The Golddiggers
Encyclopedia
The Golddiggers were a singing and dancing troupe of young women that at different times over their initial 24-year history consisted of as few as four and as many as thirteen members appearing on stage at one time. They performed in the style of Las Vegas
showgirl
s, and were chosen for their wholesome, attractive looks, talent and presence. Six members of the original group continue to perform today.
The group began on The Dean Martin Show
, and soon thereafter became widely known for starring in their own television series, joining Dean both as regulars on his show and in his nightclub act, and performing on their own in live venues, on other TV programs, and on tour with Bob Hope. Their forte was tightly choreographed and synchronized singing/dancing routines, vocalizing in harmony with coordinated costuming, hairstyling, etc. to great visual effect.
which began airing as a weekly series on NBC Television in September 1965 would complete its regular season run and go on hiatus (as was standard practice with virtually all variety series during that era).
It was Dean Martin Show producer-director Greg Garrison
who hatched the notion of a series with a nostalgic 1930s motif, and Dean Martin Show Music Director Lee Hale who, inspired by The Gold Diggers
of the Busby Berkley - Warner Bros. films of the 1930s and '40s, thought of the name The Golddiggers to dub the ensemble of attractive and talented women around which this new show would revolve.
The initial group, which numbered 12 girls, was introduced on The Dean Martin Show in Spring 1968. On June 20, 1968, they debuted in their own weekly summer variety series, Dean Martin Presents The Golddiggers. The program was the top-rated series of the 1968 summer season, and returned the following July (1969) with a somewhat altered lineup of performers once again serving as the summer replacement skein in Dean Martin's Thursday night time slot.
For the series' third summer outing, which launched in July 1970, it shifted locales to London, with the title modified to become Dean Martin Presents The Golddiggers In London. In addition to airing for an hour each week on NBC in the U.S., this edition of The Golddiggers' series was also seen in half-hour weekly form in England.
In-between their summer series, The Golddiggers made occasional appearances on The Dean Martin Show and other programs, and perhaps most notably, joined Bob Hope
in 1968, 1969, and 1970 on his annual USO
-sponsored Christmas tours of U.S. military bases around the globe. Highlights of these trips were broadcast annually as specials on NBC, and drew some of the highest ratings of any programs during the years that they were telecast.
In the fall of 1970, The Golddiggers returned to the U.S. and became a regular part of the cast of The Dean Martin Show. That same season, four of the members of The Golddiggers (Michelle DellaFave, Tara Leigh, Susan Lund and Wanda Bailey) were selected by Greg Garrison and Lee Hale to form a smaller quartet called The Dingaling Sisters, which appeared from time to time in their own solo performances on Martin's show.
In fall 1971, The Golddiggers group was spun off
from The Dean Martin Show to headline their own weekly half-hour syndicated series entitled Chevrolet Presents The Golddiggers. At the same time, a revamped version of The Dingaling Sisters (comprising Michelle DellaFave, Tara Leigh, Taffy Jones, and Lynne Latham
) succeeded The Golddiggers as the regular female singer/dancers on The Dean Martin Show. Two of the performers joining The Dingaling Sisters during the 1972-73 seasons who would later go on to greater renown were Lindsay Bloom, who appeared in many feature films and co-starred in the 1980s in the weekly CBS series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; and Jayne Kennedy
, who would become well-known to American television audiences in the late 1970s and early '80s as a co-host of The NFL Today
on CBS.
The Golddiggers' syndicated series, which debuted in 1971, aired for two seasons, until the early spring of 1973.
The Golddiggers recorded three record albums. In early 1969, Metromedia Records released the group’s first album, “The Golddiggers” (MD1009), and within only a few months, released a second album, “The Golddiggers, We Need a Little Christmas” (MD 1012). In 1971, RCA Corporation released their third album, “The Golddiggers… Today” (LSP-4643).
The Golddiggers, from 1973 through the 1990s continued the Golddigger legacy by being regulars on Dean Martin's TV Series and TV Specials. The biggest country stars in country music would join Martin and The Golddiggers on TV with a medley of hits. Lynn Anderson
, Conway Twitty
, Ray Stevens
, Buck Owens
, Loretta Lynn
, Mac Davis
, Mel Tillis
, and even city singers like Dionne Warwick
, Gene Kelly
, and Donald O'Connor
. The Golddiggers also took their talent on the road, opening the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and Casino performing in the "Celebrity Room" to sold out crowds with Dean Martin to over 2,000,000 people.
They were the opening act for Petula Clark
, Steve and Eydie
, Joan Rivers
at Caesars Palace
and Bally's Las Vegas
, and toured with Bob Hope and the Rat Pack
. They were a self contained group, starring internationally in Monte Carlo
, Acapulco
, Montreal
, Toronto
and Puerto Rico. and guest starred on The Mike Douglas Show
, The Jonathan Winters Show, and the The Tonight Show
.
All of the Golddiggers musical performances were under the direction of Lee Hale, author of the book, Backstage at the Dean Martin Show. "Although the group started as an even dozen, they ended up as a quartet opening for Dean at his monthly dates in Las Vegas. Those last four girls were definitely among the best". Maria (Alberici) Lauren, Linda (Alberici) Eichberg, Patti Gribow, Peggy Gohl, Marie Halton, Robyn Whatley, and Linda (Snook) Regan, were a part of that last group. With the approval of producers, Greg Garrison and Lee Hale, some of these last girls performed with The Golddiggers for over three decades and still perform selected shows as "Showstoppers, Former Dean Martin Golddiggers" a tribute to the many stars that they had the honor to co-star with.
Six of the original Dean Martin Golddiggers (Sheila Allan, Suzy Cadham, Jackie Chidsey, Susie Ewing, Rosie Gitlin, and Nancy Sinclair) have reunited and have been recently seen performing their hits on television and in Las Vegas. At a special Washington DC performance in November 2007 the six original Golddiggers were joined by two additional Golddiggers, Michelle DellaFave and Wanda Bailey. Information about the upcoming appearances of The Golddiggers can be found on their official website (see external links). In 2008, "Showstoppers, Former Dean Martin Golddiggers," Maria Lauren and Linda Eichberg (Alberici Sisters) and Peggy Gohl, played to packed houses and received rave reviews, "Showstoppers, live up to their name."
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
showgirl
Showgirl
A showgirl is a dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show. Showgirl is also often used as a term for a promotional model in trade fairs and car shows, etc...
s, and were chosen for their wholesome, attractive looks, talent and presence. Six members of the original group continue to perform today.
The group began on The Dean Martin Show
The Dean Martin Show
The Dean Martin Show is a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by crooner Dean Martin...
, and soon thereafter became widely known for starring in their own television series, joining Dean both as regulars on his show and in his nightclub act, and performing on their own in live venues, on other TV programs, and on tour with Bob Hope. Their forte was tightly choreographed and synchronized singing/dancing routines, vocalizing in harmony with coordinated costuming, hairstyling, etc. to great visual effect.
History
The original idea to form a group of singer-dancers that would be called The Golddiggers grew out of a need to find a vehicle that would hold the attention of audiences during the summer months when The Dean Martin ShowThe Dean Martin Show
The Dean Martin Show is a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by crooner Dean Martin...
which began airing as a weekly series on NBC Television in September 1965 would complete its regular season run and go on hiatus (as was standard practice with virtually all variety series during that era).
It was Dean Martin Show producer-director Greg Garrison
Greg Garrison
Greg Garrison was a pioneer producer and director in television, directing nearly 4,000 shows in his career. He received more than a dozen Emmy Award nominations, although he never won....
who hatched the notion of a series with a nostalgic 1930s motif, and Dean Martin Show Music Director Lee Hale who, inspired by The Gold Diggers
The Gold Diggers
The Gold Diggers can refer to:* The Gold Diggers , a 1919 play by Avery Hopwood, the source material for the 1923 film, as well as Gold Diggers of Broadway and Gold Diggers of 1933* The Gold Diggers , a Warner Bros...
of the Busby Berkley - Warner Bros. films of the 1930s and '40s, thought of the name The Golddiggers to dub the ensemble of attractive and talented women around which this new show would revolve.
The initial group, which numbered 12 girls, was introduced on The Dean Martin Show in Spring 1968. On June 20, 1968, they debuted in their own weekly summer variety series, Dean Martin Presents The Golddiggers. The program was the top-rated series of the 1968 summer season, and returned the following July (1969) with a somewhat altered lineup of performers once again serving as the summer replacement skein in Dean Martin's Thursday night time slot.
For the series' third summer outing, which launched in July 1970, it shifted locales to London, with the title modified to become Dean Martin Presents The Golddiggers In London. In addition to airing for an hour each week on NBC in the U.S., this edition of The Golddiggers' series was also seen in half-hour weekly form in England.
In-between their summer series, The Golddiggers made occasional appearances on The Dean Martin Show and other programs, and perhaps most notably, joined Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
in 1968, 1969, and 1970 on his annual USO
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
-sponsored Christmas tours of U.S. military bases around the globe. Highlights of these trips were broadcast annually as specials on NBC, and drew some of the highest ratings of any programs during the years that they were telecast.
In the fall of 1970, The Golddiggers returned to the U.S. and became a regular part of the cast of The Dean Martin Show. That same season, four of the members of The Golddiggers (Michelle DellaFave, Tara Leigh, Susan Lund and Wanda Bailey) were selected by Greg Garrison and Lee Hale to form a smaller quartet called The Dingaling Sisters, which appeared from time to time in their own solo performances on Martin's show.
In fall 1971, The Golddiggers group was spun off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
from The Dean Martin Show to headline their own weekly half-hour syndicated series entitled Chevrolet Presents The Golddiggers. At the same time, a revamped version of The Dingaling Sisters (comprising Michelle DellaFave, Tara Leigh, Taffy Jones, and Lynne Latham
Lynne Latham
Lynne Latham began her noteworthy dance career on television with featured roles on The Dean Martin Show and also went on tour with Sammy Davis Jr. In the 1970s she returned to Dean Martin as one of the Ding-a-ling Sisters and also appeared as a dancer on the Donny and Marie Show...
) succeeded The Golddiggers as the regular female singer/dancers on The Dean Martin Show. Two of the performers joining The Dingaling Sisters during the 1972-73 seasons who would later go on to greater renown were Lindsay Bloom, who appeared in many feature films and co-starred in the 1980s in the weekly CBS series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; and Jayne Kennedy
Jayne Kennedy
Jayne Kennedy is an NAACP Image Award-winning American actress, model and sportscaster.-Miss Ohio USA:...
, who would become well-known to American television audiences in the late 1970s and early '80s as a co-host of The NFL Today
The NFL Today
The NFL Today is an American sports series that precedes the American football program The NFL on CBS on CBS Sports. The program usually airs at noon on Sundays of the National Football League regular season...
on CBS.
The Golddiggers' syndicated series, which debuted in 1971, aired for two seasons, until the early spring of 1973.
The Golddiggers recorded three record albums. In early 1969, Metromedia Records released the group’s first album, “The Golddiggers” (MD1009), and within only a few months, released a second album, “The Golddiggers, We Need a Little Christmas” (MD 1012). In 1971, RCA Corporation released their third album, “The Golddiggers… Today” (LSP-4643).
The Golddiggers, from 1973 through the 1990s continued the Golddigger legacy by being regulars on Dean Martin's TV Series and TV Specials. The biggest country stars in country music would join Martin and The Golddiggers on TV with a medley of hits. Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
, Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
, Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
, Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
, Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
, Mac Davis
Mac Davis
Mac Davis is a country music singer, songwriter, and actor originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much crossover success...
, Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
, and even city singers like Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
, and Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
. The Golddiggers also took their talent on the road, opening the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and Casino performing in the "Celebrity Room" to sold out crowds with Dean Martin to over 2,000,000 people.
They were the opening act for Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
, Steve and Eydie
Steve and Eydie
Steve and Eydie is the name of an American pop vocal duet, consisting of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé. They have been a husband and wife team since they wed in 1957. Both have also had separate careers as solo singers. The performer name on their duet releases was denoted as "Steve and Eydie",...
, Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
and Bally's Las Vegas
Bally's Las Vegas
Bally's Las Vegas, formerly the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip. The Las Vegas resort is located within the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp.. The hotel features 2,814 extra-sized...
, and toured with Bob Hope and the Rat Pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
. They were a self contained group, starring internationally in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
, Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Puerto Rico. and guest starred on The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
, The Jonathan Winters Show, and the The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.
All of the Golddiggers musical performances were under the direction of Lee Hale, author of the book, Backstage at the Dean Martin Show. "Although the group started as an even dozen, they ended up as a quartet opening for Dean at his monthly dates in Las Vegas. Those last four girls were definitely among the best". Maria (Alberici) Lauren, Linda (Alberici) Eichberg, Patti Gribow, Peggy Gohl, Marie Halton, Robyn Whatley, and Linda (Snook) Regan, were a part of that last group. With the approval of producers, Greg Garrison and Lee Hale, some of these last girls performed with The Golddiggers for over three decades and still perform selected shows as "Showstoppers, Former Dean Martin Golddiggers" a tribute to the many stars that they had the honor to co-star with.
Six of the original Dean Martin Golddiggers (Sheila Allan, Suzy Cadham, Jackie Chidsey, Susie Ewing, Rosie Gitlin, and Nancy Sinclair) have reunited and have been recently seen performing their hits on television and in Las Vegas. At a special Washington DC performance in November 2007 the six original Golddiggers were joined by two additional Golddiggers, Michelle DellaFave and Wanda Bailey. Information about the upcoming appearances of The Golddiggers can be found on their official website (see external links). In 2008, "Showstoppers, Former Dean Martin Golddiggers," Maria Lauren and Linda Eichberg (Alberici Sisters) and Peggy Gohl, played to packed houses and received rave reviews, "Showstoppers, live up to their name."
Members
At various times, members included:- Sheila Allan
- Pauline Antony
- Wanda Bailey
- Pamela Beth
- Nancy Bonetti
- Patti Booth
- Kathy Brimer
- Susan Buckner
- Susan Cadham
- Jimmi Cannon
- Karen Cavanaugh
- Darlene (Alberici) Cianci
- Loyita Chapel
- Jackie Chidsey
- Paula Cinko
- Rosetta Cox
- Lee Crawford
- Cathy Lee CrosbyCathy Lee CrosbyCathy Lee Crosby is an American actress. She achieved TV and film success in the 1980s and was a co-host of the television series That's Incredible!. -Personal life:...
- Lezlie Dalton
- Michelle DellaFave
- Tanya DellaFave
- Karen Dolin
- Lynn Dolin
- Wendy Douglas
- Linda (Alberici) Eichberg
- Merry Elkins
- Brooke Fisher
- Joyce Garro
- Patti Gegenheimer
- Peggy Gohl
- Patti (Pivaar) Gribow
- Marie Halton
- Peggy Hansen
- Joy Hawkins
- Robin Horneff
- Sandra Hunt
- Rebecca Jones
- Liz Kelley
- Wendy Kimball
- Colleen Kinkaid
- Maria (Alberici) Lauren
- Tara Leigh
- Julie Leven
- Diana Liekhaus
- Susan Lund
- Nancy Maier
- Cheryl Materson
- Debi McFarland
- Micki McGlone
- Francine Mendenhall
- Patricia Mickey
- Theresa (Bishop) Miller
- Lee Nolting
- Marilyn O'Leary
- Darlina Olsen
- Cynthia Pickett
- Brenda Powell
- Deborah PrattDeborah PrattDeborah M. Pratt is an American actress, writer and television producer. She was a co-executive producer and a writer on the Quantum Leap TV series which was created by her then-husband, Donald Bellisario, and acted in television series including Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I. and Airwolf...
- Linda Regan
- Nancy Reichert
- Barbara Sanders
- Jeanne Sheffield
- Holly Smith
- Lynn Steiner
- Debbie Thomason
- Sheryl Ullman
- Robyn Whatley
- Janice WhitbyJanice WhitbyJanice Whitby is a singer, dancer and film and television actress. Her most notable roles includes her debut as a Golddigger, a singing and dancing troupe of young women on The Dean Martin Show...
- Mary Beth Williams
- Mary K. Wright
- Glenda Yenta
External links
- The Golddiggers' Authorized Official Website
- The Golddiggers Super Site
- The Golddiggers at TVParty.com
- The Dean Martin Fan Center