Dorothy Kloss performing at The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was a Ziegfeld Follies style dance and musical review show that played at the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California, United States,[1] seasonally from November to mid-May.[2] The Follies was founded in 1990 by Riff Markowitz and Mary Jardin.[3] Impresario Markowitz also served as the show's managing director and emcee. The show was often credited with helping to revitalize and maintain the downtown area by bringing in patrons from around the globe.[4] The Follies was unique in that it only featured performers 55 and older and holds Guinness World Records for this claim to fame.[5] It was the subject of a short documentary titled Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies which was nominated at the 70th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject Documentary.[6] A segment that aired on Seattle television station KOMO-TV that featured the Follies received an Emmy in 1997.[7] The shows attracted approximately 170,000 attendees yearly.[8]: 206  On June 5, 2013, co-founders Markowitz and Jardin announced they would close the Follies on May 18, 2014.[9]

Performers

The Follies had a cast of both featured and guest performers.

Featured Follies performers included:

Guest performers (headliners) included:[15]

  • Brad Cummings and Rex – a comedic ventriloquist variety act (2011–2012)
  • John Davidson – singer and comedian (2011–12)
  • The Diamonds – a Canadian Doo-Wop quartet (2011–12)
  • Maureen McGovern – singer and Broadway actress (2011–12)

Headliners included:[8]: 207 [2][16]

Production

Musician Johnny Harris served as the conductor for the entire run of the show.[23]

Connie Furr Soloman served as the primary costume designer for seasons 11–16.

References

  1. ↑ Johns, Howard (2005). Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars. Barricade Books. p. 320. ISBN 1569802971.
  2. 1 2 Marshall, Don (April 24, 2005). "Seniors shine in follies". Deseret Morning News. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News Publishing Co. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "'It Was Twenty Years Ago Today!' How The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies Became So Fabulous". YouTube. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  4. ↑ Kleinschmidt, Janice (July 27, 2004). "Follies mean business for local economy". The Public Record. Desert Publication, Inc. & Sharon Apfelbaum. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Article/Video: Fabulous Palm Springs Follies Is Still Kicking". AARP. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Oscars Countdown: And the nominees are ..." The Boston Herald. Herald Media, LLC. February 11, 1998. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ McNary, Dave (July 9, 2004). "Par seeks high-kicking aud for vaude". Daily Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Niemann, Greg (2006). Palm Springs Legends: creation of a desert oasis. San Diego, CA: Sunbelt Publications. p. 286. ISBN 978-0932653741. OCLC 61211290. (here for Table of Contents)
  9. ↑ Fessier, Bruce (June 5, 2013). "Palm Springs Follies set to exit stage left: Vaudeville-era entertainment revue will begin last season on Nov. 1". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, CA. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Beverly Allen, who was a showgirl at 87, dies in Los Angeles". AP Worldstream. Press Association, Inc. December 21, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  11. ↑ Kamzan, Josh (October 6, 2003). "James W. Mercer". Daily Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mireya Navarro (2 January 2005). "So Very Alive and Kicking". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Gordon "Whitey" (2006). Star Walk: A Guide to the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Palm Springs, CA: Hall/Sloane. p. 138. ISBN 978-0963868343. OCLC 810234068.
  14. ↑ Margolick, David (5 January 1995). "Kicking up Heels While Laughing Away the Years". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ "Palm Springs Follies: New Show".
  16. ↑ "Palm Springs Follies pays tribute to the golden age of burlesque". Redlands Daily Facts. Los Angeles Newspaper Group. August 4, 2004. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Kaye Ballard joins Palm Springs Follies". Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, CA. March 10, 2005. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Palm Springs Follies Opens". Inland Empire Business Journal. Daily Planet Publishing, Inc. November 1, 2004. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  19. ↑ Archerd, Army (March 23, 2004). "Just for Variety. (Celebrity Gathering)". Daily Variety. Reed Business Information, Inc. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  20. ↑ Sullivan, Paul. "Donald O'Connor hospitalized with pneumonia". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2013-04-16. and "Donald O'Connor Returning to State". AP Online. Associated Press. May 13, 1999. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Celebrate 26th Annual Black History Month with Host of Fun and Educational Events in February!". US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Palm Springs, CA: The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. February 7, 2013. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Ralph Young, big band singing legend, dies". AP Worldstream. Associated Press. August 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  23. ↑ Purdy, Greg, ed. (2012). "Music Men's Skills, Expertise Provide Melodic Sparkel to the Folies". Follies Confidential. The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies: 13.
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