Ziegfeld Girl, Doris Eaton Travis
On Tuesday, the last Ziegfeld Follies girl, Doris Eaton Travis, died at 106. She is one of the most inspiring persons I’ve heard about lately. She makes me realize I’m young and will still be young in the next 40 years. I have no excuse to not try something because of age (within reason of course). She starred in silents with legendary silent actors including Billie Dove, Donald Crisp, and Pearl White. Doris married her husband of over 50 years in her mid-40s. She got her GED in her 70s, her undergrad degree at age 88, and even worked on her Masters but decided to focus on her autobiography instead. Her last public performance appearance was on April 27th 2010 at the annual Easter Bonnet show on Broadway, a yearly event she attended since 1998. She even had a bit part in the Jim Carrey movie Man on the Moon.
Here is a video of her dancing at age 101
Part one of an interview from April 29, 2010
Part 2
Part 3
RIP – Doris Eaton Travis, 106, once measured 36-26-38. That got her into the Ziegfeld Follies at age 14. At a fundraiser 2 weeks ago, she apologized for not doing cartwheels. Instead, she dazzled the crowd with oldtime Follies kicks. http://urdead2me.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/rip-doris-eaton-travis/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like to read about people who are 100+ years old; it reminds me I have so much potential simply because I’m young (when she was my age, it was the 1920s!).
P.S. I liked the film “The Great Ziegfeld”, which is about the Follies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here. I love stories about 100+ years old. It’s like Grandma Moses didn’t start painting until her 70s and lived to be 101.
I like “The Great Ziegfeld” too. It was a bit long and I did take an intermission but very good. Did you know Luise Rainer who played William Powell’s common-law-wife in the film is still alive at 100?! She attended the TCM festival this year in LA. Dolores Hope, Bob Hope’s widow is 101, I believe. Interesting that Doris Eaton’s husband died at 100 I believe. It’s like they marry someone who will live long too. Gloria Stuart will be 100 this year on July 4.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw this thread on Luise Rainer’s IMDb board:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707023/board/flat/155379350
If you send her a stamped addressed envelope and a picture of her, she’ll autograph it and mail it back.
That means for the price of a postage stamp, you can get an autographed photo of a 1930s Oscar winner! She’s probably the last one alive, so this could be the last chance to get something like this. I’m tempted to do it myself. In fact, I’m searching through Google images right now looking for a pic I can send her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should do this too. I think we could also do the same for Joan Fontaine. You know she and Olivia de Havilland are still alive too. Don’t bother with Olivia though. She has lots of unanswered fan mail and probably won’t get to it. I’ll try to find the interview I once read about her fan mail.
Why don’t you Facebook friend Mickey Rooney? He’s been around forever. Ever watch his movies? I like his films except Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cristobal, did you ever contact Luise Rainer? Read a few posts up if you’ve forgotten.
LikeLiked by 1 person