Fathers' Follies
Rumored to be the oldest continually run PTA fundraiser in the country. Woodlands dads in wigs, show tunes, and a lot of courage, every year since 1948.
This May: the 80th annual Fathers' Follies, May 22 and 23, 2027.
A tradition
Since 1948, the fathers of Verdugo Woodlands Elementary have put on costumes and makeup, danced, sung, and acted to raise money for the PTA. Fathers' Follies has become a public elementary school fundraiser unlike any other in the nation, the world, and the universe!
- 1920s
The Verdugo Woodlands PTA had an annual event where the husbands attended a meeting. They called it "Father's Night."
- 1948
PTA President Kay Gurash turned the evening over to her husband, John. While trying to figure out how to run the meeting, he came up with the "little idea" that it might be fun for the guys to do it dressed as their wives. Swearing each other to deepest secrecy, they raided closets and thrift stores, cut up mop heads for wigs, wrote several skits, put makeup on their faces, added a few songs and dances, and performed in the school cafeteria. It was so much fun, the wives insisted the fathers do it again every year.
- 1949
PTA husband and professional film actor Joe Sawyer, a veteran of over 100 movies, took over and decided to put on a "proper show." He moved the production to the stage of Glendale College, complete with orchestra and singing and dancing choruses, and Fathers' Follies was born.
- Today
The Dads' Club is proud to be the home of Fathers' Follies. All of our rehearsals and set building happen at the Dads' Club. Come on by! It's going to be a great show!
From the archives
Seventy-plus years of wigs, tutus, and questionable choreography. Have old Follies photos, programs, or posters in a closet? We'd love to scan them.
Share your Follies memories
Some are famous, some are not, all are dads!
The dads who have graced the stage include show business luminaries such as actor Mike Mazurki, writer Larry Clemons, and Al Taliaferro, the Disney artist behind Donald Duck and many of the Follies posters. Just as important are the thousands of dad plumbers, accountants, and business owners who may never have performed before, but year in and year out don balloon boobs, kick up their sore heels, and make fools of themselves for their kids.
The crew behind the curtain
Even more important are the moms and families behind the scenes, finding time in their busy schedules to take on yet another full-time job: building sets, editing programs, selling ads, making costumes, and rubbing sore heels so the show can go on.
Pick your part
Perform
No experience needed. Seriously.
Build sets
Saws, paint, and a lot of plywood.
Costumes
Wigs, sequins, and emergency repairs.
Program ads
Help local businesses support the show.