Our Legendary Line of Long-Legged Lovelies
At age 21 Glenda Guilfoyle
She is the prototypical classic showgirl with a lifetime spent kicking up her heels in the chorus line. At 77, she is in her 16th season as a Fabulous Follies Long-Legged Lovely.
Glenda Guilfoyle, born in New York, started out by driving back east in the family car from San Bernardino with her professional dancer parents to become, at 17, one of the famed Radio City Rockettes.
She went west again for two years in Donn Arden's Moulin Rouge in Hollywood. Handpicked by Walt Disney himself, she danced in Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue. She also appeared in such Warner Brothers films as Robin and the Seven Hoods, with Frank Sinatra, and The Music Man.
Glenda's work in television included specials with Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Rosemary Clooney and Andy Griffith. She taught at Los Angeles dance academies, appeared in television commercials, and was a successful runway model.
Glenda also bakes delicious cookies. As a single, divorced mother, she raised and supported seven children by dancing and catering special events. Now, she grandmotherly clucks over a brood of 11 grandchildren. And in her "spare time" she paints still life art.
What is your favorite Follies memory? "We were honored to perform at the 9/11 benefit along with dozens of stars who live in the Palm Springs rea. It was a very emotional experience for our entire cast."
MORE FUN FACTS:
- Daughter Stacy is a fine artist, daughter Stephanie is a physical therapist, daughter Karin is a hair salon owner, son Sean is an account executive, son Kurt is an L.A. Fire Department Captain, daughter Victoria is with the L.A Police Department and daughter Vanessa is a neo-natal nurse.
- Two years ago, she tripped in the shower at home, broke a toe but never missed a show.
- Dancing was in her genes. "Mother and Father," she says, "were in show business, and I followed in their footsteps."
- Her favorite dancers were Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Not much quarrel there.
- Glenda has a fondness for aphorisms: "God never gives you more than you can handle.". . . "Life is a journey, not a destination.". . . "I would change nothing in life; you take the good with the bad."
- The entire Guilfoyle clan,– sons and daughters, their wives and husbands, children and babies,– gathers each year to see the Thanksgiving edition of the Follies and then celebrate with a family dinner.
- She still considers being a Radio City Music Hall Rockette at 17 the singular challenging experience of her career.
