Feuding Fan Dancers: Faith Bacon, Sally Rand, and the Golden Age of the Showgirl [Paperback]

Detailed, deeply researched, and compelling. —Chicago Tribune



Historian Leslie Zemeckis reveals the lost stories of Sally Rand and Faith Bacon—icons who each claimed to be the inventor of the notorious fan dance. Nearly one hundred years later, both women come alive again.Praise for Feuding Fan Dancers

“Detailed, deeply researched, and compelling.” —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune

“Feuding Fan Dancers is a vivid account of the highs and lows of two of America’s greatest performers. Leslie Zemeckis repositions the often misunderstood and overlooked lives of female pioneers in the entertainment industry to the iconic status they have always deserved. You will have a hard time putting this book down.” —Ari Seth Cohen, creator of Advanced Style

“Zemeckis has once again given us a fascinating history of entertainment, a bold story of two brave women and the origins of the fan dance. A page–turning time machine to another era. Don’t miss it.” —Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants and At the Water’s Edge

“In Feuding Fan Dancers, Leslie Zemeckis artfully brings to life the rivalry between two of the best known showgirls of the early twentieth century, Faith Bacon and Sally Rand. With her trademark skill, wit, meticulous research, and eye for detail, Zemeckis opens the door to a world that is fun, fierce, and unforgettable.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale