Vera Olcott

Vera Olcott was an American dancer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who became popular in Europe in the early20th century.

Dance innovator

She was one of many women who performed Salome dances in vaudeville venues in New York City. Among them were La Sylphe, Eva Tanguay, and Gertrude Hoffman."Behind The Scenes With Five Salomes", Syracuse Herald, Sunday Morning, August 30, 1908, pg. 18.]

Olcott ran away from home at the age of sixteen and found work as a Broadway chorus girl."A Yankee Girl's Hunt for Her Royal Romanoff Husband", Hamilton, Canada Evening Journal", September 18, 1926, pg. 22.] In 1908 she wore an abbreviated tarletan skirt in her rendition of the Salome dance at Huber's 14th Street (Manhattan) Museum. Regarding her inspiration, she admitted to taking notice of any newspaper or magazine with a picture of Salome. However she professed to have neither read the
Bible or been aware of the story of Salome and Herod Antipas. She was apprehensive that the police would soon prohibit her competitors' presentations of the Salome dance. Olcott was frank in saying "some of 'em ain't refined." She feared this would lead to the cancellation of all performances of the dance.

She possessed exquisitely formed, tiny feet, which earned for her the "silver slippers", presented to the woman with the "smallest and most beautiful feet in Paris, France." Following her selection, Olcott signed a contract which catapulted her from a chorus girl to one of the most well paid stars of the French stage. She also received as gifts more than one hundred pairs of shoes, especially made for her tinyfeet. ["Cinderella of the Paris Stage", San Antonio Light, October 18, 1931, pg. 52.] Olcott claimed a $100,000 prize in 1922 for having the most beautiful legs in Paris. She quickly had them insured for $100,000. ["$100,000 Legs", Frederick, Maryland Post, September 20, 1922, pg. 5.] In March 1923 she appeared atthe Palace Theatre, London with Harry Pilcer in "Toutes les Femmes". ["The Day's News In Pictures", Eau Claire, Wisconsin Leader, March 17, 1923, pg. 9.] ("All The Ladies") Her attire for this show included a feathered headdress with curling plumes. ["Europe's Newest of Dance Sensations", Lima News, April 15, 1923, pg. 48.] In August 1923 she was aboard the President Harding, passenger ship of the United States Lines, when it docked in Hoboken, New Jersey. ["Ocean Travelers", New York Times, August 10, 1923, pg. 11.] Olcott was a passenger on the RMS Berengaria which departedNew York City destined for Cherbourg, France and Southampton, England, in December 1923. ["Holiday Tourists Leave For Europe", New York Times, December 22, 1923, pg. 16.]

She introduced the Charleston to Berlin, Germany at the Theatre des Westens, in August 1926. ["Shorts", Kingsport Times, August 15, 1926, pg. 4.] In 1927 she traveled from Paris to the French Riviera, performing her interpretation of the black bottom (dance). ["Of Interest to Women", Los Angeles Times, June 20, 1927, pg. A10.]

Marriage to Russian noble

Olcott became the first wife of Count Alexis Constantinovitch Zarnekau, a Russian nobleman and cousin of Czar Nicholas II, whom she secretly wedded. Vera Ivanova, as she wasknown when married, eventually tired of her husband's lavish attention and the luxuries he bestowed on her. She made her way back to
United States and was soon divorced by Zarnekau. The Count made provisions for his final Slavic estates to be given to Olcott. When hedied in front of the Winter Palace, his land was taken by Bolsheviks. "Why The Angry Wife Tried to Bar the Fascinating Countess From America", Kingsport, Tennessee Times, Monday, March 1, 1926, pg. 5.]

Another newspaper article reported Olcott in Berlin searching for Zarkenau in September 1926. This story described her acting upon a clue that he did not die in battle, an event which was never verified. Olcott supposedly received a "mysterious letter" from abroad stating that Zarkenau was still alive. According to this news item Olcott returned to the United States at Zarkenau's instruction during World War I. She ventured to Europe in 1926 with a desire to reunite with him, so that they could resume their position in "Czarist circles". At the time there was still hope of a royal restoration in Russia.

References

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=459318 Vera Olcott] at Internet Broadway Database

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