A combination vaudeville act and musical revue, follies have been a staple of American entertainment since Florenz Zeigfeld brought his Zeigfeld Follies to Broadway in 1907. The elaborate shows—featuring flashy costumes, song and dance numbers, and a bevy of beautiful showgirls—became so popular that towns across the U.S. put on their own productions.
Such was the case in 1951 when The Junior League of Charleston put on its “Follies of ’51” fundraiser featuring a cast of 100 locals. In a full-page article on the event, the News & Courier reported, “The Follies girl is the symbol of entertainment, wit, spice, and glamour...” And given the look of lovely league cast members Mrs. Horace G. Smithy, Miss Margaret Read, and Mrs. A. Franz Witte, Jr., pictured here, who could claim otherwise?
