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
7. Peep-show Continental
August 1957 and glamourous strip tease star Peggy Louise, the 'golden girl with the gorgeous figure', was set to be centre stage at the City Varieties along with cute and curvaceous songstress Marda. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
8. Peaches Page
July 1957 and peep show star Peaches Page was back at City Varieties with a message for her audience: "I'm looking forward to seeing all of you again - and I do hope you'll enjoy seeing me again. But don't forget - the show is really suitable for adults only." Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
9. Striptease Continentale
This show at the City Varieties in March 1957 featured Europe's Queen of striptease Carla with her boudoir peep show and tassle dance as well as 'body beautiful' Patti Dalton, billed as 'nude, neat and naughty'. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
10. Bubble & Peep
The audience were treated to Rhoda Rogers taking a bubble bath at the City Varieties in August 1956. It was a show which also featured 'eight beautiful bubbly girls' and 'The Naughty Nighties'. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
11. A Peak at Piccadily
This show started its run at the City Varieties on Christmas Eve 1956 and featured seductive Val Kent being nude and naughty as well as Humper and Dink, television's burlesque Tyroleans. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
12. Shake it from Here
This twice nightly show at the City Varieties in March 1955 was billed as the 'peep show of the century'. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net