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Ex-showgirl Doris Eaton Travis dead at 106
NEW YORK, May (UPI) -- U.S. dancer Doris Eaton Travis, one of the famous Ziegfeld Follies Girls, has died at the age of 106, her family said.
After performing with the iconic troupe in the 1920s and 1930s, Travis worked with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchises for more than 25 years before retiring to Norman, Okla., and starting up the Travis Ranch, a horse farm.
"But Doris always continued to dance, teaching privately, performing at local benefits and parties," said Joe Eaton, Jr., Doris' nephew, in a statement issued Tuesday on behalf of the family.
"She was thrilled when first invited by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to participate in the opening number of the first Easter Bonnet Competition to be produced at the New Amsterdam Theatre where she had appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies over 70 years before," the statement said. "Doris loved coming back to Broadway for the event every year after -- 12 times altogether. From 1998 to 2010, she only missed it in 2007. It became the highlight of her life. She adored dancing with the young dancers, seeing new shows and the incredible response from the Easter Bonnet audience and Broadway community. ... Just this past weekend, she was talking about what she wanted to do next year. I know she'll be there in spirit."
Funeral arrangements are to be private. A memorial service in West Bloomfield, N.Y., is expected to be announced at a later date.
The lights on Broadway were to be dimmed in memory of Travis Wednesday night.
NEW YORK, May (UPI) -- U.S. dancer Doris Eaton Travis, one of the famous Ziegfeld Follies Girls, has died at the age of 106, her family said.
After performing with the iconic troupe in the 1920s and 1930s, Travis worked with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchises for more than 25 years before retiring to Norman, Okla., and starting up the Travis Ranch, a horse farm.
"But Doris always continued to dance, teaching privately, performing at local benefits and parties," said Joe Eaton, Jr., Doris' nephew, in a statement issued Tuesday on behalf of the family.
"She was thrilled when first invited by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to participate in the opening number of the first Easter Bonnet Competition to be produced at the New Amsterdam Theatre where she had appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies over 70 years before," the statement said. "Doris loved coming back to Broadway for the event every year after -- 12 times altogether. From 1998 to 2010, she only missed it in 2007. It became the highlight of her life. She adored dancing with the young dancers, seeing new shows and the incredible response from the Easter Bonnet audience and Broadway community. ... Just this past weekend, she was talking about what she wanted to do next year. I know she'll be there in spirit."
Funeral arrangements are to be private. A memorial service in West Bloomfield, N.Y., is expected to be announced at a later date.
The lights on Broadway were to be dimmed in memory of Travis Wednesday night.
