Florence “Flo” Brooks  b1906; New York City Broadway chorus girl, dancer and actor; aka Flo Barrett

Flo Brooks performed in the popular George White Scandals broadway production in the1920’s. Flo was twenty when she sat for this portrait in 1926.  She was known on Broadway for her unique hairstyle representing an upside-down heart which she styled herself.  Grell likely painted this when he was in New York City installing murals for the Times Square Paramount Theatre in 1926 or its Grand Opening the same year.

Flo Brooks also performed in:

The Magic Ring produced by Henry Savage in 1923, Manhattan Mary (1927-1928 also by George White), Plain Jane produced by Walter Brooks in 1924 (no relation), Take a Chance produced by Lawrence Schwab and B. G. DeSylva from 1932 – 1933, and Director Walter Hartwig’s production of Edward Sheldon’s Romance starring Cornelia Otis Skinner, Donald Cook and Doris Day with music by George Gershwin including rhapsody in blue.

Drawing: sheet 19.5″ x 16.5″ image 13″ x 8.5″ colored graphite and gouache, violet cheeks and green necklace, signed “LOUIS GRELL”

Drawing Provenance: Flo by descent to her niece, then to her niece’s husband, to current owner

Photo Print: paper 8″ x 6″, image 5″ x 3″ from a photo of the sketch; signed in the plate lr “LOUIS GRELL 1926”

Photo Print – Provenance: artist to artists’ wife Friedl, to Friedl’s attorney, through descent, to current owner

Heart of Hair – black and white photo of the original sketch used for the portrait of Florence Brooks, an artist, longtime Scandals Broadway dancer.  At some point she was married to a Mr. Barrett.

Other titles: Lady with a Pearl Necklace; Florence Barrett