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Follies Theatre: 45 more ads from the 1920s until the 1960s

337 S. Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 | map |

The Follies Theatre pages: history | 45 more ads | interior views | exterior views

 
 
"World of Pleasure - All Star Cast - 80 People - Mostly Girls." A 1920s ad for the Follies.
 
 
 
September 20, 1922. Dalton's was the theatre later known as the Arcade.
 


A September 20, 1928 ad in the Times.  

 

"40 Dancing Beauties 40." It's a November 1928 ad from the Times. 



An August 2, 1932 Times ad touting the new lower prices.



A new one-price policy in a 1935 Times ad located by Ken McIntyre. 



Marion Morgan and her "Hot Hips." Presumably the ad dates from the mid-1930s. It once appeared on a page about burlesque on the site 1947 Project.



A January 1937 L.A. Times ad.


 
A July 1938 ad for Carrie Finnell and Betty Rowland at the Follies. It's featured in a Daily Mirror post by Larry Harnisch about Finnell, who weighed about 300 pounds and had "educated muscles." Or, as the L.A. Times put it about a previous visit in an item also included in Mr. Harnisch's post: "she established herself as a performer of unusual ability."
 
 

An October 1938 ad located by Ken McIntyre.



"Hot and Bothered?" Thanks to Dennis Forkel for spotting this October 21, 1938 ad for the Follies in the "Let's Go Places" section of the Hollywood Reporter. He shared it as a post on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page.




A 1939 ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it.
 
 

"Cleotoria - She'll Make You See Red." It's an October 1941 ad located by Ken McIntyre for a thread about the Follies on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 



An ad for the midnight show appearing in the Times on December 31, 1941. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting it.




An April 1942 ad located by Ken McIntyre.



A December 10, 1942 ad from the Times.



A Follies ad from the 40s with Betty Rowland as the feature.



Betty Rowland in her prime. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor GS Jansen for including the photo with his Noirish Post #977. He also gives us a link to a 2009 L.A. Times story by Mark Medina about Rowland titled "Minsky's girl lives on."
 
 

"No Rationing on Beauty Thrills," a February 1943 Betty Rowland ad located by Ken McIntyre for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles
 
 

Marian Morgan and a "Cast of 70 - Mostly Girls." It's a May 26, 1943 ad. 
 
 

"Girlesque" advertised on April 8, 1944. "Bring the Ladies." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the ad.



A July 29, 1944 ad from the Times.



A 1944 Times ad for the Follies located by Ken McIntyre for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.
 
 

A December 1944 ad for Billy Reed that Ken McIntyre added as a comment to a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles
 
 

"Billy Reed and his 1945 Follies Darlings." It's an ad from January 13, 1945.
 


Marion Morgan was back -- "More curves than the Burma Road" along with comic Billy Reed and "30 Girls - Hot and Careless." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the ad for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group.



Another Billy Reed appearance.



A 1946 performance by Ms. Rowland at what looks like a ballroom at the Biltmore. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for including it in his Noirish post #967.
 
 

At the Follies in November 1946 it was "Hollywood Beauties" with Kay Renay along with "Harlem Cuties" featuring Baby Cox. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this fine pair of ads for the Follies and its competitor down the street, the Burbank. It was a 2023 post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles



A 1947 Times ad featuring Lili St. Cyr "Plus 60 performers in regular 2 hour show." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting this one on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.



Another 1947 Times ad located by Ken McIntyre. The "added attraction" was usually billed as "Evelyn West and her Treasure Chest."




"Back at the old stand - with a bagful of new tricks." It's a Times ad for Betty Rowland that ran February 27, 1948
 
 

Charmaine! It's a February 1950 ad located, along with other Follies items, for an October 2023 post about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.   
 
 

"Big Time Burlesque" on New Year's Eve with Tempest Storm and Beetlepuss Lewis. It's a December 31, 1951 ad.  
 
In 1952 the Follies management packed up and moved down the street to the Burbank Theatre, just north of 6th. It was then sometimes advertised as the Burbank Follies, sometimes as the New Follies. When the "original" Follies reopened it was under new management.  
 


"Torrid Nite - In Person." It's an ad from March 1960.
 
 

"The Story of Jungle Love!" at the 3rd and Main Follies. It's a July 1960 ad spotted by Ken McIntyre.  
 
 

 
"Stage Show Every Hour." Lotta Saxon appearing in June 1963. Thanks for the ad, Ken. 



More Lotta in a mid-1960s Times ad that was located by Ken McIntyre.  



A 1965 ad from Ken McIntyre. 



Another 1965 ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyte for posting it on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group in April 2019.



A 1966 Times ad. It was running directly below an ad for "Cleopatra" at the Pantages. 



A 1966 ad as the Original Follies to distinguish themselves from the competition down the street at the Burbank. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the ad for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group.
 
 
 
Another 1966 ad shared by Ken McIntyre in a May 2021 on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. Thanks, Ken! 
 
 

A scoop! Pretty exciting, huh? "Direct from Miami." It's a November 1966 ad that Ken shared in a Photos of Los Angeles Facebook post in October 2023. Do you think he has a serious obsession about the Follies?  
 
 

"Get into Show Business. We pay & teach exotic GO-GO." The ads are from February 1, 1967. That Hollywood theatre looking for "attractive and well mannered" usherettes was the Cinerama Dome. Thanks to theatre sleuth Ken McIntyre for locating this.
 
The Follies Theatre pages: history | back to top: more ads | interior views | exterior views
 

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