Rosita Royce "The Dove Dancer"

Lotus Marjorie Corrington AKA Rosita Royce (1913-1954)

Rosita Royce was born Lotus Marjorie Corrington in Tecumseh, Nebraska on August 9, 1913.* She went by Marjorie in her day to day life. Marjorie grew up in a middle class family in Lincoln, NE. Her father was a dentist named Clyde Martin Corrington, and her mom, Bertha Belle Brillhart, was her manager and caretaker. She attended Lincoln High School and Nebraska Wesleyan University, briefly, where she studied voice and dramatics. She performed and worked as a child performer until she began her 'career' in vaudeville and began traveling the country.
(Rosita Royce. 1937)
She quickly rose to stardom as one of burlesque's top performers during the 1930s and 40s. Her signature acts included her Dove Dance, a bubble dance (where she danced with a larger than life latex balloon), a dance of ‘moonbeams’ (where specifically placed mirrors and a spotlight were used to highlight her dancing body), and the Black Butterfly (a dance in cellophane with large silk wings).
(Lotus Marjorie Corrington. 1921)

Her Childhood - 1920s

Marjorie began performing on stage as early as 1919, when she was just 5 years old. Mrs. Charlotte Whedon Scott produced a dance recital for her students at the Orpheum Theatre. Marjorie was listed as a Cherry Blossom. The Tecumseh Chieftain lists Marjorie as a six year old dancer that has appeared before a number of Lincoln audiences. The article lists her repertoire to include, “costume dances of the bluebird, sailor, colonial girl and goblin man.” She had performed for the Scottish Rite, XI Delta, Black Masque, ‘Ag’ club, the Palladin Society and the Ladies’ Legislative League. When her mother was asked if she wanted her daughter to be a professional dancer, she stated, ‘I just want Marjorie to be a good little girl.’
  • In May 1920, Marjorie danced in a recital of Miss Eleanore Frampton’s company. The dance recital was witnessed by 500 people. She was listed in the newspaper as a ‘court dancer.’
  • In Summer 1920, Marjorie studied at the Rocky Mountain Dancing School in Denver, CO. The Nebraska State Journal stated she celebrated her 7th birthday there. She danced 5 different dances in two dance recitals with the company in September of the same year. At this point she had never attended school, the paper stated, ‘(Marjorie) is looking forward with delight to her return to her home when she will enter school for the first time.’

(Marjorie Corrington at the Rocky Mountain Dancing School. 1920)

  • October 1920, 500 people attended the annual Fall Carnival presented by the Athletic Association at Whitton-Carlisle. A vaudeville show was produced and Marjorie danced in it.
  • In February 1921 Marjorie danced in a Colonial party, a toe dance and a tarantella, for the Y.M.C.A. in Lincoln.
  • March 1921, the Nebraska Legislative Ladies’ League hosted a St. Patrick’s Day party at the Executive Mansion. An entertaining program of dancers and singers commenced. Marjorie performed a Tambourine dance.
  • April 1921, the Governor Samuel R. McKelvie hosted an elaborate dinner party on a Saturday evening. The 15 guests arrived on Saturday morning to have an afternoon at the Country Club and then to dinner. Their ‘butterfly dining room’ was used for the dinner—the walls filled with old gold leaf and butterflies adorning the walls and windows. Live butterflies were imported from South America—Blue Morphos, to be specific. In between courses a vocalist named Miss Getty performed. After dinner, guests were invited to play cards. After a short while, a maid brought in a large black and white striped hat box with “cherry ribbon”. It was untied and Lotus Marjorie Corrington danced ‘Skip Rope’ with a rope of roses. She wore a rainbow costume with iridescent trimming. For her second number she handed out candy corsages to the ladies.
  • Marjorie danced at a spring dinner party at the Lincoln Hotel, hosted by Alpha Kappa Delta of Wesleyan University. The party was rainbow color themed. Marjorie performed 3 dances. One dance she passed out imported bon-bon boxes. Again in May of 1921 Marjorie performed a fairy dance and an encore ‘gypsy number’ at the Lincoln Hotel for a garden luncheon of Alpha Kappa Delta. She was 8 years old.
  • Marjorie performed at a Christmas show produced by the Elks of Lincoln in the city auditorium for over 3,000 children. She performed ‘classical dances.’ She also acted as ‘Mary Christmas’, appearing on stage holding Santa Claus’s hand.
  • March 1922, Marjorie was 8 years old, she performed a duet in ‘The Rose and the Butterfly’ at a charity event hosted at the Orpheum Theatre. Her dance partner was De Lellis Schramek. She performed as the Princess and Lellis as the Prince.

(‘The Rose and the Butterfly’. Corrington and Schramek. 1922)

    • May 1922-- Marjorie entertained 200 people at a springs party given by the La Joie De Vie Club in Lincoln Hotel Ballroom. A May Pole was danced around in addition to large displays of colorful flowers. Pink and yellow trimmed lights added color to the room. Marjorie entertained at intermission with interpretive dances—one was listed as, “she carried a large yellow ballon with the word La Joie De Vie inscribed on it. For an encore, she performed her Tamborine dance in which she handed out favors of “celluloid covered memorandum books to the ladies and cigarets to the men.” This is the earliest mention of a 'balloon dance' or 'bubble dance.'
    • November 1922, Miss Donna Gustin presented her company at the Temple Theatre for the Lincoln Woman’s Club. Marjorie Corrington’s act is listed as “Powder Puff.”
    • December 1922, Marjorie performed at a Christmas party at the Lincoln Hotel for the Fifty-Fifty Social Club. 60 couples attended the party. Favor dances were presented at the party. Marjorie danced a powder puff dance with five other girls. She emerged from a huge powder box and dance solo.
    • February 1923, Marjorie performed in a stage play at the Lincoln High School auditorium for the District No. 1 of the Lincoln Guardians Association.
    • More than one hundred girls took part in Donna Gustin’s dance recital at the Orpheum Theatre on April 14, 1923. The recital was in three parts—‘A Day in a Garden’, ‘With Spanish Gypsies’, and ‘An Arabian Night’s Entertainment.’ Marjorie performed “The Statue Lotus Flower” in Part I and ‘La Amorada’ in Part II.
    • August 1923- Marjorie appeared with the Rialto Symphony Players and performed a song and dancing number with Gladys Conrac in Lincoln, NE.
    • October 1923, while attending Nebraska Wesleyan University, Marjorie performed with other students of the ‘expression department’. Her act was listed as “When de Folks is Gone."
    • April 1925, Marjorie performs an interpretative dance at the Red Room of the Y.M.C.A. for the Sons of Veterans.
    • She first graced the stage 'professionally' when she was 10 years old, traveling with the Portia Mansfield Dancers in the Orpheum Circuit. It was at this time she came up with her bubble dance, later copyrighted by her.
    (Marjorie Corrington. 1920)
    • May 1925, Marjorie performed an act entitled, “The Princess of it All”, at a musical program held at the Trinity Lutheran church in Lincoln.
    • In June 1925, she performed at the Lincoln Theatre along side other dancers. The local advertisement states the movie “Old Home Week” starring Thomas Meighan was shown on screen and on stage was the Lincoln Symphony orchestra and a concert organist.
    • March 1926, Marjorie performed for children of the Orthopedic hospital. The program was sponsored by the Civic Department of the Lincoln Woman’s Club. Marjorie was reported to have performed a Hawaiian dance and the Charleston
    • April 1926, Marjorie performed a Hawaiian inspired Hula dance with the Flavia Waters company at the Orpheum Theatre. She also performed ‘The Rose Ballet.
    • July 1926-- Marjorie performed at the Epworth Lake picnic, staged by the Lincoln Ku Klux Klan. At least 15,000 people attended the picnic, though they boasted they sold 22,000 tickets. She is listed as performing at 3:00pm with the “Waikiki Trio.” Marjorie was 13 years old at the time, being managed by her mother, Bertha.
    • May 1927, Flavia Waters Champe and her students entertained guests at a May Party at Flavia's studio. Each student performed an original dance and chose her own music. Majorie’s act was simply listed as ‘Dance.’
    (Lotus Marjorie Corrington. 1927)
    • Also in May 1927--Marjorie joined a musical stock company in Kansas City where she performed as a solo dancer. This is the first mention of her traveling outside Lincoln to perform. This article also stated she will head to Denver, CO and then to Portland, OR after her Kansas City engagement ends.
    • October 1927, Marjorie danced, accompanied by Mildred Lyman on the piano, to entertain the new officers of the junior division of the Chamber of Commerce. About 125 people attended the annual banquet and were entertained with a dance by 13 year old Marjorie.
    • November 1928, the Cosmopolitan club hosted its annual Halloween party at the Auto club. 60 couples came and saw Marjorie dance during intermission.
    • February 1929, Marjorie performed at the first annual dinner of the Lincoln Display Men’s Club at the Lincoln Hotel. The program included dances by Marjorie Corrington and others.

    "Miss Lincoln" Beauty Pageant

    In 1928, Marjorie was named “Miss Lincoln” and represented Lincoln in the state beauty contest, held in Omaha. It lists her age as 16 (a mistake). By May 1928, it was discovered Marjorie was actually 14 years old and therefore ineligible to compete for the title. She returned two years lady to compete and receive 2nd place in 1930.

     

    (Lotus Marjorie Corrington. May, 1928)

    ("Studio portraits of dancer Marjorie Corrington" Dewell, Nathaniel. December 1, 1928. History Nebraska)

    A Rising Star - Rosita Royce is Born

    In 1932, at 19 years old, Marjorie moved to Chicago to study dance and was discovered by a Balaban and Katz talent scout. She was hired as a permanent chorus member, performing in 6 different theaters in the Chicago metropolis and began touring under the name Rosita Royce. Its reported she chose Rosita out of the “necessity for a name in some solo work as a Spanish dancer and the Royce out of the air when she required two names for vaudeville billing.” She suffered an injury to her toe which stopped her dancing for a year. From Chicago, she ventured to New York.

    (Rosita Royce. Hand tinted photograph. c. 1930)

    She replaced Sally Rand as the fan dancer of the 1933 New York World’s Fair after management wouldn’t pay Rand’s salary demand. Royce then went to California and headlined at the Hollywood Cafe for some time. While performing there, Earl Carroll saw her and offered her a role in ‘Vanities’ at the Palm Island Casino in Miami. During this time she created her dove dance and debuted it in Carroll’s show.

    Rosita claimed she was the first balloon dancer, before Sally Rand. She even went as far as to copyright her 'bubble dance' though it didn't do much from others creating their own balloon acts. By 1933, Marjorie was performing under the name Rosita Royce.

    Rosita's "Dance of the Doves"

    (Rosita Royce. Dove Dancer. 1939)

    The Dove Dance was a strip-tease in which the removal of her garments were by the doves. They would also act as a partial ‘shield’, landing on her body to conceal her nude body. At her first performance of the Dove Dance, the dominant dove led the flock to a chandelier in the house and wouldn’t fly down. Royce had gone through 37 doves until she successfully trained 7 to respond to her commands. Her performance was lit with blue light, adding a ‘mythical’ effect to the act. The names of the doves were as follows; Queenie, who sat on Royce’s head, Angel, Lovie Dovie, Tookie, Beauty, King, and Baby, ‘a perpetual squeaker.’ The doves were picky and would only eat kaffir corn, Alaska peas, and hemp. In the summer of 1936, Royce took her Dove Dance to the outdoor stage of the San Diego International Exposition where she performed 7 shows a night. She then performed at the Los Angeles Orpheum for three weeks in 1936.

    Ken Magazine reported one night the dance didn’t go as planned. At one performance, college boys began throwing cracked corn onto the stage during a critical moment of the dance, causing the doves to forget their training and desert Royce mid-performance for a snack.

    Rosita would begin her number by entering wearing a see-through costume and her doves. The doves would circle in the air, walk up and down her arms and legs to somehow manage to unhook parts of her costume to reveal her skin which would then be covered by another dove. In the end she would be wearing nothing but doves.

    Traveling Burlesque Performer - 1930s

    • January 1930, the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages group held an informal banquet of the Nebraska Bottlers’ Association at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. 84 members attended. Entertainment included a boxing exhibition, an act by the Sigma sisters, and a Spanish dance by Marjorie Corrington. Music was furnished by a 6-piece orchestra.
    • In February 1930, the Lincoln Woman’s Club sponsored a production of players of the Fine Arts of Nebraska Wesleyan University. The production included poetry readings, dances, vocal solos, and drama. They performed “The Slave With Two Faces” at the Temple Theater, Lincoln.
    • August of 1930, Marjorie entered the ‘Miss Lincoln’ Beauty Contest. She got second place while Bertha Jacobs took the title.
    • Marjorie was studying dance with Flavia Waters Champe in Lincoln. In April 1931, Champe’s students gave performance at the Liberty Theatre in Lincoln. The production was divided into specific dance themes like, Songland and Toyland. Cinderella’s Ball included dance from foreign countries. Fairyland included dancers dressed as elves, butterflies, and rosebud fairies. The second half of the show featured modern dances and classical dances. Marjorie performed as a soloist in the Dance of Spain. Lastly, the show was concluded by Flavia Waters Champe, herself, performing as the “chief” in “the dance of the native American.”
    • In February 1932, Marjorie performed at the Lincoln Y.M.C.A. during a dinner for contestants of a Checkers Tournament. She performed an ‘Indian Dance.’
    • At the end of February 1932, Marjorie danced at a Y.M.C.A. dinner. She presented a ‘novelty dance’ entitled ‘The Peanut Vendor Girl.'
    • Club Waldor hosted Marjorie Corrington in March 1932 where she performed a ‘specialty dance.’
    • March 1933, Marjorie dances at Paul Sports Club Araby at 15th and Farnam Streets in Omaha, NE.
    • November 1, 1933 a five-day Omaha Midwest Clinic Society convention on medical economics came to the Paxton Hotel. Six hundred physicians attend a Tuesday night stage show where Marjorie Corrington (not yet going as Rosita Royce) performed a fan dance along with Martha Randall’s Troupe, The Jungle Rhythm Boys, Goldie Thystrup, Ilene Hoover, and Fred Hertfeld.
    • In November 1933, Rosita performed ‘Sally Rand’s Fan Dance’ at Nebraska City’s Booth Theatre.
    • She performed at the Rivoli Theatre in Seward, NE in December 1933. She performed her fan dance, once between two movie screenings on a Friday and three performances the next day. She performed at the Chicago Theatre, Chicago, and the Paramount Theatre in New York City.
    (Blue Valley Blade. Advertisement. Page 3. December 7, 1933)
    • 1934 Rosita Royce performed her famous fan dance at the Empress Theatre in Fremont, NE.
    • Rosita Royce performed ‘Sally Rand’s Fan Dance’ three times in Holdrege, NE at the Sun Theater in February 1934. The paper briefly states, “For three days only, Sally Rand’s dance, staged by Rosita Royce, at the Sun Theater, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.”
    • January 1934- Rosita Royce returned to Omaha to perform her popular fan dance and dove dance at the Paxton hotel. She performed at the Paxton Paradise Supper-Dance.
    • In 1934, Rosita was arrested at the World’s Fair by exposition censors due to dancing ‘minus her fig leaf’ (aka in the nude). During her arraignment she offered this excuse, ‘the wind blew it off’ as to why she had appeared in the nude.
    • In Summer 1934, Rosita was the featured dancer in the ‘Streets of Paris’ at the Chicago exposition.

    The "Bubble Dance" - 1935

    (Rosita Royce. Bubble Dance. c. 1935)

    Rosita took Sally Rand’s place at the Chicago Century of Progress Fair in 1933. She also announced she had copyrighted the bubble dance before Rand began performing it. The rivalry was marked when Sally bought the only balloon company’s balloon form, while Rosita went and bought the remaining stock of balloons on hand.

    On March 27, 1935, Rosita Royce had the ability to sue Sally Rand for plagiarizing her bubble dance but she declined to go after her. Her employer believed Royce to be too shy. Royce stated she thought of the balloon dance when she was 10 years old. She danced with a 6 foot wide balloon with, rumored, nothing else. She performed her balloon and bubble dances at the Columbus Theatre (Columbus, NE) for three days in June 1935.

    In March 1936, Rosita performed her bubble dance at Peony Park ballroom in Omaha, NE, where a man threw a lit cigarette at her balloon. It popped and ruined her performance. The balloon cost $6.

    1930s Performances

    • Rosita performed in ‘Rhapsody in Rhythm’ in Lincoln at the Greater Orpheum Theatre. The cast performed 4 shows a day.
    • Advertisement for Rosita Royce at Peony Park ballroom and nightclub; “Gala Floor show featuring Rosita Royce of Earl Carroll’s Vanities doing the same sensational Dove and Balloon Dances that won her international fame.”
    • In July 1937, Rosita Royce performed at the Cheyenne Rodeo Show in connection with Cheyenne, Wyoming’s Frontier Days Celebration.
    • October 1937 - Royce performed at the Chez Paree in Chicago with her Dove Dance.
    • She performed her Dove Dance at the Orpheum Theatre’s New Year’s Eve stage show called “Scandals of 1938” and was received well by Omaha audiences.
    (Omaha World Herald. Advertisement. Page 7. December 31, 1937)
    (Omaha World Herald. Advertisement. Page 13. January 4, 1938)
    •  Advertisement for Rosita Royce, “the sensation of three world fairs” at the Wagon Wheel Night Club in Beatrice. 
    (Nebraska Daily News Press. Advertisement. Page 2. December 3, 1938)
    • Advertisement for Miss Rosita Royce “The Dance of the Silhouette and ‘Opalescene,’ New Style of Fan Dance.’ In Nebraska City.
    • April 1939- Rosita Royce headlined at the Dallas Centennial

    Speaking Out

    In February 1937, Rosita Royce was invited to speak to the Optimists, a social club, about her experiences in show business as a child. Reverend R.A. Dawson also spoke about Child Labor and the need to pass child labor laws. In 1940, she was the first woman to address the Rhode Island state legislature at the speaker’s stand. She spoke about ‘peace’ with one of her doves, Beauty, perched on her arm. 

    The 1939 New York World's Fair

    (Rosita Royce at the Crystal Palace. New York World's Fair 1939. New York Public Library Photograph Collection)

    Rosita Royce represented the state of Nebraska at the World’s Fair in 1939. She performed her Dove Dance at the Crystal Palace, whose management required her to perform 10 times a day, and 12 times on Saturdays. She danced and stripped with 7 doves, that would fly and land on her body to “keep her modesty.” Even though she was a hit at the Fair, not long after beginning the gig at the Crystal Palace, Royce complained of poor treatment of her and her birds by management and soon quit the Fair in protest. Reportedly, her doctor told her she would be hospitalized if she worked any harder. Royce also stated her leaving as a protest for the chorus girls, stating, ‘They get only $35 a week, and on this many of them support families. Recently they were docked $5, but this cut was restored. They are afraid to strike, so I took the action for them.” 

    (Rosita Royce. The Dove Dancer. 1939)

    According to the New York News, Rosita’s Dove Dance was ranked 1st as the hit performer of the exposition. Another nude dancer at the Fair, Della Carroll, also quit, but for different reasons than Rosita. Della quit because of the ‘stupid nudity ban and unfair censorship of dance costumes’ by the Fair management. She declared the nudity ban was so strict it ‘makes proper presentation of esthetic performances impossible.' The World’s Fair included nude dancers other than Royce—Billy Rose’s Aquacade and Nils T. Granlund’s Congress of Beauty and Sun Worshipers (cast included 110 nude dancers). 

    (Rosita Royce. 1939)

    On August 1, 1939 she finally had enough and quit—stating, “I’ve been doing 74 shows a week—10 on weekdays and 12 on Saturdays and Sundays—and it’s killing my doves. One has died already. It was like losing my best friend.” By August 5th, Rosita was admitted to the hospital due to “a serious nervous condition after working 10 performances a day since the exposition’s opening.” 14 out of 21 of her doves were taken under care of a veterinary.

    The 1940 New York World's Fair

     

    (Rosita Royce, revue entertainer. Maurice. 1946. University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections. J. Willis Sayre Photograph Collection)

    (Rosita Royce performing the Dance of the Doves at the Great White Way at the New York World's Fair. 1940. New York Public Library Photograph Collection)

    Rosita Royce performed at the 1940 New York World’s Fair. Her Dove Dance was originally to be broadcasted by NBC but at rehearsal it was discovered the birds couldn’t handle the heat from the high-powered lights. Rosita Royce appeared in municipal court in September 1940 due to her quitting the White Way Casino at the World’s Fair. Her contract allotted $375 a week for 8 shows a day, except Saturdays. However, management demanded 11 shows daily.

    (Rosita Royce with two macaws. 1940 New York World's Fair)
    (Rosita Royce. 1940. New York Public Library Photograph Collection)

    Burlesque Performances - 1940s

    • In March 1940, Rosita Royce helped choreograph the male chorus dancers of the ‘Kosmet Klub’, known as ‘pony choruses’, for their annual spring show at the University of Nebraska. She performed her Dove Dance at the Klub’s show, ‘Ski Stealers. The ‘Ski Stealers’ was a satire of the Russian-Finnish situation. ‘Ski’ was to be pronounced as ‘she’, in the Finnish manner. 
    (Rosita Royce. The Dove Dancer. 1943)
    • Rosita added a red macaw to her feathered companions in March of 1940. She traveled and performed her dove dance in Washington, Newark, Union City, and Pittsburgh.
    • In 1942 she debuted a new bird act featuring brightly colored cockatoos with a costume of feather wings. She also created a new act called ‘Variations on the G-String’ where she impersonated the four leading burlesque dancers of the day—Gypsy Lee, Margie Hart, Ann Corio and Georgia Sothern.
    • In 1942, Rosita traveled to Latin American on cultural exchange. She debuted in Havana, Cuba.
    (Rosita Royce. 1940)

    Tragic Death of Fiancé

    In August 1941, Rosita’s fiancé, William K. Camblin mysteriously drowned on a Sunday night at the Bar Beach in Long Island. According to the newspapers, Camblin swam too far from shore and was not a strong swimmer. They had come to the beach with a friend, Elinore Pape. Once the two women brought him ashore, a fire department inhalator was used for more than an hour, without success. Camblin was 27 years old and had just graduated from engineering college in 1938 and had been employed by an aircraft company in New York. 

    (Rosita Royce. Black Butterfly Act. 1936)

    Rosita in the 1950s

    By 1952 Rosita was living in New York City and performing nightly at the Jones Beach Stadium. She came to New York after performing in Atlanta at a night club. There she developed a ‘semi strip’ version of her “Dance of the Doves” where her bird would pluck at the fastenings of her costume, dropping the garments piece by piece. She wore a velvet gown that had padding in it to help protect her skin from the claws of her doves and metal clasps to make remove easier. It’s in this article that the author states ‘Royce’ was her mother’s maiden name, which is false. She performed at four world’s fairs—Chicago, San Diego, Dallas, and New York. It also states that she purchased a house in North Miami though the next year she gets in trouble for owing her landlord unpaid rent.

    (Rosita Royce. c. 1946)
    In the summer of 1953, she performed in ‘A Night in Venice’ at Jones Beach, New York. That summer she ran into trouble with the landlord of her New York apartment. Her landlord attempted to impound her doves for back rent he claimed Rosita owed—$440 to be exact. The landlord obtained a court order tying up her show salary until the matter could be resolved.
    The famous film “Striporama” (1954) with Tempest Storm and Bettie Page, also featured Rosita Royce in her ‘Dove Dance.’ The Striporama was played at the Town Theatre in Omaha frequently from 1954 to 1956. Lili St. Cyr and Georgia Sothern also make appearances in the film.

    Her Death

    Rosita Royce died on September 24, 1954 in Miami, Florida. It's rumored she died from cancer but I couldn't find any information to corroborate that claim. A stripper named Doris Dean bought Rosita's trained doves from her mother in 1955. Rosita was listed in the Florida Death Index (1877-1998) as “Rosita M. Royce” so it took a bit of searching to determine her death date. She died in Miami with her mother, apparently penniless.

    Videos

    Rosita's "Dance of the Doves" in the famous 'Striporama' (1953).

    Rosita Royce and her Impression of Ann Corio (c. 1940).

    Rosita Royce dancing with 2 Macaws (c. 1940).

    Rosita's main rival - Sally Rand's Bubble Dance.

    Sources

    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Amusement Notices.” Page 10. April 28, 1926
    • The Lincoln Star. “Nebraska Bottlers In Annual Banquet Here Monday Night.” Page 2. January 14, 1930
    • The Lincoln Star. “Annual Banquet Junior Chamber.” Page 6. October 12, 1927
    • The Lincoln Star. “Joins Company as Solo Dancer.” Page 34. May 29, 1927
    • The Lincoln Star. “Entertains Students at a May Party.” Page 4. May 23, 1927
    • The Lincoln Star. “Entertainment for Hospital Children.” Page 30. March 14, 1926
    • The Lincoln Star. “The Musical World.” Page 21. May 31, 1925
    • The Lincoln Star. “Sons of Veterans Sponsor Program.” Page 7. April 16, 1925
    • The Lincoln Star. “Parties of the Week.” Page 21. March 20, 1921
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “People You Know.” Page 9. May 25, 1920
    • Omaha World Herald. “Paul Spot’s Big Night.” Advertisement. Page 19. March 17, 1933
    • Newsday Nassau Edition. “Doves Dance, Fly Nightly Over Jones Beach.” William Van Haintze. Page 8. August 9, 1952
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Mere Mention.” Page 4. February 22, 1932
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Cosmopolitan club.” Page 13. November 1, 1928
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Klan Has a Big Picnic.” Page 5. July 6, 1926)
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Campfire Entertainment.” Page 17. February 18, 1923
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Women’s Club Program.” Page 17-18. May 11, 1922
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Page 9. May 18, 1922
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Amusements; Miss Gustin Dance Recital.” Page 7. March 22, 1922
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “De Lellis Schramek and Lotus Marjorie Corrington.” Page 17. March 19, 1922
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “People You Know.” Page 9. October 9, 1920
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Dance at Club Waldor.” Advertisement. Page 10. March 11, 1932
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Winners In Bathing Beauty Contest.” Page 2. August 4, 1930
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Display Club Celebrates.” Page 14. February 22, 1929
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Amusements.” Page 4. May 1, 1926
    • Evening World Herald. “Eleanor Wolff Is Named ‘Miss Omaha’ in Contest; ‘Miss Lincoln’ Changed.” Page 2. May 19, 1928
    • Photograph of 1920 United State Federal Census. Ancestry.com
    • Omaha World Herald. “Bits of This and That…” Page 91. April 17, 1955
    • Evening World Herald. Ex-Lincolnite Rosita Still Decently Moved.” Page 12. September 2, 1953
    • Omaha World Herald. “Rosita Goes South, to Land of Incas.” Elisabeth Hughes. Page 52. May 31, 1942
    • The Lincoln Star. “Rosita Royce Adds Red Macaw to Her Feathered Flock.” Page 13. March 20, 1940
    • The McCook Daily Gazette. Page 5. March 6, 1940
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “News in Brief…Lincoln.” Page 9. March 6, 1940
    • Omaha World Herald. “Dove Dancer Will Put Kosmet Klub Pony Chorus Wise.” Page 1. March 6, 1940
    • The Columbus Telegram. “Lincoln Man is Drowned in East.” Page 3. August 5, 1941
    • Norfolk Daily News. “Lincoln Man Drowned.” Page 1. August 4, 1941
    • Fremont Morning Guide. “Lincoln Man Drowned in East.” Page 9. August 5, 1941
    • Omaha World Herald. “11 Shows Daily Tough on Doves, Says Lincoln Girl.” Jamaica L.I. CTPS. Page 1. September 18, 1940
    • Evening World Herald. Page 8. May 30, 1940
    • Omaha World Herald. “Peace, It’s Wonderful! Rosita and Dove Take Rhode Island.” Page 15. February 4, 1940
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “Rev. R.A. Dawson Speaks; Talks on Child Labor; Dancer is Heard.” Page 2. February 25, 1937
    • The Lincoln Star. “Rosita Royce is in Hospital; 14 Doves Also Incapacitated.” Page 1. August 5, 1939
    • The Lincoln Star. “Rosita Royce And Her Doves May Be World Fair Sensation.” Page 34. April 30, 1939
    • The Lincoln Star. “Rosita Royce Quits in Rage; Says Doves Dying of Overwork. New York. Page 1. August 1, 1939
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Page 39. June 11, 1939
    • Evening World Herald. “The Fair’s ‘Unfair to Doves,’ So Rosita Says She’ll Quit.” Page 6. August 1, 1939
    • Omaha World Herald. “Dove Dancer May Be State’s Contribution to World Fair.” Page 8. February 12, 1939
    • Nebraska Daily News Press. Advertisement. Page 2. December 3, 1938
    • Beatrice Daily Sun. Page 8. December 2, 1938
    • The Benson Times. “Orpheum Theatre.” Page 4. December 30, 1937
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Rosita Royce to do Cheyenne Rodeo Show.” Page 37. July 18, 1937
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Rosita’s Show.” Page 41. October 24 ,1937
    • Omaha World Herald. “Rosita Royce Claims Bubble Dance Hers.” Page 12. March 19, 1936
    • Omaha Evening Bee News. “Town Gossip.” Page 3. April 1, 1936
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “From Hoofer to Dove Dancer in Four Years.” Lulu Mae Coe. Page 29. December 20, 1936
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Advertisement. Page 20. September 1, 1935
    • Omaha World Herald. Advertisement. Page 9. March 21, 1936
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Advertisement. Page 20. May 26, 1935
    • The Columbus Telegram. Advertisement. Page 6, June 11, 1935
    • The Columbus Telegram. “Bubble Dancer is Terribly Bashful.” Page 8. March 27, 1935
    • The Columbus Telegram. “Dancer is Lincoln Girl.” Page 8. June 8, 1935
    • The McCook Daily Gazette. “Wind Blew It Off, the Excuse of Nude Dancer.” Page 2. August 31, 1934
    • The Omaha Evening Bee News. “Rosita Royce, Dancer Returning to Paxton.” Page 8. January 18, 1934
    • Holdrege Daily Citizen. Page 3. February 2, 1934
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. Page 8. February 23, 1934
    • Beatrice Daily Sun. Advertisement. Page 5. January 15, 1934
    • Fremont Tribune. Advertisement for Empress Theatre. Page 3. November 16, 1933
    • Blue Valley Blade. “Varied Offering of Entertainment at Theaters.” December 7, 1933
    • Nebraska Daily News Press. Advertisement. Page 10. November 19, 1933
    • The Omaha Evening Bee News. “Town Tattle.” Page 3. May 28, 1935
    • Omaha World Herald. “Rosita Goes South, to Land of Incas.” Elisabeth Hughes. Page 52. May 31, 1942
    • Omaha World Herald. “Latest Fair Nudes.” Ken Magazine. Page 31. July 2, 1939
    • Evening World Herald. “Rosita and Doves in Stage Show.” Page 8. December 29, 1937
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “People You Know.” Page 12. February 18, 1921
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “At the Theaters. Advertisement.” Page 4. August 30, 1923
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Miss Marjorie Corrington.” Page 13. August 29, 1920
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “At the Theaters. Advertisement.” Page 4. August 30, 1923
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Miss Lincoln is Chosen; Marjorie Corrington to Represent Lincoln in State Contest in Omaha.” Page 1. May 17, 1928
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Students and Teachers Join in High School’s Annual Joy Night.” Page 5. April 13, 1929
    • Omaha World Herald. “Musical Events.” Page 11. May 22, 1933
    • Omaha World Herald. “Urges Doctors Unite for Economic Relief; Charity Impositions Rapped by Speaker at Medical Meet.” Page 6. November 1, 1933
    • The Lincoln Star. “Students Give Play For Club; ‘The Slave With Two Faces’ to be Presented Monday at Temple Theater.” Page 21. February 2, 1930
    • The Lincoln Star. “Crowd Attends Dance Recital; Flavia Waters Champe’s Students Appear in Performance.” Page 4. March 26, 1931
    • Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. “Alpha Kappa Delta of Wesleyan Spring Dinner Party.” Page 15. May 15, 1921
    • The Tecumseh Chieftain. “Last Sunday’s State Journal contained a fine picture of little Miss Lotus Marjorie Corrington.” Page 6. April 10, 1920
    • Lincoln Journal Star. “People You Know.” Page 10. May 31, 1921
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