Category is: Lou Walters’ World Famous Latin Quarter

A Dancer’s Life: Meet Mona Crawford

The 1943 Miss Delaware, who received her pageant title at age 14 after entering the competition on a dare, would go to dance and sing in many nightclubs around the country, appear on television, as well as The Great White Way. Mona Crawford, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, remembers an inspiration to perform at the… continue reading ›

Showgirl Spotlight: Carla Meyer Arndt

Carla Meyer Arndt was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to a Marge and Carl Meyer. Marge worked for Prudential Insurance in Newark, while Carla’s father was employed in the Garment District of Manhattan. As an adolescent, Carla assisted a dance instructor in the instructor’s basement of their local housing development. She would continue to help the… continue reading ›

A Dancer’s Life: Meet Lawrence Merritt, Part III

It is with deep sadness that while finalizing this article and working with Lawrence to document his story and memorabilia, we lost a great dancer. A wonderful friend and storyteller with a quick sense of timing and incredible experiences, Lawrence entertained as many while off stage as he did on. The John Hemmer Archive, and… continue reading ›

Our Crowning Glory, by Francine M. Storey

I was a 14 year-old dancer living with my family in Long Beach, California when I was invited to join the Long Beach Civic Light Opera Company, which was a semi-professional organization at that time. I was thrilled. Not only did I get to dance, but as the youngest member of the company, I was lovingly… continue reading ›

A Dancer’s Life: Meet Sal Angelica, Part I

Having enjoyed an illustrious and long career in musical theatre, dancer Sal Angelica’s list of credits are lessons in performing arts history.  His story began at a time and place of artistic fervor in America, and in particular in New York City. Sal, you’re currently living in Las Vegas where you have worked many shows,… continue reading ›

A Dancer’s Life: Meet Mollie Fennell Numark, Part II

I took the train with Betty [fellow dancer from Aladdin. See Part I of this article series] to London.  We arrived at the Prince of Whales Theatre where the auditions were to be held. Walking into a mob of female dancers, we thought we had a fat chance of getting the job. All morning groups… continue reading ›

A Dancer’s Life: Meet Mollie Fennell Numark, Part I

Born in England at the onset of The Great Depression, Mollie Fennell Numark embarked upon a dancer’s life under unlikely circumstances. Shaped by experiences from a world faced with vast uncertainty, her disciplined career brought her from the great stages of England to the most renowned American nightclubs of the mid-20th century. Mollie remembers her… continue reading ›

Diary of a Showgirl: Meet Betty Jo Spyropulos, Part II

Beginnings I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, the oldest of ten children. I attended public schools. I remember receiving a vaccination shot at an early age. Our school was just about seven blocks away, so it was a nice walk. On the street where we lived there were houses on one side and a park… continue reading ›