Dorothy Provine
A vivacious sparkplug of 1960s film and TV who brought the flapper era back to life with her Charleston and megawatt smile.
1935–2010 (age 75)·American singer, dancer, actress·Birthday: January 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Dorothy Provine burst onto screens with the energy of a jazz age party. Discovered by Warner Bros., she quickly became a versatile presence, moving from the title role in 'The Bonnie Parker Story' to becoming a network television star. Her defining role was as the intrepid newspaper singer Pinky Pinkham in 'The Roaring Twenties,' where her spirited performances of period songs, complete with a frenetic Charleston, made her a standout. This led to a string of major comedic film roles in the 1960s, where she held her own in ensemble casts packed with giants like Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in 'The Great Race' and Milton Berle and Jonathan Winters in 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.' With a bright, comic touch and genuine musical talent, she embodied a specific, effervescent brand of mid-century entertainment.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Dorothy was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dorothy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Dorothy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2010Died at 75
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Starred as Pinky Pinkham, the lead female role, in the popular ABC television series 'The Roaring Twenties' (1960–1962).
- Played significant comedic roles in major 1960s film ensembles like 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' and 'The Great Race.'
- Had a leading role in the Disney family comedy 'That Darn Cat!' opposite Hayley Mills and Dean Jones.
Did You Know?
She was a trained singer and dancer, and her performances of 1920s songs on 'The Roaring Twenties' were major highlights of the show.
She retired from acting in the early 1970s to raise a family with her husband, director Robert Day, and largely stayed out of the public eye.
She was offered the role of Ginger Grant on 'Gilligan's Island' but turned it down; the role later went to Tina Louise.
“I'm a flapper from way back, and I love to Charleston!”
