The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was a Ziegfeld Follies style dance and musical review show that played at the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California, United States,[1] seasonally from November to mid-May.[2] The Follies was founded in 1990 by Riff Markowitz and Mary Jardin.[3] Impresario Markowitz also served as the show's managing director and emcee. The show was often credited with helping to revitalize and maintain the downtown area by bringing in patrons from around the globe.[4] The Follies was unique in that it only featured performers 55 and older and holds Guinness World Records for this claim to fame.[5] It was the subject of a short documentary titled Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies which was nominated at the 70th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject Documentary.[6] A segment that aired on Seattle television station KOMO-TV that featured the Follies received an Emmy in 1997.[7] The shows attracted approximately 170,000 attendees yearly.[8]: 206 On June 5, 2013, co-founders Markowitz and Jardin announced they would close the Follies on May 18, 2014.[9]
- ^ Johns, Howard (2005). Palm Springs Confidential: Playground of the Stars. Barricade Books. p. 320. ISBN 1569802971.
- ^ Marshall, Don (April 24, 2005). "Seniors shine in follies". Deseret Morning News. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News Publishing Co. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ "'It Was Twenty Years Ago Today!' How The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies Became So Fabulous". YouTube. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ Kleinschmidt, Janice (July 27, 2004). "Follies mean business for local economy". The Public Record. Desert Publication, Inc. & Sharon Apfelbaum. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ "Article/Video: Fabulous Palm Springs Follies Is Still Kicking". AARP. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Oscars Countdown: And the nominees are ..." The Boston Herald. Herald Media, LLC. February 11, 1998. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ McNary, Dave (July 9, 2004). "Par seeks high-kicking aud for vaude". Daily Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014.
- ^ Niemann, Greg (2006). Palm Springs Legends: creation of a desert oasis. San Diego, CA: Sunbelt Publications. p. 286. ISBN 978-0932653741. OCLC 61211290. (here for Table of Contents)
- ^ Fessier, Bruce (June 5, 2013). "Palm Springs Follies set to exit stage left: Vaudeville-era entertainment revue will begin last season on Nov. 1". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, CA. Retrieved June 6, 2013.