Nancy Miller | Fan Dancer

Nancy Dorcas Miller

Nancy Dorcas Miller was born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky on November 14, 1913 to her mother, Nannie Hendrick, and her father, Dennis Miller. She was the youngest of three siblings and had auburn hair. She moved to Louisville, Kentucky in the 1930s. By 1934 she was performing as a burlesque dancer and by 1937, she owned and produced her own traveling burlesque show, performing for audiences at State/County Fairs and carnivals.

1934

Miss Miller joined the Royal American Shows in 1934 in Indianapolis, IN. With the company she performed at the 10-day Spring Festival of the American Legion Auxiliary Drum and Bugle Corps. The festival goal was to raise money for the corps to send members to the National convention. Miller is mentioned in the Indianapolis News as performing her beautiful fan dance in the 'Havana Rhumba' show. According to the newspaper, Miller performed at El Teatro Nacional in Havana, Cuba the winter before the fair. Four thousand visitors came to the last night of the Fair. A special show was held for children during the afternoon of the final Fair day.

1935

At the beginning of 1935, Nancy Miller joined the Dodson's World's Fair shows. She traveled with the company to Davenport Carnival in Davenport, Iowa. She presented her fan dance in a tent theatre. A special children's matinee was held on Saturday afternoon and a midnight engagement closed the carnival Saturday night.

In June 1935, Miller presented her fan dance at a carnival in Moline, IL. 25 different tent theaters were erected for the carnival--presenting circus acts, menagerie, a museum, minstrels, musical comedy, and other exciting performances!

In September 1935, Miller continued to travel with Dodson's Circus to Uniontown, PA. The Evening Standard News reported on Nancy Miller and her "pet", a lion owned by the circus by the name of "Pretty Boy."

(The Evening Standard. "'Pretty Boy' Uniontown's Guest; Pet of Nancy Miller, the Fan Dancer." Page 5. September 18, 1935)
The caption reads, "Behind the scenes of the carnival midway on the Regan-Lynch show grounds pretty Nancy Miller practices her charming fan dance number. Her workout partner in practice dance is her pet, 'Pretty Boy,' a distinguished lion that waltzes beautifully. Miss Nancy claims rehearsing with 'Pretty Boy' is what gives her perfect lines and a figure just right for fan dancing. Beside her 'Beauty Girls Revue' there are 24 other tent theatres."

In October 1935, Nancy Miller presented her fan dance for the patrons of the Danville, Virigina County Fair with the Dodson's World's Fair shows.

The Dodson was an interesting organization, with 600 performers, it offered a wide variety of carnival/side shows. The company employed a minister, Doc Waddel, who would hold mass for the performers. It also had its own American Legion Post (the A.E. Dodson Post No. 784), a school for the children of its performers (run by Henry Ohison formerly from Ohio State University), two baseball teams, and it's own traveling gymnasium.

Arrested for Immoral Exhibition | 1936

On June 26, 1936 Nancy Miller was arrested at the age of 22 for giving an "immoral exhibition" in Johnstown, PA. She was arrested after the County Detective John M. Carroll saw her fan dance in a carnival sideshow. The detective reported that Miller had dropped both her fans during the dance, exposing her nude body. She was promptly arrested, wrapped in a winter coat, and held in jail on a $1,000 bond.

Iowa State Fair Fan Dance | 1937

In August 1937, Nancy Miller entertained audiences with her fan dance at the Iowa State Fair. In addition to producing a 'risque' adult show with acts like the 'hula hula girls', Miller also presented a child-friendly vaudeville show with novelty choruses and comedy acts. She also hosted a midnight show at the Fair for "young men". She is quoted in the Des Moines Tribune stating, 'If the fellow is over 50, I figure there isn't a change to get him in the place--that is, if he's alone." The news of her nude fan dance were reported as being 'bundled up enough to meet legal requirements.'

(Des Moines Tribune. "Sideshow bullyhoo is built to the audience says Nancy Miller (above) who gives 'opening' in front of Iowa State Fair midway attraction." Page 4. August 31, 1937)

Nebraska State Fair Fan Dance | 1937

In 1937, Miss Miller, at age 23, performed one large white ostrich feather fan at the Nebraska State Fair. Her act at the "Gay Paree" show on the Midway caused quite the kerfuffle. Her costume was merely listed as 'shoes' and a single feather fan in the Omaha World Herald.

After the opening of the Fair, Lincoln newspapers remained quietly dignified, sticking to the normal reporting of a state fair, while Omaha and other Nebraska newspapers were pressed to cast judgement on the 'holy city' for allowing a nude dance. The Omaha World Herald sent its own critic, Florian Newbranch, to view the show and verify if Miss Miller wore nude body tights.

Newbranch wrote on September 9, 1937 of Nancy's performance: "You see everything. I said everything, folks. And 'everything' is right." He continues to describe her performance,

"Whew! A side view, with fan in front. Gasps from the spectators...No skin tights this time, nothing. Miss Miller proves it. There's nothing at all. Slowly she turns until there is a full back view. Slowly she undulates to the exit curtains in the middle. She stops, and very slowly starts pivoting...A flashing full front view, a dazzling smile. She disappears inside the curtains." (Omaha World Herald. "Can This Be Lincoln? Naked Dancer Hypnotizing Crowds at State Fair." Florian L. Newbranch. Page 4. September 9, 1937)

(Fan Dancer at the Nebraska State Fair by John Savage. September 7, 1937. The Durham Museum. Copyright Omaha World Herald)
Censorship of the Image by the Durham Museum
The photographic proof of this nude burlesque dancer speaks volumes to the wide acceptance of this type of entertainment in Nebraska. It should be noted this article was published in the Omaha Evening World Herald. The Lincoln papers have no mention of this fan dancer or the 'trouble' she caused. Miller's performance was reported on by the Columbus Telegram, the Omaha World Herald, the Grand Island Daily Independent, the Hastings Daily Tribune, the Ericson Journal, and the Fremont Tribune.
After an investigation, Lancaster County Attorney, Max Towle, stated he was satisfied that Miss Miller had 'worn tights' when performing her act. The 'spotters' for the Fair were also not alarmed, nor had they seen any nudity. Towle is quoted saying, "It isn't likely that the state fair board would tolerate anything indecent...I admit that my eyesight would not be good enough to judge how much clothing a girl wore at a distance.." Towle asserted, "I sent out two deputies on three occasions when the midway shows first opened and the reports brought back were that there was no nudity." (Columbus Telegram. September 9, 1937)
(Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. "State Fair Attendants." Page 69. August 29, 1937
Photo Caption: "Nancy Miller and two of her beauties, Aloha Dean and Ginger Austin, in the 'Gay Paree' show.")
Omaha Mayor Butler, reported as "a veteran foe of indecency in theater," went to Lincoln to attend the State Fair but failed to comment on whether he saw the act, stating, "It's not my problem. Let Lincoln handle it." Former Governor of Nebraska, Charles W. Bryan, attended the show to see for himself this 'naked dancer.'
(Omaha World Herald. "Nancy Miller...shown in two of her less revealing poses." World Herald Candid Camera Photos. Page 4 September 9, 1937)
The Hastings Daily Tribune reported paid admission for the State Fair on Labor Day was 23,057. "The outstanding 'incident' in connection with this year's show probably was the controversy concerning Nancy Miller's fan dance in the "Gay Paree" show on the midway, with Omahans and Lincolnites disagreeing as to whether she wore tights or birthday clothes." ("Racing Program Winds Up Fair." September 11, 1937)
(The Ericson Journal. Ericson, NE. Page 1. September 16, 1937)
The blurb reads, "The Nebraska State Fair is certainly progressive. It has progressed to a point that marks Hollywood and Broadway as back numbers. Nothing new seemingly is left for next year. The 'nude dance' will put every. nudist colony in the land on its mettle. A quarter-dollar investment enabled every pimple faced bucko to gaze for a full minute on the unclothed beauties of nature and they came in hordes and stayed for the next show. The question still remains open as to whether it was justifiable or worth while."

Nancy Miller's "Gay Paree" Show

(Muskogee Times Democrat. "'Gay Paree' Popular" Show. Page 3. October 10, 1937
Photo of Nancy Miller and her cast of "Gay Paree"
Photo caption: "'Gay Paree,' often called the fan dance revue, has scored a distinct hit with patrons of the Oklahoma Free State Fair. Nancy Miller, behind the plum in the picture above, introduces such celebrities as Bertie 'Ginger' Austin, Gypsy Rose Lee's carnival counterpart, Aloha Dean, who wiggles a mean Hula-Hula, 'Cootie' Coots, pianist extraordinary, and a line of dazzling damsels.")
The "Gay Paree" show was produced by Miller. At the 1937 State Fair it featured a five piece orchestra. The show repeated every hour for just 25 cents a ticket. In addition to Miller's fan dance, eight other women performed in the show. Acts included an 'Egyptian' number or 'kooch' dance, and a 'hula-hula' dance, before the grand finale--Miller's nude fan dance. "Gee-strings, brassieres, and even an occasional grass or cellophane skirt" were seen on the stage. "Gay Paree" had presentations by Hula dancers from Honolulu, Hawaii, an "Egyptian Act", and an act by 'black bottom' strip-tease dancers from New Orleans. The Grand Island Daily Independent reported, "the hula girls abdominally contorted and callipygianly cavorted" on the stage.
(Bertie "Ginger" Austin, performer at "Gay Paree" with Nancy Miller, riding a merry-go-round horse.
Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times Democrat. Page 11. October 8, 1937)

If you'd like to learn more about burlesque at the Nebraska State Fair or County Fairs visit my other article here.

Sources

Newspaper Articles:

  • The Indianapolis News. "City of White Up for 10-Day Stand." Page 25. May 10, 1934
  • The Indianapolis Star. "Spectators Shiver, But Not Fan Dancer." Page 6. May 12, 1934
  • Danville Register and Bee. "Fair Management Expects 'Crackdown' on Rackets." Page 1 & 5. October 15, 1935
  • The Daily Times. "Police Carnival Attracts Crowd." Page 5. June 20, 1935
  • The Dispatch. "Dodson's Shows Open in Moline For Weeks Stay." Page 9. June 8, 1935
  • The Evening Standard. "'Pretty Boy' Uniontown's Guest; Pet of nancy Miller, the Fan Dancer." Page 5. September 18, 1935
  • Harrisburg Telegraph. "Fan Dancer Drops Fans, Goes to Jail Cell." Johnstown, PA. Page 3. June 26, 1936
  • The Columbus Telegram. "State Fair Burlesque Show Girls Wear Tights, Investigators Say Disappointing Many; Bryan to See "Naked Dancer." Lincoln, NE. September 9, 1937
  • Des Moines Tribune. "Fan Dancer Barker Gives Tips on Bringing 'Em In." Page 4. August 31, 1937
  • Evening World Herald. "Lincoln Aloof on Fan Dance." Lincoln, NE. September 9, 1937
  • Fremont Tribune. "Denial Made of Nudity at Fair; Tights Are Worn, Officials Say; Bryan Plans to See Show." Lincoln, NE. Page 1. September 9, 1937
  • Lincoln Journal Star. "More or Less Personal." Page 4. September 11, 1937
  • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. "State Fair Attendants." Page 69. August 29, 1937
  • Nebraska Daily News Press. "Editorials." Page 4. September 22, 1937
  • Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times Democrat. Page 11. October 8, 1937
  • Muskogee Times Democrat. "'Gay Paree' Popular." Page 3. October 9, 1937
  • Omaha World Herald. "Can This Be Lincoln? Naked Dancer Hypnotizing Crowds at State Fair." Florian L. Newbranch. Page 4. September 9, 1937
  • Omaha World Herald. "Mayor Butler a Darling, Says Sally Rand Here." Page 4. September 24, 1937
  • Tampa Bay Times. "Fan Dancer Tops Playhouse Show." J.A.T. Page 7. January 4, 1937
  • The Ericson Journal. "The Nebraska State Fair." Page 1. September 16, 1937
  • The Grand Island Daily Independent. "What Other Newspapers Are Thinking." September 13, 1937
  • The Hastings Daily Tribune. "Racing Program Winds Up Fair." Lincoln, NE. Page 2. September 11, 1937
  • Corpus Christi Times. Advertisement for Nancy Miller at the Sundown Club. Page 16. January 26, 1938
  • Corpus Christi Times. Advertisement for Nancy Miller at the Sundown Nite Club. Page 12. December 30, 1938

Photographs

  • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Photo of Nancy Miller and two beauties. Page 69. August 29, 1937
  • Omaha World Herald. Nancy Miller. Page 4. September 9, 1937
  • Savage, John. Fan Dancer at Nebraska State Fair. September 7, 1937. The Durham Museum. Copyright Omaha World Herald (3 photographs)
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