The Life and Career of Alene Hoover

Erna Alene Hoover—born in Harlan, Iowa, on April 12 or 13, 1912—emerged from the Midwest with a determination that would carry her onto some of the nation’s most prominent stages. After her parents, Clinton and Pearle Hoover, relocated the family to Omaha and settled at 3401 Arbor Street, she trained under respected dance instructor Adelaide Fogg, honing the technique that would define her early career. Though christened Erna, she preferred the simplicity of Alene and never adopted a stage name, even as her work took her far from Nebraska. Between 1927 and 1936, she performed in New York City and toured widely across the United States, appearing on the RKO Vaudeville Circuit before transitioning into fan dancing—a trajectory that reflects both her versatility and the shifting landscape of American entertainment.

Alene’s Childhood

Alene attended the Omaha Technical High School. In May 1926, the School presented a May Festival in Elmwood Park. The school rehearsed for six weeks and performed in front of 7,000 patrons.  250 girls and the school orchestra performed. 175 girls from the physical training department danced on the green and the Junior and Senior Girls’ glee clubs sang. The festival was in three parts; “Spring Fantasy”, “Swiss Mountain Dance”, and “Once Upon a Time”. The freshman girls crowned a May Queen and danced an Olde English Dance around a May Pole. Alene performed in the “Swiss Mountain Dance” or “Picnic Day in Holland.” The performers were dressed in traditional Dutch folk costumes.

The Omaha Community Playhouse hosted a dinner dance on February 7 and February 10, 1927. A “garden fantasy” was produced called “The Poet’s Well.” At this event, a number of dances were presented by the Adelaide Fogg dancers. The Omaha Daily News listed “Ailene Hoover” as dancing a “scarf and bubble dance.” The action of the performances took pace throughout the theater–on stage and in the lobby.

AK-SAR-BEN Costume Ball | October 1927

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights hosted a Costume Ball at the end of its “Ak-Sar-Ben Festival of Nations.” It was hosted in the Auditorium. On a Saturday night, guests partook in general “merry-making” and dancing. A judged costume contest ensued with three prizes given in seven divisions! The divisions were:

• Impersonations
• National
• Comic
• Advertising
• Character
• Sports
• Period

First prize was $10, second was $5, and third was $3. A group prize of $50 went to the best advertising group—a group of 12 girls from the Kimball Laundry company. They dressed in blue and white costumes with “linen caps.” Alene Cooper won second place in the “period” category.

Local Motion Picture Star

In December 1927, Lem F. Kennedy, a movie director for Berkova Productions Inc., scouted 73 amateur actors and actresses to act in the World Herald’s Made-In-Omaha movie, “The Heart Thief.” The title of the movie was based on a written ‘scenario’ by Frances Blossom (Originally titled “Oh Promise Me”, then changed to “The Heart Bandit.”) The 73 were chosen from more than 300 applicants who attended the casting party at the Riviera Theater (now called the Rose Theater). The casting director was David Smith. Alene Hoover was selected for the movie. The first “shots” for “The Heart Thief” were held on the Riviera stage. Other scenes were at the World-Heralds’ newspaper plant and shots about the city. According to the Evening World Herald, the movie appeared daily in serial form. 

Performing Professionally

The Elks’ Club hosted a lecture titled Forbidden Trails of Egypt by the English “world traveler” Jill L. Cossley-Batt, who largely recounted episodes from her own novel. She described women in the Middle East as possessing extensive knowledge of cosmetics and beauty oils, framing them as custodians of ancient beauty practices. In conjunction with the program, Alene Hoover performed an “Egyptian dance.” Cossley-Batt remained in town for two additional evenings, delivering follow‑up talks titled Across Australia on Horseback and The Key That Unlocks the Door to the Mysteries of the Far East.

In 1927 Alene was just 15 years old when she began working professionally. She was just beginning her senior year at Technical High School and studying under Adelaide Fogg when a wire came in from Ohio, requested a dancing girl for a vaudeville act. Alene was just the dancer for the job!

“The Whirl of Splendor”

In July 1928, she had just turned 16, she moved to New York City when she was booked in the vaudeville production of “The Whirl of Splendor.” She went on tour with the production for the season. Estelle Mattern (also from Omaha) was also a member of the tour. 

In August 1928, Alene performed at the State Theater in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in “the Whirl Of Splendor.” The Harrisburg Telegraph had this review; “Whirling splendor, a crying and a talkative child, and mystery and comedy mixed in correct proportions—the bill for the last half the week at the State Theater—has enough interest to while away an evening with joyous ease.” The closing act featured Alene and a few other chorus dancers. They presented “whirls and twirls!” 

The “Whirl of Splendor” continued to tour until at least February 1929. The production performed in Blair, NE at the Capitol Theater. The Tribune newspaper (Blair, NE) published this statement, “With Alene Hoover and Frances Peper as the principal performers, ‘Whirl of Splendor,’ a pretentious dancing flash interspersed with songs, will be offered as the feature act in the Capitol Theater today, tomorrow and Saturday.” (The Tribune. “Whirl of Splendor.” Page 18. February 18, 1929)

Adagio & “Apache” Dancer

By 1930, Alene was 18 years old and had been dancing in Broadway night clubs for a year. She visited her parents in September 1930, as reported by the Omaha World Herald. She returned to Chicago later that month to tour with her dance partner Richard Camp. Camp was an Italian immigrant from Rome and was five years older than Hoover. They began a 43-week tour where they performed adagio, tango, “apache” and ball room dances on the RKO Circuit.

In August 1931, Alene returned home again to her parents, officially breaking with her partner as he went to tour Europe. The Omaha Sunday Bee speculated she returned because she was homesick and wanted to spend the rest of the summer recuperating. 

WM. T. McCleery interviewed Hoover for the Omaha World Herald (who noted she was smoking cigarettes in their interview – flapper lifestyle was in full bloom by 1931). Hoover was billed as a “sensation dancer” or “an adagio dancer.” Her newspaper interview provides some insights to who Alene was. Her favorite outdoor sport was swimming. She had blonde hair and weighed 105 pounds. Her mother, Pearle was very proud of her daughter. Her daily cosmetics included rouge, powder, lipstick, and mascara. “But not fear” she stated. 

The Hoover–Camp adagio act featured a signature “whirling dive,” in which Alene leapt from a ten‑foot platform and spun through the air “torpedo fashion” into Camp’s waiting arms. Their finale was a classic “let‑out”: Camp grasped her by the arm and leg, whirled her in a wide arc, and then released her, sending Alene sailing several yards across the stage.

When a reporter asked whether she feared injury, Alene brushed it off. “I’ve been knocked out a few times and I’ve had two ribs broken. But what of it? I’m always ready to try anything new,” she said, sounding every bit the daredevil. She added that she loved to dance—and that the new talking pictures held no appeal for her.

Alene moved, again, from Omaha to New York City in November 1931 at just 19 years old. She rented a two-room apartment in New York and lived by herself. By August 1931 she had toured in vaudeville under her “real name” on the R-K-O, Lowe’s Pantages’, Fox’s and other circuits. She even performed at the Palace Theater in New York. 

“Living Jewelry” | A Parisian Act

In 1932, Hoover joined the cast of “Living Jewelry” which toured the East Coast and eventually Europe. She returned home in May 1932 to appear at the Orpheum on the RKO Vaudeville circuit with “Living Jewelry.”

She performed an “apache dance” that featured stunts, throws, and tosses. In another interview, Alene stated, ‘I’ve been knocked out, had ribs broken and undergone all kinds of bruises while dancing, but that’s just part of the game. I realize the four spins I take while jumping from the pedestal to my partner make the trick somewhat dangerous, but I try not to miss. When the weather is warm and the hands perspire, sometimes we get a pretty loose hold, but that’s a chance we take.” (“Alene Hoover Braves Stage Dance Danger.” Omaha Sunday Bee News. Page 8. May 29, 1932)

She parted from the Hoover-Camp partnership and in October 1933, Alene took out an advertisement in the Omaha World Herald offering dancing instructions at the Gayfair Academy at 1516 Harney Street.

The Fan Dancer

Alene was first billed as a “fan dancer” in 1933—the same year Sally Rand captivated the Chicago World’s Fair with her now‑legendary and widely imitated nude ostrich‑feather fan dance.

Alene appeared at the Chicago Exposition as part of Wayne King’s show, and that year she toured the East, South, and Midwest performing her own interpretation of Rand’s signature routine.

Her secretary and companion was a woman named Jean Webb. Alene performed in a new floor show called “Revels in Rhythm” at Paul Spor’s Club Araby near 18th and Farnam Streets in Omaha in January 1933. By November 1933, Alene had been performing her fan dance for 8 months. Her act was called “Dance of the Fans.” Her dance was interpretive with intricate steps. It’s unknown if she specifically went nude during this act as no articles appear to state otherwise. She could’ve worn a mesh leotard as many fan dancers did to pass censorship laws. 

Alene’s ostrich feather fans weighed 4 to 5 pounds. She commented that the fans were troublesome to carry while traveling. They had to be kept in a large flat box.

Ziegfeld Follies Rumor?

One reporter even claimed that, at just twenty‑two, Alene appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies, performing her own interpretation of the “fan dance” during the production’s famed “Dance of the Peacocks.” Whether the engagement was genuine or simply part of the era’s enthusiastic publicity is unclear, but the rumor followed her. What is documented is her appearance in George White’s Scandals in 1934 and the frequent reports that she performed across numerous nightclubs along Broadway in New York City.

The Crystal Cave | 4825 S 24th St. Omaha

On December 16, 1933, Alene performed her fan dance at the grand opening of the Crystal Cave Club at 4925 S 24th Street in Omaha. The club advertised, “Entirely new and different. Beautiful decorations with crystal effects. Hundreds of dollars have been spent to make this one of the newest, finest spots in Omaha to dine and dance.”

Promoting Women’s Exercise

In January 1934, the Omaha Evening Bee News ran 4 consecutive stories entitled, “Reducing Through Exercise”, featuring photos of Alene Hoover demonstrating exercises. The instructions were written by M.H. Sogolow, former coach and physical director of the University of Illinois. “Lesson No. 41: The Stretch and Squeeze”, “Lesson No. 43: Raising Both Arms and Legs”, “Lesson No. 44: Bending Exercises”, and “Exercise to Reduce.”

1934 Varieties | Peony Park, Omaha

Alene produced and performed at the Peony Park ballroom in February of 1934. Her floor show was called the “1934 Varieties” and included 6 acts. She performed a “Burlesque Hula Dance” and “Burlesque Fan Dance.” 

Alene performed two floor shows nightly in May 1934 at the Modern Night Club. In September 1934, Hoover performed at the New Modern Nite Club “3 Blocks South of Albright Car Line on Highway 75” according to their advertisement in the Omaha World Herald. 

Maple Grove Tavern | 42nd & L St. Omaha

In June 1936, Hoover appeared at the Maple Grove Tavern, performing in three large floor shows that featured touring acts from the RKO Circuit—a sign that she was still working within nationally recognized vaudeville networks. Around the same time, she also took the stage at the Races Night Club at 6300 Center Street, one of Omaha’s busy nightlife spots. Her name surfaced in Minneapolis that year as well, indicating she was still traveling and performing across the region. Shortly afterward, Alene shifted her focus toward teaching, joining the newly opened Dayo School of Dancing in Grand Island, Nebraska, where she offered instruction in the styles she had honed on the road.

Marriage in 1934

Alene Hoover spent three days performing at Dante’s Inferno, a Des Moines nightclub where a bartender named Willard “Red” Field worked. By the end of her engagement, the two had gone on their first date, and for the next ten days they wrote to each other constantly. Determined to see her again, Red borrowed $20 from his boss—claiming, falsely, that he had a dying relative in Chicago—and traveled to Omaha. A professional boxer with thirty‑five knockouts to his name, he was managed by none other than World Champion Max Baer.

That fall, twenty‑two‑year‑old Alene married twenty‑five‑year‑old Red in Omaha. The ceremony took place at her parents’ home at 3401 Arbor Street at 9:45 p.m., the exact date unrecorded. Feeling she couldn’t invite “everyone,” Alene and Red simply called a reverend late in the evening and were married in the family living room. They honeymooned over the New Year in Pocatello, Idaho, planning for Alene to continue her stage career while Red pursued his fighting career. Yet Alene seems to have stepped away from performing during 1935, only reappearing in newspapers the following year.

In 1939, Alene Hoover relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and by 1950 she had moved again, this time to Cannon Falls, Minnesota. She spent a period living in Minneapolis, where she married Leo Neville; the marriage later ended in divorce, though the couple had one daughter together. Alene eventually remarried, this time to William White, and the two settled in Ogden, Utah. William died in 1971.

Alene remained in Utah, where she taught dance at two studios she owned in Ogden—ABC Dance Studio and Alene’s Dance Studio. Her daughter, Cara Lee Neville Kemper, survived her. Alene H. White died on January 30, 1972, in Minneapolis at the age of fifty‑nine.

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If you have any information about Erna Alene (Hoover) White, please contact Iona Fortune at ionafortuneburlesque@gmail.com.

Sources

Newspaper Advertisements

• The Virginian Pilot. Ad for “Whirl of Splendor”. Page 37. August 19, 1928
• St. Louis Star and Times. Ad for ST. Louis Grand at Delmar. Alene Hoover in “Whirl of Splendor.” Page 9. March 16, 1929
• The Tribune (Blair, NE). Ad for Capitol Theatre. Page 21. January 31, 1929
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for Orpheum Theatre. Page 12. May 27, 1932
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for Orpheum Theatre. Page 53. May 29, 1932
• The Kansas City Times. Ad for Mainstreet Theatre. “Living Jewelry”. Page 13. June 3, 1932
• Kirksville Daily Express. Ad for Kennedy Theatre. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 2. November 24, 1933
• Linn County Budget Gazette. Ad for DeGraw Theatre. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 3. November 3, 1933
• Moberly Monitor Index and Moberly Evening Democrat. Ad for 4th Street Theatre. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 4. November 15, 1933
• Moberly Monitor Index and Moberly Evening Democrat. Ad for 4th Street Theatre. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 4. November 20, 1933
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for Paul Spor’s Club Araby. Page 17. February 19, 1933
• Omaha World Herald. Ad under “Educational” for Alene Hoover dance classes. Page 21. October 11, 1933
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for Crystal Cave Club. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 12. December 15, 1933
• The Brookfield Argus and the Linn County Farmer. Ad for DeGraw Theatre. Alene Hoover Fan Dance. Page 3. November 4, 1933
• The Dallas City Review. Ad for the Strand Theater. Alene Hoover Fan Dancer. Page 7. November 14, 1933
• The Muscatine Journal. Ad for Palace Theater. Page 2. November 27, 1933
• The Omaha Evening Bee News. Ad for Paul Spor’s Club Araby. Page 13. January 5, 1933
• The Sedalia Democrat. Ad for Liberty Theatre. Page 4. November 17, 1933
• The Sedalia Democrat. Ad for Liberty Theatre. Page 4. November 19, 1933
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for Alene Hoover at Peony Park Ballroom. Page 14. February 10, 1934
• Omaha World Herald. Ad for New Modern Nite CLub. Alene Hoover & Co. Page 6. September 27, 1934
• The Des Moines Register. Ad for Fan Dance at Lake Robbins. Page 17. January 4, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. Ad for Maple Grove Tavern. Page 4. August 24, 1936
• Omaha Evening Bee News. Ad for Skyline Lodge. Page 24. August 28, 1936

Newspaper Articles

• The Omaha Daily News. “Past Festivities.” Page 15. July 17, 1921
• Omaha Daily Bee. “250 Tech Girls to take Part in May Festival.” Page 2. May 24, 1926
• Omaha World Herald. “‘Holland’ Scene at Tech High Festival.” Page 4. May 28, 1926
• Evening World Herald. “Fancy Costumes Win Prizes at Ball.” Page 6. October 4, 1927
• Evening World Herald. “Choose 73 Amateur Movie ‘Stars’ for Chance in Omaha-Made Movie.” Page 7. December 6, 1927
• Omaha World Herald. “Community Playhouse Will Be Garden Scene for Dinner-Dance.” Page 39. January 30, 1927
• Omaha World Herald. “Ak-Sar-Ben Costume Ball Ends Nations’ Festival.” Page 1. October 2, 1927
• Omaha World Herald. “Girl Traveller Tells of Oriental Customs.” Page 1. December 14, 1927
• The Omaha Daily News. “elaborate Program Planned for Playhouse Dinner Dances.” Page 14. January 29, 1927
• Harrisburg Telegraph. “Mystery, Comedy, Family Touches on Bill at State.” August 17, 1928
• Omaha World Herald. “Diversified Program Given by Playhouse.” Page 7. May 25, 1928
• Omaha World Herald. “Dancer.” Page 28. July 15, 1928
• The Patriot News. “In the Theaters; Varied Program at State This Half.” Page 18. August 17, 1928
• The Tribune (Blair, NE). “Whirl of Splendor.” Page 18. February 1, 1929
• Omaha World Herald. “Broadway Dancer Visits Parents Here This Week.” Page 7. September 16, 1930
• Omaha Sunday Bee News. “Tech Girl Wins Fame.” Page 31. August 16, 1931
• Omaha World Herald. “At right.” Page 47. August 16, 1931
• Omaha World Herald. “Known as Dancer in East, Omaha; Girl is Spending Summer at Home.” Page 54. August 16, 1931
• Omaha World Herald. “A Broken Rib? On with the Dance!” Page 42. September 13, 1931
• Omaha Sunday Bee News. “Alene Hoover Braves Stage Dancer Danger.” Page 8. May 29, 1932
• Omaha World Herald. “Omaha Girl Makes Vaudevile Bow Here.” Page 19. May 25, 1932
• Omaha World Herald. “Lithe Omaha Dancer.” Page 12. May 27, 1932
• Omaha World Herald. “Stage and Screen.” Keene Abbott. Page 7. May 28, 1932
• Omaha World Herald. “Stage Dancer Home After New Injury.” Page 13. August 145 1932
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Dancer Home.” Page 6. May 24, 1932
• Omaha Morning Bee News. “Vaudeville at Orpheum Is Hit of Bill.” Jack Reel. Page 19. May 28, 1932
• Omaha Morning Bee News. “Dinner Given for Miss Alene Hoover.” Page 9. June 2, 1932
• Linn County Budget Gazette. “Fan Dancer Attracts Crowd.” Page 1. November 6, 1933
• The Brookfield Argus and the Linn County Farmer. “Famous Dancer Coming to the DeGraw.” Page 3. November 1, 1933
• The Brookfield Argus and the Linn County Farmer. “Beautiful Fan Dancer Makes Fox Circuit Debut at the DeGraw Sunday.” Page 3. November 4, 1933
• Kirksville Graphic. “Was Sally Wrong?” Page 7. November 24, 1933
• The Muscatine Journal. “Fan Dancer to Perform Here.” Page 10. November 25, 1933
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “In Club Araby Show.” January 5, 1933
• The Sedalia Democrat. “Who Was Right! Who was Wrong! Chicago…or Sally Rand?” Page 4. November 17, 1933
• Omaha World Herald. “Treat Nights Will Continue at Peony.” Page 39. February 4, 1934
• Omaha World Herald. “At Peony Ballroom a Valentine Dance.” Page 14. February 10, 1934
• Omaha World Herald. “Floor Shows Offered.” Page 11. May 12, 1934
• Omaha World Herald. “‘Right Man’ Comes Along So Alene Hoover is Wed.” Page 19. December 18, 1934
• The Daily Record. “Marriage Licenses.” Page 2. December 19, 1934
• The Des Moines Register. “Night Club Romance Traps Boxer-Bartender, Dancer; Alene Hoover Weds Willard Field in Omaha.” Page 18. December 20, 1934
• The Des Moines Register. “Love Bloomed Right Off the Bat for This Couple.” Page 11. December 28, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Exercise to Reduce.” M.H. Sogolow. Page 5. January 6, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Reducing Through Exercise.” Page 10. January 9, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Reducing Through Exercise.” Page 20. January 10, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Exercise to Reduce.” Page 20. January 11, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “1934 Varieties at Peony for 3 Days.” Page 27. February 2, 1934
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Cupid Scores Kayo Over Prize Fighter and Dancing Lady of Omaha Night Clubs.” Page 3. December 18, 1934
• North Platte Daily Telegraph. “Wedding Interfering With Booking Agency.” Page 3. February 12, 1935
• Omaha World Herald. “Cupid Just Ruins Business, Booking Agent Complains.” Page 11. February 12, 1935
• Grand Island Independent. Dayo School of Dancing. Page 5. October 1, 1936
• Omaha Evening Bee News. “Town Talk.” Page 25. September 1, 1936

Photographs

• Alene Hoover 1. Nathaniel Dewell. NSHS. April 30, 1924
• Alene Hoover 2. Nathaniel Dewell. NSHS. April 30, 1924
• Studio portraits of Alene Hoover and Dorothy Fitzgerald. NSHS. Nathaniel Dewell. July 1, 1927
• 8 Alene Hoover Studio Portraits. Nathaniel Dewell. NSHS. 1931