Object Details
wearer
Diller, Phyllis
Description
Phyllis Diller wore this costume when she portrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in the Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! for three months in 1970 at the St. James Theatre in New York City. The costume includes a full-length maroon and pale pink dress decorated with sequins, beads, and embroidery as well as elbow-length white gloves. Diller followed Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Pearl Bailey (in a version with an all-black cast), and Betty Grable in the role and was replaced by Ethel Merman, who closed out the show in December 1970. NMAH also has the dress Carol Channing wore when she portrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in 1994 for the 30th anniversary of the 1964 production (1997.0232.01).
Credit Line
Gift of Phyllis Diller
date made
ca 1970
ID Number
COLL.DILLER.000006
accession number
2003.0289
catalog number
2003.0289.10.01
2003.0289.10.02
Object Name
costume
Physical Description
satin (overall material)
wool (overall material)
cotton (overall material)
brass (overall material)
glass (overall material)
synthetic fibers (overall material)
nylon (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall (dress): 65 in x 14 in; 165.1 cm x 35.56 cm
overall (gloves): 21 1/2 in x 4 3/4 in; 54.61 cm x 12.065 cm
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Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Phyllis Diller
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Subject
Theater
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1822344