Betty Rowland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Betty Rowland
Born
Betty Jane Rowland

(1916-01-23) January 23, 1916 (age 106)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Other namesBall of Fire
Occupation
  • Actress
  • dancer
Years active1940–2014
Spouse(s)Gus Schilling

Betty Jane Rowland (born January 23, 1916) is an American retired Burlesque dancer[1] and actress, with a career spanning over eight decades. She is considered to be the last living performer of Golden Age of Burlesque era.[2][3]

Early life[]

Rowland was born on January 23, 1916, in Columbus, Ohio. She moved to Los Angeles in 1938. In 1941,[4][5] she attempted to sue Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn for using "Ball of Fire" as the title for a Howard Hawks film starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper.[6]

Career[]

Her father was an accountant who lost his job during the Great Depression. Betty and her sisters Dian and Roz Elle all started out as dancers in vaudeville before making the transition into burlesque.[7] Rowland performed at the famous club Minsky's in New York City, where she earned the nickname "Ball of Fire" from both her flaming red hair and hot and fast style of dancing.[8] She also appeared in some Hollywood movies such as Let's Make Music (1940), Spavaldi e innamorati (1959), Love & Kisses (1965), A Time for Dying (1969).

She appeared in numerous documentaries in 2004 and 2010,[9] also in a video named Forbidden Cinema: Volume 5 – Lost Blue Classics (2014).[10]

Personal life[]

Betty was married to actor Gus Schilling, but they divorced. In her later years she helped run various bars, worked as a hostess at the French restaurant Anisette in Santa Monica, California.[11] She resides in a one bedroom apartment in Brentwood, Los Angeles.[12]

Filmography[]

Films[]

Documentaries[]

  • The Last First Comic (2010)
  • Behind the Burly Q (2010)[13]
  • Pretty Things (2005)
  • Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time (2004)
  • Gypsy (TV Series 1965)
  • International Burlesque (1950)

References[]

  1. ^ Sage, Dusty (2016-06-07). Burlesque In a Nutshell - Girls, Gimmicks & Gags. BearManor Media.
  2. ^ "Minsky Stripper Turns 100 (the Last Living Star of Burlesque)". Huffington Post. 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  3. ^ Red Haired Riot (Burlesque, & Other Burlesque Strippers) [Program 1], retrieved 2021-11-20
  4. ^ Burlesque dancer Betty Rowland on stage performing before male audience, circa 1946, 1946, retrieved 2021-11-20
  5. ^ "Burlesque dancer Betty Rowland on stage performing before male audience, circa 1946". digital.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  6. ^ "Photos of burlesque dancer Betty Rowland going to jail". www.pulpinternational.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  7. ^ "Betty Rowland | Burlesque Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  8. ^ "Legend: Betty Rowland | Red Hots Burlesque". Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  9. ^ "THE AMAZING BALL OF FIRE, BETTY ROWLAND: LOS ANGELES "PRETTY THINGS" & "BALL OF FIRE" BENEFIT SCREENING MARCH 9TH 8PM". A Shaded View on Fashion. 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  10. ^ "Minsky Stripper Turns 100 (the Last Living Star of Burlesque)". HuffPost. 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  11. ^ "Burlesque Past and Present: Betty "Ball of Fire" Rowland". Playful Promises Blog. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  12. ^ "Minsky's girl lives on". Los Angeles Times. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  13. ^ Zemeckis, Leslie (2014-11-04). Behind the Burly Q: The Story of Burlesque in America. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-62914-868-7.
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