<br>Dorothy Provine singing Al Jolson

Dorothy Provine
in 1960

Many of us remember Dorothy Provine from her role as the Charleston dancing flapper Pinky Pinkham in the television series "The Roaring 20's," which ran from 1960-1962. Time Magazine noted that, "It is Dorothy’s oooohing and shimmying that have kept the series afloat."

She was born on January 20, 1935, in Deadwood, South Dakota, to William and Irene Provine, growing up in Seattle, Washington, where her parents ran a nightclub. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle, from which she graduated with a degree in Theater Arts in 1957. Making her debut on local television stations, she was picked up by Warner Brothers, where her talents for the small screen found here in a series of recurring and guest spots over the next ten years. Dorothy retired from acting after her 1968 marriage to director Robert Day, but for a few guest roles on television. She died on April 25, 2010.

As part of her role of Pinky Pinkham, Provine sang a number of songs that have connections to Al Jolson. Here are two of them: "California, Here I Come," done in high stepping style with lyrics from the Jolson recording, not the sheet music; and "Swanee," which she performed in blackface.


Dorothy Provine as Pinky Pinkham singing "California, Here I Come" on *The Roaring 20's*

Dorothy Provine as Pinky Pinkham singing "Swanee" on *The Roaring 20's*

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Updated 27 Apr 21