“HELLO, DOLLY!” BEADED AND EMBROIDERED SILK SATIN GOWN, BEADED SHOES, BUSTLE, LEATHER GLOVES, FEATHER HEADDRESS

1965-1967, Designer: Freddy Wittop, Gift of Roberta Olden

Fashionable clothes may only be worn a few times, but in a successful stage production, a costume is worn every night for months or years. The clothes must stand up to robust handling, quick changes, and sweat. From 1940 to 1980, Rogers appeared in a total of 18 theatrical performances, including as the lead in Broadway’s long-time smash hit Hello, Dolly! from 1965 to 1967. The national tour of the Broadway show stopped in over sixteen cities, with the final curtain call in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1968. At the age of 54, Rogers performed for 1,116 performances as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, all while wearing a corseted satin bodice and skirt heavily weighted by thousands of hand-sewn beads, sequins and fringe. ​

Designed by Freddy Wittop, the silk satin costume was worn by Rogers in the most notable scene in the popular Broadway musical Hello Dolly!  – an evening at Harmonia Gardens – and includes full-length leather gloves, beaded high-heeled shoes, a bustle, and a feather headdress complete with faux hairpiece! To sing and dance in this heavy costume – twice per night – at the age of 54 took incredible agility! ​View the “Hello, Dolly!” playbill.