Posts tagged Sammy Davis Jr.

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 ›

Diary of a Showgirl: Meet Betty Jo Alvies Spyropulos, Part I

As the oldest of 10 children, most memories of my youth involve taking care of my siblings. I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to my mother who was a homemaker, and stepfather, a factory worker and part-time restaurant employee. With a large family, my parents struggled to make ends meet. It was under these circumstances… continue reading ›

December 10, 2020

A Friend and Mentor, Claude Thompson

There is no way that I could talk about my dancing career without being totally grateful to Choreographer/Dancer, Claude Thompson. I met Claude fairly early in my professional career. I had been in a production of Finian’s Rainbow in 1958 at Kiamesha Lake, a popular resort area in the Catskills. A year later at 19 years… continue reading ›