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Elva Larsen wanted two things for her 100th birthday: a letter from the Queen and a male stripper

When Elva Larsen asked for a male stripper to visit her Melbourne nursing home for her 100th birthday to give her “the full monty”, she wasn’t joking.

Elva Larsen on her 100th birthday with stripper Johnny Star and her birthday cake.
Elva Larsen on her 100th birthday with stripper Johnny Star and her birthday cake.

When Elva Larsen requested the full monty for her 100th birthday, she wasn’t kidding.

The Essendon birthday girl got all she wished for — and more — when “Johnny Star” visited her aged care home on Sunday.

Her daughter, Carolynn Larsen, tells us the residence happily granted her mum’s highly unusual request for a male stripper.

Elva Larsen's first look at Johnny Star.
Elva Larsen's first look at Johnny Star.
Elva Larsen pulls off Johnny Star's belt.
Elva Larsen pulls off Johnny Star's belt.

“There’s still some cheek in the old girl!” Carolynn says.

“Her reactions made me laugh till I cried, especially when she covered her eyes only to peek through her fingers.

“The young man played up to her beautifully — playful and teasing but not too sexy and only Mum got the full monty, and that only briefly.”

Elva giggled and declared her guest was “very naughty” as she smacked his partly bared bottom.

Elva Larsen with stripper Johnny Star.
Elva Larsen with stripper Johnny Star.
Elva gets her birthday wish.
Elva gets her birthday wish.

It was only a few friends and family present for the show, and Johnny, from Magic Men Australia, was more than happy for us to share these photos.

Johnny says he double checked with the organiser when he arrived to find out whether he should leave a little more than usual to the imagination.

“She said, ‘No, she definitely requested the full monty,’” he tells us.

“All she was saying the whole time was ‘I’m going to pinch his bottom’ — and she did.”

Elva is Johnny’s oldest customer in his 10 years in the industry — by about 40 years.

“It was definitely a Melbourne first for the industry if not an Australian first,” he says.

But then Elva has never been one to do things by the book – or by halves.

“Mum was always a doer,” Carolynn says.

“She taught me to read and write at home but she thought my younger brother Alan should go to kindergarten.

“Realising there wasn’t one in Essendon, she decided to start one. It became so successful that the local council took it over and she stayed on as assistant for many years.”

Elva Larsen reads her card from the Queen.
Elva Larsen reads her card from the Queen.

Elva’s other great thrill was getting a letter from the Queen.

“That had been her sole ambition since she was about 70,” Carolynn says.

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Check out In Black & White in the Herald Sun newspaper Monday to Friday to see more of our favourite stories from readers.

Jen Kelly
Jen KellyIn Black and White columnist

Jen Kelly has been the Herald Sun’s In Black and White columnist since 2015, sharing our readers’ quirky and amusing stories from the past and present. She also writes and hosts a weekly history podcast called In Black and White on Australia’s forgotten characters, featuring interviews with a range of historians, authors and experts. Jen has previously covered general news, features, health, city affairs, state politics, travel, parenting and books over more than 25 years at the Herald Sun.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-white/elva-larsen-wanted-two-things-for-her-100th-birthday-a-letter-from-the-queen-and-a-male-stripper/news-story/9f6ae463ffe0edd28614d9df7ba7eb83