Showgirls in Florida – Johanna's blog

Yesterday I came across this set of photos at the Google LIFE archives and was just enchanted. They show a troup of showgirls, probably on tour, in Florida. They hang out on the beach, go for a boat ride, do their laundry, shop and of course perform in their show. Apparently Danny Kaye was part of the show as he appears in quite a lot of the photos (though not in this post). There’s just something wonderful about these photos that makes you want to be there.

The only information listed was the name of the set, “Showgirls in Florida”, that they were taken in 1947 and that the photographer was called Allan Grant (!?). I wish I could read the article they were taken for, if they were ever used. There are tons of photos so I’ve broken them up into three posts. This first one has photos of the girls just generally hanging out in Florida.

Many of the photos show beautiful buildings and places, and lots of Art Deco design. Any Floridian readers that recognise the locations?

While I’m on the subject of Florida: I would love to visit Miami sometime in the not too distant future, for the Art Deco architecture and also because it’s such an iconic 80s city. However, besides going on some kind of architecture tour I really have no idea what to do there (combining it with a Disney World trip goes without saying), so I would love tips! Perhaps going to the Everglades? I love swamps.

This doesn’t really look like Florida to me, especially since she’s dressed relatively warm. Perhaps it was taken on their way there.

One of the girls fixing her makeup in a hotel room or something. Check out the yarn dog on the table shelf. A mascot perhaps? I like that you can see out the window to what looks like another hotel.

These two photos are so beautiful with the completely illuminated house, the water, the palm trees and the solitary man.

I wonder what’s going on here. The old lady and her kitchen don’t reappear in any other photos. I like to think the three young people are siblings visiting their grandmother in Florida while they’re on tour. All of them do look quite a bit alike.

Beautiful outfit and hair! It looks like she’s taking a photo of herself, but were cameras that small during this time?

Great shoes!

Rehearsing in perfect little outfits. Look at the beautiful venue with the wall painting, mirrored pillars and striped curtains.

Same place, just beautiful. Look at that light fixture and the amazing wall painting.

Beautiful Art Deco building. This photo appears to be mirrored, if you look at the sign. It says something like “The ….arleton”

Great outfit to the right. I love that one shouldered top with the black pants.

This photo is one of my favourites. It’s so beautiful and calm. The caravan with the canopy, the palm trees, the door with the sheer fabric, the man reading the paper, the girl petting the parrot, the woman making the bed. There something almost surreal and dreamlike about it.