Under her stage name, Lynne O’Neill began to work as a burlesque dancer in Chicago. Her mother, who accompanied her to her shows, apparently had an idea for the gimmick that would advance O’Neill’s career. At her mother’s suggestion, O’Neill began to emphasize her garters, while performing. At the end of her shows, O’Neill would bestow garters to selected members of her audience. This act became a signature routine, and she styled herself as Lynne O’Neill, “The Original Garter Girl.”