Ericka Peterson, known professionally as Wildgirl, is an artist and former WFMU DJ. Through the late 1980s and early '90s, her Saturday night radio show Wildgirl's Rockin' Racing and her Wildgirl's Go-Go-Rama live shows at the Coney Island Sideshow are credited with giving birth to the go-go and burlesque revivals.[1]

Wildgirl
A photo of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and Wildgirl in April 27, 1991.
A photo of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and Wildgirl on April 27, 1991
Born
Ericka Peterson

In the mid-1980s, she began performing under the name "Wildgirl", and in 1986 also assisted in the reopening of the Coney Island sideshow, performing for a season as Serpentina, snake handler and contortionist. In 1987 she produced the first Wildgirl's Go-Go-Rama at the Sideshow by the Seashore.[2][3]

In 1996, filmmakers Addison Cook and Annie Ballard produced Wildgirl's Go-Go-Rama, a documentary on the last Coney Island show, which won several awards, including best documentary at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Morris, Bob (October 11, 1992). "THE NIGHT; A Little Gore Before Dinner". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-02-13. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Weldon, Jo (November 8, 2006). "Coney Island USA's Dick Zigun, Burlesque Impresario". Burlesque Beat. Archived from the original on 2022-02-13. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  3. ^ "WILDGIRL - Trademark Details". August 6, 1985. Archived from the original on 2022-02-13. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Wildgirl's Go-Go-Rama at IMDb