Eaton, Pearl (1898–1958)

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Eaton, Pearl (1898–1958)

American theatrical dancer and choreographer. Born Aug 1, 1898, in Norfolk, Virginia; died Sept 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California; sister of Mary Eaton (1901–1948) and Doris Eaton (b. 1904).

Performed in numerous stock company productions in Norfolk, VA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, with siblings; moved to New York City to study with Ned Wayburn; appeared in the chorus in several of Ziegfeld Follies (1916–23), with featured dance role in Midnight Frolics; moved to Hollywood, CA, to work with mentor Elsie Janis at Paramount Studios; choreographed early sound musicals, including Rio Rita (1929), Hit the Deck (1930), Paramount on Parade (1931), and Dance, Girl, Dance (1933); danced in such films as Men of the Night (1934), Goin' to Town (1935), and Klondike Annie (1936); worked with Janis in production for many years thereafter.