“Knowing what I am looking for, ballet companies will call me. But since none of the famous ballet companies hire tall girls, statuesque dancers do not usually continue their ballet training past their early teens. I have traveled millions of miles, all over the world, in search of Bluebell Girls.” — Madame Bluebell

n 1948, at the age of 32, Donn Arden teamed up with Margaret Kelly. It was perhaps one of the greatest partnerships in show business.

As a child, Margaret Kelly was adopted by a poor Irish family. When the family doctor admired her bright blue eyes, he affectionately called her “bluebell.” The nickname stuck.

Miss Bluebell, began dancing professionally at age 14. She traveled throughout Europe with an English ballet troupe. At 19, she was a featured dancer with the Follies Bergere. In 1932, the first Bluebell Girls appeared on stage. They were famous for their beauty, their stature, and their professionalism. People could always tell Bluebell Girls. There would be 2 or 3 together on the street and they would always be well dressed, poised, and always – quite tall. Miss Bluebell was known for how good she was to her girls. She’s always saying, “My girls are my girls.”

Together, Donn and Miss Bluebell were a fantastic team. Using Donn’s vision and talent for filling the stage and Miss Bluebell’s line of beautiful Bluebells and her handsome male performers, the Kelly boys, they mesmerized audiences around the globe. The Arden/Bluebell team had shows in Paris, Hong Kong, Rio De Janiero, Las Vegas and with Hello Hollywood, Reno.

More about Margaret Kelly:

• Adopted daughter of a poor Irish Family.
• Began Ballet lessons at age 6 at the Madame Cummins Dancing School.
• Began her career dancing in nightclubs at age 14.
• Her first dance troupe was “The Hot Jocks” in Scotland.
• In 1932, her famous Bluebell Girls first appeared on stage.
• During the WWII Nazi occupation of France, she was held at a camp in Besanson in the Doups Area of Eastern France. Her husband, Marcel, was Jewish.
• Miss Bluebell was known for her strict supervision of her girls.
• Began her association with Donn Arden in 1948 at the Paris Lido.
• The Bluebell Girls averaged 5’11”.
• Insisted that all her “Girls” have classical ballet training.