Sally Rand - Forth Worth, TX 1936

The name Sally Rand was in no way familiar to me until 60 minutes ago, and now I feel compelled to write a blog about her.

I've been doing research on West/Central Texas in the early 1930s because I'm writing a book that takes place there and then.. I might as well being doing research on Texas in the 2030s because I'm clueless to what was going on there, what they dressed like, and what type of modern advancements they were using. (by the way if you know anyone who would like to talk to me about what they know about the 30s in Texas, send them my way)


I've found a few stories that took place at this time. One was about the arrival of Sally Rand to Fort Worth Texas. She was a hit at the Chicago and New York World's fair in 1933 with her "Feather Dance" burlesque routine.



Once a condemner of Sally Rand, after hearing of the huge success the World's Fair had with her addition, the Fort Worth's council decided she would be a great investment for entertainment for the Forth Worth Frontier Centennial.

Dallas (the rival) would also be holding their Centennial and this would surely win a victory over them. For months, in 1936, billboards all over Texas read "FOR EDUCATION GO ELSEWHERE, FOR ENTERTAINMENT COME TO FORT WORTH". In a 90 day period, over 900 articles were written about her in Texas.

The billboards were of her and her girls dressed suggestively in western settings. There was a theme of a "Nude" Ranch.



Here she is, hangin' out at the Nude Ranch.


2 weeks ago I watched THE RIGHT STUFF. In the film there is a beautiful scene of the Astronauts being celebrated in Dallas. After eating food and sitting down Sally Rand performed the famous "fan Dance".

At the time, she was in her early 60s. I didn't know it was an actual dance and there was one woman who created it. Now I know.



This is her famous "bubble dance".


I think this is a spoof from Chaplin's the Great Dictator (1940)