2LTRiMGYtYjk3Zi02NmM4MjQ4MjczNGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. The French Folies-Revue
The Empire Theatre staged the French Folies-Revue in July 1956 which pledged 'French models' and 'the sauciest of shows'.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![Britain's most publicised 'gimmick girl' Peaches Page brought her 'provocative peep show' to the City Varieties stage in November 1957. She was billed as being number one in the 'hip parade'.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM1ODEzYmVmLWFkNTctNDI2NC1iYzdlLTE1N2ViZTkyZWViYzo3YjZmYjk5Ny0wYmNmLTQ1ZTItYmJkZC1mM2FmZTY0NGIzNTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Peaches Page
Britain's most publicised 'gimmick girl' Peaches Page brought her 'provocative peep show' to the City Varieties stage in November 1957. She was billed as being number one in the 'hip parade'.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net