- Gertie La Rue: Take your hands off me, you dirty psalm-singin' polecat! If the truth were only known, you want me just like all the rest!
- Gertie La Rue: What do I care about *Mack*? He's only the manager of the show. I'm the star. I'm the big shot around here. Nobody tells *me* what to do. I tell them!
- Stella Van Johnson: Mighty big talk, Gertie. But, it's that kind of a big "I" and little "you" that always gets you into trouble. All you ever think of is yourself. And the worst part of it is, the whole company has to pay for your dirty ways.
- Diamond Joe: Now, ladies and gentlemen, it is a privilege and a pleasure to introduce to you at this time the greatest star that has ever hit this island, that star of stars, coming to us directly from Harlem, Miss Gertie La Rue!
- Gertie La Rue: Howdy, folks, howdy. I think you're all swell!
- Diamond Joe: Gee, Gertie, you got a heart as big as gold. No wonder I'm crazy about you.
- Gertie La Rue: Same old Joe. Still jivin'.
- Mama Bridges: I know this island isn't like Harlem. It's hot here and the mosquitos are bad. But, you girls will get used to it in a couple of weeks.
- Papa Bridges: Miss La Rue, as owner and manager of the Paradise Hotel, I take this opportunity and on behalf of myself and my wife, to welcome you to the Paradise Hotel.
- Mama Bridges: Consider us your 'umble servants.
- Gertie La Rue: Servants, nothing! Just pals.
- Gertie La Rue: Do you think I like being in this hot hole? Don't you think I want to get back to Harlem? I know I had to leave. But, don't worry. I ain't gonna do nothin'. We'll stay here until this thing blows over and Seventh Avenue and 135th Street here we come.
- Jonathan Christian: A lady? A wonder God doesn't strike you dead. She's a painted trollop! You should have seen her on the boat, carryin' on with all of those men. She's a jezebel, I tell you!
- Gertie La Rue: I got a Sugar Daddy, a sailor, marine, and a preacher man - if I want to take the time to work on him. How am I doin' kid?
- Manager: If you give her half a chance, she'll give a guy the runaround.
- Diamond Joe: Oh, yeah?
- Manager: That's why they call her Dirty Gertie.
- Diamond Joe: [laughs] A little wildcat, eh?
- Ezra Crumm: I was just thinkin', Mr. Christian, that I ought to see that show tonight. If I don't see that show, I can't tell you what an awful sinful thing it is. Don't you think I ought to see that show, Mr. Christian?
- Diamond Joe: Gertie, you know, I've been lookin' forward to this moment for a long time, ever since I saw you do your striptease in Harlem, two years ago. God, what an eyeful!