All The Babes
Alice Wilkie
- Born
- Dec 24, 1902
- nationality
- American
Career
Active 1923 – 1927
Biography
About Alice Wilkie
Alice Wilkie was an American exotic dancer and showgirl who lit up New York's stages in the 1920s. She burst onto the scene with George White's Scandals in 1923, staying for three seasons through 1926. In 1925, she also graced the Ziegfeld Follies, a hallmark of Broadway glamour. Alice even launched her own production company, Alice Wilkie Inc., to stage her musicals. After a brief stint with the Ringling Brothers circus in 1927, she retired from the spotlight.
Born on December 24, 1902, in Riverton, Illinois, Alice was the daughter of Thomas Wilkie, a grocery store owner in England. She moved to New York to chase her dreams and quickly made a name for herself. Her career may have been short, just four years, but it left a lasting impression, especially through the lens of famed photographers James Montgomery Flagg and Alfred Cheney Johnston. Johnston, who worked for Florenz Ziegfeld for over 15 years, captured promotional and advertising photos of Follies performers, including some nudes that only came to light after his death, though they weren't published until the 1920s.
After retiring, Alice married Robert Turner Browning, a pharmaceutical executive, and they settled in Short Hills, New Jersey. They stayed married until his death in 1969. Alice then moved to a retirement home in New Jersey, where she spent her final years. She died on August 30, 1987, at the age of 84, and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal, Virginia. Her story is a vivid chapter in the golden age of American show business.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Sunday 30th of August 1987 (age 84)
- Years Active
- 1923-1927 (started around 20 years old; 4 years active)
- Birthplace
- Riverton, Illinois, United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
Frequently asked
What is Alice Wilkie's connection to Ziegfeld Follies?
Alice performed in the Ziegfeld Follies in 1925, one of the most prestigious revues of the era, which helped cement her status as a top showgirl.
Did Alice have a business side beyond performing?
Yes, she founded her own company, Alice Wilkie Inc., to produce her own musicals, showing entrepreneurial initiative after her stage success.
What happened to Alice's career after the 1920s?
After performing with the Ringling Brothers circus in 1927, she retired from show business entirely and married Robert Turner Browning, a pharmaceutical executive.
Did you know
- Alice's father was a grocery store owner in England, though she was born in Illinois.
- She was photographed by both James Montgomery Flagg and Alfred Cheney Johnston, the latter of whom shot Ziegfeld Follies performers for over 15 years.
- Nude photos of Alice, taken by Johnston, were only discovered after his death and remained unpublished until the 1920s.
- She retired from performing at around age 25, after a brief stint with the Ringling Brothers circus.
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