1939 NY World's Fair Masthead

Congress of Beauty

by David J. Cope
World's Fair Historian
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Congress of Beauty

The Herald Tribune summed up the whole sordid affair: “The daring publicity stunt stage in the World’s fair amusement loop on Sunday afternoon, May 7, to call attention to N. T. G.’s “Congress of Beauty” seemed a lively idea at the time, but nothing except woe, trouble and disaster have followed in the wake.”

Yvette Dare worked at the Congress of Beauty with her pet macaw Einstein. (It wasn’t until the final rehearsal that someone informed Miss Dare Einstein was a female.) The exotic dancer informed reporters she named her assistant after the famed scientist as the macaw also had a theory, “Strip Yvette.”

On that fateful Sunday, Yvette and Einstein strolled through the Amusement Zone when they happened to pass by the Seminole village. Inside Native Americans performed on their drums and Einstein flew into action.

Used to a drumbeat cue, Einstein began removing Miss Dare’s white pique vestee and silver fox scarf in front of stunned passersby. Fortunately, a press agent appeared, shouting: “This is terrible! She’ll probably be arrested.” Yvette searched for shelter, first in the Seminole Village and finally in the press room of “Strange As It Seems.”

The first policeman on the scene forty – five minutes later, after frantic phone calls from the press agent, called his superiors but refused to arrest Miss Dare, now fully clothed, much to the press agent’s chagrin. Within moments, a second official arrived and an arrest was made. Within a fortnight, both Yvette Dare and the press agent lost their positions at the Congress of Beauty.