.
PALM SPRINGS, California / The Desert Sun / January 16, 2009
Dorothy Kloss — the world's oldest showgirl, according to the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records — enjoyed a special moment in the limelight Thursday afternoon at The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet presented a proclamation to her declaring January 15 Dorothy Dale Kloss Day.
Kloss, 85, has been performing with the Follies for 14 years. Born in 1923, she began dancing at age 3 in Chicago. As a girl — somewhere between the ages of 10 and 13, she said — she taught an even-younger Bob Fosse how to tap dance. Fosse went on to become a famous choreographer.
Kloss was catapulted to stardom with her own show at the Empire Room in Palmer House Hotel. She went on to perform across the country with personalities such as Liberace, Mel Torme, Howard Keel, Kay Starr and Frankie Laine.
“I can't believe it,” Kloss told the mayor and Follies impresario Riff Markowitz during the presentation at the beginning of the third act. “I'm just thrilled.”
Dancer Dorothy Dale Kloss finishes her makeup backstage before the 1:30p.m. matinee show of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies on Thursday. Kloss, who is 85 and has been an entertainer most of her life, says her makeup takes about 20 minutes. “I’m the last one in and the first one out,” she said of backstage preparations.
“Dorothy Kloss is an inspiration,” Pougnet told the audience. “Her example and outlook on life is a true testament to the fact that getting older just means getting better.”
Audience members were impressed, too.
Enid Barron, 62, of Toronto said that when Kloss came down the steps, she thought Kloss was one of younger members of the troupe. “Then she turned out to be the oldest. She's really amazing.”
“It's fantastic,” said Marilyn Cameron, 76, of Roseville. “It's pretty amazing that she can do that. She has to work hard at it.”
Bill Gardner of Chicago added, “I'm 88 and you should see me in a bathing suit.”
Copyright ©2008 MyDesert.com.
Dorothy Kloss — the world's oldest showgirl, according to the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records — enjoyed a special moment in the limelight Thursday afternoon at The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet presented a proclamation to her declaring January 15 Dorothy Dale Kloss Day.
Kloss, 85, has been performing with the Follies for 14 years. Born in 1923, she began dancing at age 3 in Chicago. As a girl — somewhere between the ages of 10 and 13, she said — she taught an even-younger Bob Fosse how to tap dance. Fosse went on to become a famous choreographer.
Kloss was catapulted to stardom with her own show at the Empire Room in Palmer House Hotel. She went on to perform across the country with personalities such as Liberace, Mel Torme, Howard Keel, Kay Starr and Frankie Laine.
“I can't believe it,” Kloss told the mayor and Follies impresario Riff Markowitz during the presentation at the beginning of the third act. “I'm just thrilled.”
Dancer Dorothy Dale Kloss finishes her makeup backstage before the 1:30p.m. matinee show of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies on Thursday. Kloss, who is 85 and has been an entertainer most of her life, says her makeup takes about 20 minutes. “I’m the last one in and the first one out,” she said of backstage preparations.
“Dorothy Kloss is an inspiration,” Pougnet told the audience. “Her example and outlook on life is a true testament to the fact that getting older just means getting better.”
Audience members were impressed, too.
Enid Barron, 62, of Toronto said that when Kloss came down the steps, she thought Kloss was one of younger members of the troupe. “Then she turned out to be the oldest. She's really amazing.”
“It's fantastic,” said Marilyn Cameron, 76, of Roseville. “It's pretty amazing that she can do that. She has to work hard at it.”
Bill Gardner of Chicago added, “I'm 88 and you should see me in a bathing suit.”
Copyright ©2008 MyDesert.com.
