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It started in 1948...
and each year since, the fathers of the Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School in Glendale, California, have produced an original musical comedy as a
fundraiser for the school's PTA. According to the 25th Anniversary program (1972):
"A quarter of a century ago a handful of six dads with children attending the Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School put together in the cafetorium a short amateur song and dance routine with a piano accompaniment."
Now entering it's 62nd season, Fathers' Follies has become an event of legendary proportions in the Glendale
community and throughout much of Southern California.
Starting in the 1920s, the Verdugo Woodlands P.T.A. had an annual event they called "Father's Night," when the ladies' husbands attended a P.T.A. meeting. In 1948, P.T.A. President Kay
Gurash turned the evening over to her husband, John. While trying to figure out how to conduct a P.T.A. meeting, he came up with the "little idea" that it might be fun for the guys to enact a PTA meeting dressed as their wives. Swearing each other to deepest secrecy, they raided closets and thrift stores, cut up mop heads for wigs, wrote several skits, put make-up on their faces and added a few songs and dances, and performed in the school cafeteria.
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The event was so much fun, the wives insisted the father's do it again the next year. Thus, in the spring of 1948, John Gurash went down in history as the first producer of FATHERS’ FOLLIES.
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| Then in 1949, along came another P.T.A. husband, professional movieman, Joe Sawyer. Joe is one of those wonderful actors whose face you know very well. Starting in 1933, his filmography lists over 100 movies, including many of the Bogart films. Anyway, Joe surveyed the "Fathers' Night" situation and decided that as long as the fathers
were fooling around with skirts and what-not they might as well put on a proper show. |
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So that year, the show moved to the stage of Glendale College, complete with orchestra, and singing and dancing choruses...good bye Fathers' Night, hello FATHERS' FOLLIES. We were never ready for opera, and we always lacked the precision of the Rockettes, but once you've seen us, you'll never forget us!
Follies was lucky from the start. Besides Joe (who loved being a star) we had Mike Mazurki (Moose Malloy in "Farewell My Lovely", Larry Clemons, who arranged for Bing Crosby, Al Taliafero, who created Donald Duck, also designed our first posters, anyway there's been a nucleus of people who really know how to "put on a show".
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Our first orchestra, was a six-piece affair, composed of fathers and brothers who hadn't played since college, but valiantly struggled through the evening's entertainment.
We got lucky -- real lucky -- in 1959 when Bob Adolphe took over and promised to deliver an orchestra. He did, for over twenty years! |
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We call it Fathers' Follies, but it expanded far beyond those simple first skits, and is far from a surprise to the P.T.A. ladies as it was over 60 years ago.
In many years, there have been over 200 people connected with the show, and many of the real forces behind it have been the women of Verdugo Woodlands. We put only men on the stage (a tradition started at the inception), but take a look behind the scenes. Jill Benone, a second generation Folly (that's right, we have people who fathers and grandfathers were in the show).
Jill wrote and directed the show for over 20 years. Yvonne Rodriguez and Jackie Larson were choreographers for years. Liz French designed the sets and bossed the painting crews. Annie Betelli has been the producer and choreographer for over 10 years and ran the 60th reunion event. As you look over the credits of all those involved over the years, there is an endless list of supports and participants
that have helped to make this tradition endure.
Besides all the fun and frivolity, there is also a purpose. Over the years, the proceeds from Fathers' Follies have contributed to the operating expense of the Verdugo Woodlands PTA. In addition,
the show has funded various capital equipment programs at the school, including copiers and other office equipment, ceiling fans, and musical
instruments and accessories. From the few men who appeared in 1948, the Follies cast and crew has grown to as much as 100 in many years, creating unforgettable memories of their elementary school experience for the children of Verdugo Woodlands.
Reprint from the 1973 Show Program
Father's Follies Tribute
BEHIND THE SCENES
Over the years the people behind the scenes, those men and women you seldom see or hear about, have worked diligently to produce the
artistry and design, the theatrical technique and music that light up the stage, providing Fathers Follies with that touch of professionalism that has
astounded thousands for so many performances.
In 1958, Bob Adolphe came to Fathers Follies, bringing with him an accomplished orchestra that has been providing the musical background to all these shows.
He and his orchestra have performed magnificently to the enjoyment of all. Father's Follies salutes Bob, his orchestra and his magic baton.
In 1963, Clifford Prothero joined this annual Woodlands production. Cliff's artistic capabilities provide the outstanding scenes and sets seen throughout every program. His imaginative work year after year on the scenery, posters, programs, etc., is appreciated and complimented by all.
In 1965 Fathers Follies was fortunate to discover Jim and Betty Crosby. Betty is a Glendale Art teacher and Jim a sales executive, but when they go to work for
Fathers Follies a magical transformation takes place. Betty with her pallet and paint brushes converts a plain, dull canvas into a remarkable backdrop of color and design.
Jim with his saw, hammer and tools can build a mountain out of a molehill.
And when you look with amazement at the performers on stage and how their facial appearance has changed, it is Isa Chino's expertise at makeup that has been responsible since 1966. Our heartfelt appreciation to Isa for all whose appearances she has so geatly improved.
For years every Saturday morning in preparation for Fathers Follies, a young lady arrives at the Youth House wearing dungarees stained with blotches of old paint. At the end of a long day she carries away even more paint on her dungarees. That talented young lady is Nancy Campbell, an artist in her own right.
Year after year, Fathers Follies has unleashed it Dads on stage, turning them loose as inexperienced Dancers. But then we were fortunate enough to have talented Jackie Larson and Yvonne Rodriquez
come forth. Jackie started choreographing our dancers in 1966, and Yvonne joined her in 1968. Jackie and Yvonne put the dancers through their paces week after week practicing them to perfection.
To see these frolicking fathers in outlandish costumes with hairy chests and bony legs is truly a sight to behold.
Since 1968 Fathers Follies has been dependent upon Ernie Ayala for the printing of it's handsome program and posters. Instead of sitting back and simply performing as the professional painter that he is, Ernie rolls up his sleeves, contributing in every manner possible.
Ernie has been a vital part of Fathers Follies. Without him this program would not be the attractive success that it is. Now, if we can only get Ernie before the footlights.
Many, many others have given similarly of themselves to Fathers Follies, but few to the extent as those mentioned above.
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Click here to read a A Personal Perspcetive of the Fathers' Follies by Jill Benone.
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