Last Ziegfeld Folly performer Doris Eaton Travis interview 4-29-10 part 1

Part one of an interview with 106 year old Doris Eaton Travis, the last Ziegfeld Follies performer. She chatted with Stuart Lutz, author of "The Last Leaf: Voices of History's Last-Known Survivors" (Prometheus Books), an oral history with the final survivor of, or last eyewitness to, historically important events. This conversation took place on April 29th, 2010 at the Barnes & Noble on 82nd Street and Broadway in New York City. THIS WAS HER LAST-EVER PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. For more information, please visit www.TheLastLeaf.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Doris Eaton Travis
• Ziegfeld Folly
• ZIegfeld Follies

[StuartLutz]

What you are watching is Mrs. Travis's last public appearance ever. It is in support of my oral history book The Last Leaf, and she is one of the interviewees.

[StuartLutz]

I hope she does make it to 110. At this reading, there were a few audience members who did not know of Mrs. Travis (they attended at my invitation) and they could not believe her age or physical and mental condition.

[reidb18]

When Doris reaches 110 she will be a super centenarian making her just a little bit more famous, she will be the first performer to make it to such an advanced age.

that is if Johannes Heesters (3 months her senior) does not first.

[StuartLutz]

@reidb18 Well, Frank Buckles, the last American World War I soldier, did make it to 110, though he died last month. I attended his funeral on Tuesday and I posted a video of his casket being lifted off the horse-drawn caisson.

[reidb18]

@StuartLutz yes, with his death that leaves only 3 worldwide: Claude Choules 110, Florence Green 110 & Józef Kowalski 111. But sadly when it comes to all nongenarians (90s), centenarians(100s) and supercentenarians (110s) they all usually pass away before or shortly after receiving their titles.

[reidb18]

@pastelpinkgirly yes very sad

[staclynn72]

Thanks for posting this video, its wonderful. I reposted it on My blog ziegfeldfolliestribute on myspace

[RMSAquitania]

What a lovely lady, who just left us today, 11 May 2010, at the age of 106. She only danced last week for the annual charity event she has become legendary for in Broadway circles. Her life is discussed very openly in her autobiography, "The Days We Danced" and in a bio on her First 100 Years. Rest well, Miss Travis, and thank you for the dancing and the music.