A variety show that featured seasoned performers who were all at least 55 years of age was destined to be a hit in a nostalgic town like Palm Springs. The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies packed ’em in for 22-plus years (1991-2014) and helped catalyze the resurgence of Palm Springs as a resort destination.
The Follies restored the glamor of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre, which opened in 1936 when it hosted the premiere of Greta Garbo’s now-classic film Camille. In its heyday, the Plaza Theatre was also the site of national broadcasts by Bob Hope, Jack Benny and other stars.
The first time I attended the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theatre, I was 59 years old. Looking at the white-haired crowd, I felt like one of the youngest attendees in the place. That’s something Palm Springs can do for you.
The show’s producer, director and master of ceremonies was Riff Markowitz. During each show, he worked the crowd—many of whom were in their 70s and 80s—and singled out those over 90 and 100 for recognition. Move over, Branson.
Most were not disappointed in the show; in fact, more than 98 percent vowed to return. Age vanished once the curtain opened. You knew the long-legged lovelies onstage were between 55 and 87 years old—but it was hard to believe. Flashing as much leg and torso as was prudent, they danced, sang and even did the splits. They wore elaborate costumes and headdresses, some weighing 15 pounds or more.
Beverly Allen, at the age of 87, in 2005 was listed as “The World’s Oldest Still-Performing Showgirl,” according to the Guinness Book of Records. Like most of the seasoned Follies showgirls, her credits were dazzling, going back to dancing with Eddy Duchin and Tommy Dorsey, and entertaining troops for the USO in Europe during World War II.
The Follies lasted 22 seasons, constantly playing to sell-out crowds filling the restored theater’s 809 seats. The season ran from November through March, mostly Wednesdays through Sundays, with two daunting shows four days a week, and one show on Sunday. The shows were long, too, with two intermissions.
Right time, right place
The timing was perfect for an enterprise like the Fabulous Follies. The city wanted a tenant for the historic Plaza Theatre, abandoned in 1989 by the Metropolitan Theatre Company. Meanwhile, former Hollywood producer Riff Markowitz was bored with his retirement to La Quinta, after spending 30 years producing, writing and directing award-winning television series and variety specials for a host of famous talents. He also co-created and produced the dramatic series The Hitchhiker for HBO.
Upon his first visit, he realized the theater’s charm. Markowitz recalled: “Well this was just the ultimate sandbox for someone whose dream had always been to perform upon an authentic vaudeville stage.”
First, he had to convince the city to let him move into the Plaza Theatre, which he did via a 3-2 vote. In addition to assuaging the concerns of neighboring businesses, he and his partner, Mary Jardin, had to sink about $900,000 into renovating the old place. The show opened with slow sales during the first week. Then word of mouth took over—and Markowitz never looked back.
The show’s 165 employees commanded a large payroll, but more important to the community were the approximately 180,000 attendees each year. More than 40 percent of attendees reportedly came to Palm Springs just for the show. Only about 20 percent spent the night, but more than 75 percent grabbed a bite to eat, and 50 percent bought something locally. The concerns of the neighboring businesses turned to raves as group organizers bussed in attendees in all season long.
Not only were the townspeople won over; so was the media. The Washington Post said, “The regular standing ovations suggest that this is the right stuff in the right place at the right time.” The Today Show reported, “Great legs, great stamina, great sense of humor! Dazzling.” Doing them one better was ABC’s Day One with Diane Sawyer and Forrest Sawyer, which gushed, “The sexiest, most stunning showgirls in the business.”
Everything about the show was first rate, including the costumes. Markowitz hired designer Paul McAvene, whose his costumes for Les Miserables and Cats helped ensure their success. Each of the costumes was designed for each showgirl’s individual body.
Along with the popular song and dance numbers, each show featured various variety acts and a headliner. The most endearing variety acts were pure vaudeville. With straw hats and banjos, the Mercer Brothers, Jim and Bud, 85 and 88 years old, sang, tap-danced and just plain had fun—until Jim passed away in 2003.
Early on, one big name was hired as the headliner for the entire season, but sometimes illnesses forced Markowitz to scramble to find replacements. The late Donald O’Connor was the headliner for my first visit, but he got ill shortly after that show, and replacements filled the remainder of the season.
Markowitz later signed up four headliners to cover a season, with each doing about 50 shows. During my second visit, my friends and I were impressed by Carol Lawrence. Other headliners included Howard Keel, Frankie Laine, Anna Maria Alberghetti, The Modernaires, Peter Marshall, The Four Aces, Barbara McNair, Buddy Greco and Kaye Ballard.
Honoring the attendees
Markowitz loved interacting with the audience. He usually recognized various groups who came to town. If one group was seated in the back, he might make a comment like, “Boy, I hope you didn’t pay your leader for the expensive seats.”
After each show, the cast adjourned to the lobby to greet visitors departing the historic theater. In 2003, we met the lovely dance manager Leila Burgess, who could pass for 20 years younger than her admitted 69 years.
The show was even more of a “fountain of youth” for the cast than it was for the audience. Former Radio City Rockette and runway model Glenda Guilfoyle, at 71—also a mother of seven and grandmother of eight—said succinctly, “The Follies keeps me young.” Dorothy Kloss, 81 while in her ninth Follies season, simply added, “I no longer think about getting old.”
Of course, all good things must come to an end. The $1 million required to produce each new edition would eventually become too much, and the Follies’ last show was in May 2014.
The Plaza Theatre has gone virtually unused since, but it soon could come back to life, thanks to the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, which is raising funds to restore it to its original splendor. Learn more at savetheplazatheatreps.org.
Lily Tomlin recently summed up the restoration effort thusly: “The city of Palm Springs needs to restore one of its most iconic buildings—the Plaza Theatre. It’s been the heartbeat of downtown Palm Springs.”
Sources for this article include Follies promotional materials and various editions of The Desert Sun.
What happened to Riff and Mary?