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The Legs of Juliet Prowse

Updated: May 31

Philco Predicta
Philco Predicta

I have vivid memories from when I was a young lad of my mother making a fuss every time dancer/actress Juliet Prowse appeared on TV. She'd make sure to tell me that she was also a Prowse and wonder if they were related? (I think sometimes she did say they were related). For perspective on how long ago; we watched on one of these - a Philco Predicta (my Dad was an early-adopter tech wise - he also bought an Edsel).


It was this tidbit of knowledge stuck in my cranium; that my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Prowse, that led me down the path of a 1,000 Prowses a few years ago when I was bitten by the genealogy bug.


My mother, Maureen, was born in Dagenham, Essex, England to Annie Margaret (Prowse) and Harry Davison. She married my father when only 17 and they emigrated to Canada in 1957. I was born the next year. [for more info read my previous blog 'Becoming Prowse'] Growing up, I had little sense of what extended family meant. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins were simply voices on reel-to-reel tape that came over every Christmas (though honestly I was more taken with the green 'eye' on the tape player that flickered with the volume of the talker). So seeing Juliet Prowse on the Ed Sullivan show, say, was the first inkling that other relatives actually physically existed, albeit in far off lands.


My mother would sit in rapture watching Juliet dance (I think my Dad did too!). I don't remember much detail from those grainy black & white days. Instead I'm left with impressions of a tall, lithe, and elegant dancer who moved fluidly about the stage as if it were nothing. My mother would recount the latest Hollywood news about her - again not much detail but I do remember her mentioning Frank Sinatra in a reverent way.


Juliet Prowse 1936-1996
Juliet Prowse 1936-1996

Juliet was born 25 Sep 1936 in Bombay, India. She was the second and youngest child of Reginald Morley Prowse and Phyllis Thelma Donne. Her father died when she was three. Her mother moved the family to Durban, South Africa, where she had relatives, shortly thereafter. Eventually the family moved to the Johannesburg area. Juliet's mother remarried - to George Polte, a golf professional.


Much has been written about Juliet's professional career - you'll find a few links below. Her niece, Juliet, Jr. recently penned a biography 'Born to Dance The Extraordinary Life Story of My Aunt'.



Juliet died 14 Sep 1996 of pancreatic cancer at Los Angeles, California. She was survived by her son, Seth McCook.


LINKS

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Guest
Jun 06

I was told that my dad, James Prouse, was related to juliet. Maybe sister or something

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