The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is a world-famous, Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 30's and 40's, with a cast old enough to have lived it. We are currently celebrating our 15th Birthday and with this season's theme, Surprise!, we'll have plenty of surprises in store!

The Follies has proven, beyond a doubt, Billie Burke's (a.k.a. Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld and a star in her own right) famous quote, "Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese." We pledge to remain true to the spirit of the 20's, 30's, 40's and promise to provide a world-class entertainment experience at every performance!

The Palm Springs Follies came about as a plan to save a historic neighborhood theater. The Plaza Theatre opened on Palm Canyon Drive on December 12, 1936 for the world premiere of the motion picture "Camille", starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. The film's co-star Robert Taylor and other Hollywood stars were in attendance, but local media also reported seeing a woman in dark glasses sneaking into the balcony as the lights dimmed. They said she bore a suspicious resemblance to the picture's star, Greta Garbo. This woman could well have been Garbo, since she rarely attended public galas. The theater was an "atmospheric" theater, built with interior walls made to look like a charming Spanish village on the walls and with a clear star-lit night sky above painted on the ceiling.

Theater owner Earle Strebe was determined to bring to Palm Springs' seasonal celebrity audiences only the finest film entertainment available and the Plaza Theatre soon established itself as an outstanding movie and live entertainment house. So not only were films shown, but other entertainments, as well. Bob Hope and Jack Benny broadcast a number of national radio shows from the Plaza and each year, a Palm Springs charity revue named "The Village Vanities" (later called the "Village Insanities") was presented. Entertainers such stars as Donald O'Connor, Frank Sinatra, Gordon MacRae and others performed regularly. Over the years, movie ticket sales dwindled and the theatre finally closed on 1987, but not before suffering the indignity of having a wall erected down the center to become a twin auditorium.

By 1991, the historic building had fallen into complete disuse and the Palm Springs city fathers asked retired television producer Riff Markowitz to come up with an idea for its revitalization. He conceived and created a classic Vaudeville show called "The Follies". Joined by partner Mary Jardin, he added one notable exception, the cast must have actually lived through the era which they were going to portray, thus was born the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies with a cast that had to be 55 years of age or older.

Today, the Palm Springs Follies is in its second decade and is consistantly sold out. The show is one of the last authentic Vaudeville shows in America still running. The show consists of 3 acts. The review, hosted by Markowitz himself, features songs and dancing by the ensemble, a special guest performer in the middle act, specialty acts, such as jugglers, puppetiers, or comedians. The finale consists of the now-famous Follies showgirls wearing their authentic Las Vegas style costumes, complete with elaborate head dresses.

The Follies has done a great service to destroy the stereotypical image of senior citizens. Performers range in age from 55 to over 80+, dance and sing with a zest that even younger folk envy. They provide world-class entertainment at every performance.