Fred Byler "Fast Freddy born 10/8/55 deceased-4/6/93 - Source - http://www.nileshigh1974.org/class_profile.cfm?member_id=1126564 I have a high school picture to be posted but do not know how. Article from 1979 in the beginning http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948758-2,00.html
Fast Freddy and The Playboys with Scot Free a.k.a. Ken Wise-Historical Events and Timeline edit
"Fast Freddy and The Playboys" created by Fred Byler, and billed as "The King of Male Strippers", from Niles, Michigan. The first group of its kind and the pioneers of the traveling Male Dance Troup. Performing and singing to Female Only audiences across the United States throughout the 1980s to sold out crowds numbering in the thousands at a single venue. They traveled nationally as a group for more than a decade. Recording Artist Album Titled "Fast Freddy..For Ladies Only"(1980). The group was known for always arriving by Stretch Limosines wearing thier matching trademark white tailed tuxedos with red bow tie and cumberbunds. They were historically the first male exotic dancers to be seen by millions of Americans on many major television shows including including ABCs 20/20, The Today Show,The Phil Donahue Show, and The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, Etc. They were also featured in numerous national magazine articles including Time, Playboy, and Oahu Magazines. Leading Playboy and Playgirl Model "Scot Free" (Real Name Ken Wise) was named First Male in Striptease History to win the coveted Six Foot Tall World Champion Trophy for "Entertainer of the Year" (1984) at The Ponderosa Sun Club, Roselawn, IN. competing against over 40 female acts for the title. Much unlike the popular group known as Chippendales "Fast Freddy and The Playboys" brought a very classy show to hundreds of hometowns, large and small... rather than forcing ladies to travel to one single nightclub in Los Angeles, CA.
Here is a quote from your editor from above on this page: I have been unhappy with this article for a long time, but haven't had the time to fix it. I agree that what is currently done in most clubs is stripping or simply erotic nude dance. I would suggest just adding more material to this article, rather than creating a new article, because the dividing line is rather vague. The article can always be split up if it gets too long. ManoaChild 07:22, 20 August 2005 (UTC)
Another quote from this page on Image: Any pictures of male strippers?? You know its good to balance the article out. Feel free to take one yourself and upload it under GDFL. That's what I did. I'm not gay, so I'm not inclined to go take a pic of a male stripper. Sorry. Billy Blythe 05:33, 5 August 2006 (UTC)
Hi Colin, Surely you agree that the tour poster I own and have submitted far outweighs any image on this page thus far. Images links are above in a previous writing. One thumbnail and One larger image.
I feel it is clear that this page could really use a good image of "Real Male Dancers" that does not only apply to only the Gay community. Agreed?
I have written the article so that it in no way is a promotion for anyone or anything, as Fred Byler is no longer alive and I have been for decades out of the profession. In case you are interested, I was the "Cowboy" in that particular tour poster.
My main concern is that Fred Byler gets his due for all he did for the genre, some may not agree with the lifestyle but you can not disagree the impact on society as a whole that was "Fast Freddy and The Playboys"
In Short, the article is missing a HUGE gap in the history of the truth regarding the phenomenon started by Fast Freddy in the 80s. Without mention of same, the Striptease page may as well be null and void IMHO.
Thank you ever so much for all your time and consideration. if you feel the need to shorten the article before posting, just don't take out the historical events and facts.
ALSO A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...The tour poster will be the "Highlight of the entire page" alone!
"Fast Freddy" (Fred Byler) is looking down on us as I type...I just know it! Let us give him his due after these decades. He really was truly a visionary and brought joy to millions of women who otherwise were bored to death just sitting at home knitting socks for ungrateful husbands. What a great showman he was...He was not a stripper... He was an Entertainer and singer of Great Magnitude...Let us not forget also, THE FIRST IN WORLD HISTORY to do what he did!
I know you will do the right thing. Reread all my articles to get the full picture Colin, I have put a great deal of energy and thought into this. It's not everyday that one becomes a World Champion and the very first at something that has been around for thousands of years! This is great material for wikipedia IMHO! it really does deserve it's own page, you have tons of material now to make it so! Why it is so important to me now decades later even surprises me.
Maybe it is because I have kept a journals since 1976 and opened my safe a month or so ago and started to reminisce.
Maybe you simply don't realize how HUGE this was in the 1980s for the female gender! If you want, in the future I can send you additional material, Articles and photos to add to the page. yet, for now...let's do as you suggested and start small and see what happens. I know for a fact there are still MILLIONS of women still out there that remember "Fast Freddy and The Playboys" and smile from ear to ear!!!
Now I leave it in your very capable hands to do them all justice, We were the best of the best, from coast to coast! Wikipedia is incomplete without a memorialization to that wonderful period decades ago!
Please remember, before "Fast Freddy and the Playboys"...there was nothing for women because as far back as The origins of striptease as a performance art it has existed and even been proven from ancient Babylonia. That is thousands of years!
Bear in Mind...There is NOT ONE famous Chippendale Dancer...Just an endless supply of nameless young, mostly talentless young bodybuilder types that go on and go off, never to be heard from again after the curtain falls.
The only famous name (ever) from the Chippendales name was the scumbag Paul Snider who turned out to be a murderer who killed 1980s Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten and then himself. yet he gets a mention. Strange as it may seem, they always said truth is stranger than fiction. Fast Freddy had pressed an Album in 1980 and been on tour for a while before that ex gas station attendant stole his idea.
Your question was, is "Fast Freddy and the Playboys' worthy of a "Historical Entry"? I believe I have proved this point to no end. Without question, Over and over again, You have the power on your keyboard to make it happen my friend!
I Thank you Colin and look forward to how you represent "Fast Freddy and The Playboys" on your meritorious and informative compilation of subject matter.
As for my magniloquent, you can clearly see my dedication to this project.
Respectfully yours,
Kenneth D. Wise,
President,
ArtWise International Fine Art,
Palm Beach, Fl...
NOTE: Not long after writing this material, Kenneth Wise died in his Florida home on February 24, 2008. May you find peace and eternal love, my brother.
Here is the Image to please use with article uploaded to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:A1A_Fast_Freddy_and_The_Playboys_Thumbnail.jpg
Here is the same image in a larger format uploaded to WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:A1A_Fast_Freddy_and_The_Playboys_Tour_Best_Visual.jpg
