Kathleen Rose, aka “Rose Dolores”, a Ziegfeld Girl in peacock plume dress. c.1917-1923 Isn’t this the most wonderful costume? I’d love to know what kind of show it was a part of, whether she just moved slowly around the stage and posed in the costume or whether it was part of some kind of routine. I’m not sure that would be possible in a heavy get-up like that, what do you think?
Source and copyright:This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.
Recap: 1920s week on We Heart Vintage « We Heart Vintage
[…] 1920s Ziegfeld girl in a huge peacock costume […]
I don’t know if anybody will happen to stumble on this comment or not but I found some info about this magnificent costume on Wikipedia. I’ve paraphrased it for folks, hope nobody minds: In Midnight Frolic of 1919, Flo Ziegfield had influential fashion model “Dolores” play the part of The White Peacock in the Tropical Birds number. She wore a peacock costume with a 10 feet high fan designed by Pascaud of Paris which Marjorie Farnsworth described as “one of the loveliest costumes ever seen on Broadway”. The idea of a peacock costume was not new as Ziegfeld’s longtime partner Anna Held had worn one in “Follow Me” in 1916 but it was “Dolores” who had made it her own. Remnants of this delicate piece still exist in the Museum of the City of New York’s costume collection.
From wikipedia: “In Midnight Frolic of 1919, Dolores played the part of The White
Peacock in the Tropical Birds number. She wore a 10 feet (3.0 m) high
peacock costume designed by Pascaud of Paris which Marjorie Farnsworth
described as “one of the loveliest costumes ever seen on Broadway”. According to one reviewer, a member of the audience asked another, “Is
she going to dance?” to which the reply came, “A woman who can stand and
walk like that doesn’t have to dance.” The idea of a peacock costume was not new as Anna Held had worn one in Follow Me in 1916 but it was Dolores who made it her own. Gertrude Hoffman wore a similar costume in 1920.”
What great information, thanks so much for sharing Shirley! I’d love to get a chance to see that costume collection!
Great info even 2 years later, thank you Shirley Parker