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Rosie Dolly (1892-1970) and Jenny Dolly (1892-1941), known professionally as the Dolly Sisters, were Hungarian-American identical twin dancers, singers and actresses. They were hugely popular in vaudeville and theatre during the 1910s and 1920s.
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As children, the sisters trained as dancers and began earning money in beer halls as early as 1907. Barred for being under age by the New York City stage, they toured the Orpheum Circuit until 1909 when they debuted on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit.
In 1911, Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. signed them to appear in his Ziegfeld Follies for two seasons. Their act was a hit with audiences who loved their glamorous personas. They made their film debut in 1915.
At the height of their fame, the Moulin Rouge in Paris, paid the sisters $1,200 a night.
After WW1, the Sisters moved to France where they toured the theaters and dance halls of Europe. They were as famous for their wealthy lovers as for their shows. They were linked to Carol II of Romania, Christian X of Denmark and Alfonso XIII of Spain, among many others
Rose Dolly was married three times while Jenny Dolly was married twice and had a string of highly publicized affairs with wealthy men, such as Harry Gordon Selfridge. Their reputation for dating wealthy men earned them the nickname "The Million Dollar Dollies”
These wealthy lovers financed the sister’s other passion - gambling. They won $850,000 in one season at Deauville. Jenny Dolly in particular was famous for her winnings. She once won 4 million francs in one evening.
At one point, Jenny’s jewellery collection was the largest in private hands.
Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness said of Jenny, "I have never seen so many jewels on any one person in my life. Her bracelets reached almost to her elbows. The necklace she wore must have cost a king's ransom, and the ring on her right hand was the size of an ice cube.”
By 1927, the sister’s popularity was deceasing - but their gambling habits were not.
In 1933, Jenny was involved in a serious car accident & required multiple operations on her face. She was forced to sell her jewellery collection to pay for her treatment.
Jenny fell into a deep depression. She married Bernard Vinissky, a wealthy lawyer, and adopted two children, but the couple were soon divorced. Tragically, Jenny took her own life in 1941.
In the years following their retirement and her sister's death, Rosie Dolly retreated from public life. She spent her remaining years doing charitable work for children in her native Hungary.
On February 1, 1970, Rosie died of a heart attack in New York City at the age of 77.[14] Both sisters are interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.
![On February 1, 1970, Rosie died of a heart attack in New York City at the age of 77.[14] Both sisters are interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EC_RxQzXUAABDQd.jpg "On February 1, 1970, Rosie died of a heart attack in New York City at the age of 77.[14] Both sisters are interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.")
