Editing Chorus line (section)

== History ==
In the mid-1800s, chorus lines of cartwheeling, synchronized dancing [[can-can]] "girls" began sprouting up throughout Paris with even edgier, more erotic cabarets found in venues like the [[Moulin Rouge]], [[Le Lido]], and the [[Folies Bergère|Folies Bergẻre]]. By the late 1860s, the scandalous trend found its way to the United States with a more conservative trend of chorus lines hitting England, including [[Tiller Girls]] and [[Gaiety Girls]]. Chorus lines throughout Western Europe and the United States largely owned the stages of the early twentieth century.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lowbrow |first=Yeoman |date=2017-10-22 |title=Chorus Line Dancers and Can-Can Girls from the 1920s-1960s |url=https://flashbak.com/chorus-line-dancers-can-can-girls-1920s-1960s-388803/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Flashbak |language=en-US}}</ref> Chorus line dancers in early [[Broadway musicals]] and [[revue]]s were referred to by slang terms such as ''ponies'', ''gypsies'' and ''twirlies''. 

Chorus lines hit vogue in the 1920s and 30s, as the life and possibilities of a "chorus girl" became sensationalized in fiction, newspapers, and film, capturing the imaginations of young women seeking independence, adventure, and a happily ever after. Real-life examples of the Cinderella narrative included [[Lillian Russell|Lilian Russel]] and [[Billie Dove]], both of whom began their careers as chorus girls and married into wealth.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Victoria |first=Ava |date=5 May 2022 |title=The Life of a Chorus Girl |url=https://thevintagewomanmagazine.com/the-life-of-a-chorus-girl/ |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=The Vintage Woman}}</ref>

For women hoping to make a career out of performing, the chorus line was a common place of entry. Big names of the day like [[Paulette Goddard]], [[Barbara Stanwyck]], and [[Betty Grable]] are just some of the stars who began successful performing careers by joining a chorus line.<ref name=":0" />

One of the most popular productions of the time was the [[Ziegfeld Follies]], operating out of [[New York City]], which was well-known for hiring only the most striking women for the chorus line. [[Florenz Ziegfeld Jr]] received the reputation of being able to objectively define and select exceptionally beautiful women.<ref name=":0" /> Ziegfeld's standards, then, soon became the ideal, and publications and news articles circulated with headlines like, "How I pick my Beauties" and "Picking out pretty girls for the stage".<ref name=":0" />

Decades later, chorus lines of a more erotic flavor found huge success on America's west coast in Las Vegas, before declining again in the face of competition from [[American burlesque|burlesque]] and [[strip club]]s.<ref name=":1" />

Some popular chorus lines found their way onto the golden screen. One group in particular was [[Samuel Goldwyn]]'s dancers, the [[Goldwyn Girls]]. Popping up in numerous [[MGM]] productions, the famous Goldwyn Girls included stars who went on to find great success on-screen like [[Lucille Ball]], [[Virginia Mayo]], and [[Jane Wyman]].<ref name=":1" />

To this day, some live performance venues keep the traditional chorus line alive with groups like [[The Rockettes]], but more frequently the term "chorus line" in modern terms is used to differentiate supporting singers and dancers of any gender in a musical or musical revue from the lead actors or performers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of CHORUS LINE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chorus+line |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>