GAZZARRI DANCERS. COM

There were several dozen dancers who appeared on HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO over the full course of its run.  Some were there for only a few episodes and some possibly for only one.  The core group of dancers was comprised of June, Mimi, DeAnn, Gwen, Jacqui, Dale, and Lucille.  These girls were there for many episodes, and in the case of DeAnn and Mimi, every episode.  We have also included Shelley, Dawn and Maria on the main menu because they appeared for several months and because of their dancing abilities. 

Dancers considered "short-term", who we can identify by name, are included on this page.  This is only a start and we hope to identify more.  Perhaps you can help us by naming one of the ladies on our "Mystery Dancers" page?

 

CARLIE LYNN McCUMMINGS was a short-term dancer on whom we have scant information.  We know that she was not one of the original HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO dancers and probably came onboard the show in mid to late 1965.  After graduating from college in Indiana in late spring of 1965 she was in her car and on the way to follow her dreams in California within a few weeks.  Employment as a GAZZARRI followed shortly thereafter in Gazzarri's nightclub.  She drifted on over to HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO to appear in several of the later episodes before the show ended. 

In 1969 she met Gene Clark from the Byrds and married him in 1970.  The Byrds appeared on two episodes (# 30 and the last episode # 58) of HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO and Carlie may have also danced on these shows but we don't know if they had any contact at that time.  We don't have a photo of Carlie and hope that someone can help us solve the mystery as to which dancer she is on the YouTube videos.  She currently resides in northern California and works helping women with drug and alcohol dependency problems.

JOANNA HILL was born in Portsmouth, N.H. as Joanna Eskijian, and like most of the GAZZARRI ladies she has had a very interesting life before and after her dancing days.  She started dancing at a young age and became very good, so good that at age 17 she represented New Hampshire in the Jr. Miss America Pageant and won the talent division with her tap dancing. 

As was the case with Carlie McCummings, Joanna found the lure of southern California more attractive than the cold northern winters, leading her to move there and start a job with a Hollywood law firm.  In 1963 she landed a spot as an extra in the Elvis movie "Roustabout".  Nights would find her dancing in the Sunset Strip clubs, and it was here that she was discovered by a Gazzarri nightclub  scout and hired as a dancer for the club in 1963.  She was later picked from the pool of club dancers to dance for several episodes as a GAZZARRI on HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO.

A few months after HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO ended production, she married Max Baer, Jr. of "Beverly Hillbillies" fame.  During this time she took up flying and earned her pilot's license.  Her marriage to Max lasted five years and after the split she moved to Beverly Hills and became George Burns' neighbor.  Joanna immersed herself in the Hollywood scene and besides George became friends with Doris Day, Jack Benny, and Jimmy Stewart amongst others.  She and George were often seen together at many Hollywood functions.

By the mid-1970's she was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the Hollywood scene.  She sold her Hollywood mansion and moved to Atlanta, where she met her current husband.  They planned and built a 15,000 square foot house on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, where they live to this day.  Joanna has always had an interest in vintage fashions and today she owns an enormous collection of dresses, shoes, and hats.  The hat collection alone numbers over 2,000 and has its own room complete with display cases.

Joanna remains very active on Hilton Head, often wearing her vintage outfits to charitable functions, and she is also an animal lover, volunteering her time at the local animal shelters.

The two photos below are recent ones of Joanna.  We hope to have some photos from her go-go dancing days soon.

This May 2011 photo was taken during National Prayer Day on Hilton Head Island.  Joanna is seen in one of her many hats.