The Guy Sisters (1920s)

The Guy Sisters, Christiane & Mary Guy, vintage French Postcard, circa 1920s via

Vintage Photos of Ziegfeld Follies Girls

The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. It was founded by Florenz Ziegfeld and his wife Anna Held in 1907  – the inspiration was the Parisian Folies Bergère.

The Ziegfeld Follies were also famous for many beautiful chorus girls commonly known as Ziegfeld girls, usually wearing elaborate costumes by designers such as Erté, Lady Duff Gordon or Ben Ali Haggin.

Ziegfeld girl, Marion Benda c. 1920’s via

Ziegfeld Model by Alfred Cheney Johnston via

Jean Ackerman, Jeanne Audree, Myrna Darby and Evelyn Groves by Alfred Cheney Johnston, ca. 1927 via

Lilyan Tashman performing in Ziegfeld follies via

Ziegfeld Follies by Alfred Cheney Johnston via

Ziegfeld Girl Mary Eaton by Alfred Cheney Johnston via 

Marion Davies, Ziegfeld girl, by Alfred Cheney Johnston, 1924 via

Ziegfeld Follies via

Ziegfeld Follies via

Barbara Dean, Ziegfeld Follies via

 

Vintage Photos Featuring The Fabulous Dolly Sisters

The sisters, Roszika (later known as Rose or Rosie) and Janszieka (later known as Yansci or Jenny) Deutsch, were born on October 25, 1892 in Budapest, Hungary.  Their parents, Julius and Margaet Deutsch, emigrated to the United States in 1905. As children, the sisters trained as dancers and began earning money in beer halls as early as 1907.

In 1913, the Dolly Sisters decided to try to forge separate careers. Rosie appeared in The Whirl of the World on stage while Jenny teamed up with dancer Harry Fox (whom she married in 1912) in Honeymoon Express.  Jenny and Fox also toured the vaudeville circuit as a dance duo. Both sister made their film debuts in 1915: Jenny in The Call of the Dance and Rose in Lily and the Rose.

After World War I ended, the Dolly Sisters moved to France where they bought a chateau. They toured the theatres and dance halls of Europe and were courted by numerous wealthy men and royalty including Carol II of Romania, Christian X of Denmark and Alfonso XIII of Spain.

While in Europe, the sisters became well known for gambling excursion at casinos and horse tracks which were usually financed by wealthy admirers.

By early 1927, the Dolly Sisters’ popularity began to decline. Their highly publicized Paris show A vol d’oiseau, closed after eight weeks. The sisters spent more time gambling than performing and eventually retired by 1929.

In 1945, 20th Century Fox released the biographical film The Dolly Sisters. June Haver portrayed Rosie and Betty Grable portrayed Jenny.

The Dolly Sisters via

Madame d’Ora- The Dolly Sisters, 1928-1929 via

The Dolly Sisters via

The Dolly Sisters via

The Dolly Sisters via

The Dolly Sisters via

Birds of a Feather (1920)

Washington circa 1920s. “Mrs. Gaillard.” From a Harris & Ewing portrait series depicting society types in historical and theatrical costumes via

Parisian Showgirl Minstinguett´s Remarkable Headwear

Jeanne Bourgeois (1875-1956) made her debut as Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris in 1895 and went on to appear in venues such as the Folies Bergère, Moulin Rouge and Eldorado.

Her risqué routines captivated Paris, and she went on to become the most popular French entertainer of her time and the highest paid female entertainer in the world, known for her flamboyance and a zest for the theatrical. In 1919 her legs were insured for 500,000 francs.

Mistinguett by Lucien Waléry, 1920s via

Mistinguett, 1920s via

Mistinguett by Lucien Waléry, early 1920s via

Mistinguett by Lucien Waléry, ca. 1925 via

Mistinguett, ca. 1930 via

Mistinguett by Paul Stone Raymor, 1920s  via

Mistinguett by Paul Stone Raymor, 1920s  via