FROU FROU ON TELEVISION

Petticoats and Crinolines on The Tube

Please take notice: These productions mostly contain lovely visions of bouffant skirts, particularly of the 50's style, and might show peeks of petticoats. Very few show full petti-views (these will be noted). We are also now adding productions which feature classic crinolines and petticoat as well. You might also review the corsetfilm list located at www.staylace.com/films/indexfiles/a/index.html

Many of the corset-era productions show gowns and petticoats as well!

Any rating comments obviously refer to the quality of the show vis-à-vis frou-frou

If you think something is missing--tell us!

Note: All clips available here are for review purposes only, presented in order to entice the viewer to purchase the film in its entirety. All copyrights are respected. 

Copyright 1996-2009, Petticoat Pond

Go to Frou Frou Film List (Movies)

German Television

Latin Films on TV

Specials

1957-1989 AMERICAN BANDSTAND (See Connie Stevens' appearance) (VARIED)
1960-1968
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW -- Not much, but occasionally there is a little treat, like the time
 we see a display of various 50s little girl dresses.		  

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(VARIED)
1972-1985 ARE YOU BEING SERVED? -- Occasionally of interest.   Excerpt from the odd episode MOLLIE SUGDEN
1980- 1982 BARBARA MANDRELL AND THE MANDRELL SISTERS -- For those in areas fortunate enough to still receive telecasts of this show, she always did one dance number with her sisters during the hourly broadcast. Once in a while, she would dress in frou-frou and show a wonderful flurry of petticoats while doing her dance. I remember one show in particular about 50's rock & roll which I had once recorded but since lost it (sigh!!!!!). That was probably the best of the lot. Review by Fred BARBARA MANDRELL
1969-1989 THE BENNY HILL SHOW -- One particular episode was stunning (VARIED)
1958 THE BETTY WHITE SHOW --At least one episode is particularly
'frou-frou-y'.		 BETTY WHITE
1962-1971 THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
"Elle Mae, go and put on a nice party dress for our guests, here." <sigh>   Click here for a fine Clampett image! 		DONNA DOUGLAS
1958-present
BLUE PETER'S (children show on BBC) 
 CARON KEATING
1974-1983 LES BRIGADES DU TIGRE - French series  -- One particular episode, entitled "Visite incognito", contains some wonderful cancan images. (VARIED)
1991-1993 BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- This delightful series featured many 50's period dresses and petticoats. The teenage actress on the show was almost always wearing appropriate clothing!  Review by Shelley AMY AQUINO
1967-1978
THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW -- ...had more than its share of petti & hoop-moments over the years.  

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CAROL BURNETT
1949-1995 COME DANCING (in the UK) -- Documentary on ballroom dancing with plenty of pouf!    March 21,1968 Radio Times with COME DANCING on cover        Small vidclip from the show
 
 

Elaine Flowers writes: "There is a BBC video available from Amazon.uk , of which about 50%  (of 47 minutes) includes the lovely frothy frocks many of us love so dearly.
 
[VARIED]
1988-1989 COMING OF AGE -- One particular episode dwelled on square-dancing.   VidClip PHYLLIS NEWMAN
1960-present CORONATION STREET (in the UK) -- A relatively recent picture [VARIED]
1995-1998 CYBILL -- At least one episode displays petti/hoop CYBILL SHEPHERD
2005-present DANCING WITH THE STARS -- Consistent display of pettis   Example from May, 2007 
Another example (stream)   A third example (stream)    A fourth example (stream)   A fifth example (stream)  
A sixth example (stream)  A seventh example (stream from Australian version)
Sabrina Bryan vidclips   #1   #2   Julianne Hough wearing a 'Lucy' frock  #1  #2  #3		 [VARIED]
1950s DATE WITH AN ANGEL  -- One particular episode features a lady being hoisted on a man's shoulder in a flurry of petticoats. BETTY WHITE
1954-1959 DECEMBER BRIDE -- Lily Ruskin rustles! SPRING BYINGTON
1959-1963 DENNIS THE MENACE-- Dennis' nemesis, Margaret Wade, usually wore a bouffant dress when scolding him. Wouldst we have been there! JEANNIE RUSSELL
1986-1993 DESIGNING WOMEN-- There have been a few great moments, the best featuring the gals sitting on a couch while wearing the neatest square dancing attire!  Vidclip: There was also a great hoop scene (9/19/90)  (1MByte vidclip)  Review by Shelley
Tessy also caught a scene of interest in the episode entitled 'Four of a Kind' ('Odell') - a supporting actress wears a very poufy red ball gown.     BUY 'THE BEST OF DESIGNING WOMEN'		 DELTA BURKE, DIXIE CARTER, ANNIE POTTS & JEAN SMART
1961-1966
DICK VAN DYKE SHOW-- occasional bouffant in the early episodes   

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 THE
  DVD!

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[VARIED]
1956-1963 THE DINAH SHORE CHEVY HOUR -- Miss Shore is in one fabulous dress after another, some of them very poufy.  A highlight in one episode was the 20 or so women dancers accompanying Van Johnson in a musical number.  Mouth watering swirling tea-length dresses with lots of pettis being flaunted, and some of the camera angles very low! Review by Beth DINAH SHORE
1988-1989 DIRTY DANCING    Vidclips:    #1 (9 MByte)      #2 (10 MByte)    #3 (10 MByte)      #4 (7 MByte) AMANDA INGBER
1958-1966 THE DONNA REED SHOW --Watch for the episode when Miss Fabares does a staged dance number with a short boy. Wow, the little costume she wears with a short petticoat and fabulous panties will make your heart race! Another episode of merit is the prom dance. The sweet number she wears is classic! It even rustles quite a bit. Another nice episode features Shelley as a modeling student, wearing some nice 50's confections. Review by Shelley     Episode with guest star Roberta Shore SHELLEY FABARES & DONNA REED
1990-1996
DREAM ON --In one episode there is a scene where pettis are flying. #1  #2  

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 THE
  DVD!

[VARIED]
2005-present DR. WHO (British) -- In one episode, Ms. Piper is wearing a poodle/poodle-ish skirt for its entirety.  BILLEE PIPER
2005 THE FAIRIES (Australian) -- Here is the show's web site -- no pictures of real people in petticoats, though; but, maybe some video content in the future?"  Vidclips: #1   #2   The series site also has some vidclips.  More  Small picture
Recently, a DVD has become available containing images from the shows.             There are 3 clips in The Pond video library		 CANDY MOLL &
RUTH FALLON
1954-1963 FATHER KNOWS BEST --More prom stuff on Betty Anderson! ELINOR DONAHUE
2002-2004 FIREFLY: THE SERIES --Futuristic hoopskirts [VARIED]
1996 FOX AFTER BREAKFAST (a/k/a "The Vicki Lawrence Show") -- Here are some scenes from an episode of The Vicki Lawrence Show, where Vicki talks about the crinolines she wore as a girl and demonstrates same. VICKI LAWRENCE
1964-1967 GILLIGAN'S ISLAND -- Here is a cute dream sequence. DAWN WELLS
2000-present THE GILMORE GIRLS --In one episode (14) of the first series, Rory dresses up like Donna Reed to give her boyfriend an old-fashioned wholesome dinner, with some gorgeous glimpses of her pettis.  (VARIED)
1990-1992 GROWING PAINS--Only one one instance of this series pays off, as far as we know. It portrays Chrissy (Ms. Johnson) in an extremely full and froufrou'ed beautiful party dress. The scene lasts for enough time to admire, especially after she throws herself on a couch, showing the lovely, frothy crinolines! Worth waiting for! ASHLEY SUZANNE JOHNSON
2008 HAIRSPRAY - THE SCHOOL MUSICAL -- Some promise (VARIED)
1974-1984 HAPPY DAYS -- Generally, a big disappointment, as the series takes place in the 50-60s.  Bouffant is nearly non-existent, but there are a few happy occasions, now and then. ERIN MORAN
1959-1963 HAWAIIAN EYE--Miss Stevens was "Cricket," famous on the show for her poufy full skirts. 
"Connie Stevens was on a talk show a few years ago, and I remember her saying that she wore full- skirted dresses as long as possible because she thought her hips were too wide and the dresses helped to cover it up! She also commented that when she was appearing as Cricket on Hawaiian Eye, teenage girls would show up on her doorstep seeking autographs in full petticoated dresses and ponytail hairdos, dressed like Cricket!" - Commentary from Shelley 		CONNIE STEVENS
1969-1993
HEE HAW--Short cute little pettis  

 OWN
 THE
  DVD!

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[UNKNOWN]
1991 HI HONEY, I'M HOME! JULIE BENZ
1997-2000 HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS: THE TV SHOW -- In the episode "Honey, I'm Spooked", Miss Woods thinks
she's a 6-year old and wears a pretty pink dress with lots of netting underneath.     Stream		 BARBARA ALYN WOODS
1951-1957 I LOVE LUCY    Series of pictures taken during filming of an episode LUCILLE BALL
???? JAMBOREE      Clip [UNKNOWN]
1992 JULIE  -- Variety show with occasional petti-shows, such as this JULIE ANDREWS
1988-1990 JUST THE TEN OF US    Peter M. points out this vidclip: "I have always thought that this TV show (Christmas Story episode) had about the best petticoats I had ever seen on TV, certainly about the fullest! Nice white outer petticoats, with a red one under that. Take a look after 05:10. Nice when she sits down!" HEATHER LANGENKAMP
1998-2007
KING OF QUEENS -- In an episode featuring the "Apple Princess", Ms. Remini is dressed in a delicious full, petticoat-displaying country girl dress. Also, a cute, ruffled, short full skirt in "Cologne Rangers."  

 OWN
 THE
  DVD!
LEAH REMINI
1993-PRESENT LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN --  Now and then,  Mr. Letterman's guests include some poufy guests, for instance, Amy Sedaris in January, 2005 (she has been there en pouf before!). [VARIED]
1957-1963
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER -- An occasional glimpse of June Cleaver's petticoat, and, now and then, little girl poufy party dresses!  

 OWN
 THE
  DVD!
BARBARA BILLINGSLEY
1951-1957 I LOVE LUCY --Occasionally, the show featured 50s bouffant, with a treat now and then, of a visible petticoat.  One of the better episodes ('The French Revue') shows Lucy wearing a shirtwaist dress with a style that included a slit from bottom to waist, thus revealing an entire frilly petticoat peeking out in a triangle! LUCILLE BALL
1976-1983 LAVERNE AD SHIRLEY--Not too much, but once we saw THIS. PENNY MARSHALL
1955-1982 THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW --Now and then, hit and miss; also, note that the dancers wear straight slips under their pettis--Mr. Welk's idea of propriety!  Small picture  Then, of course, there are the sweet Lennon Sisters.

Alice Lon on Lawrence Welk!      and...in a Plymouth commercial

Anacani, the Latin dancer       Dancer Cissy King      Barbara and Bobbie

A refreshingly "candid picture, showing Lawrence Welk's daughter, attempting to pack her pettis for college!

A nice Lawrence Welk Vid-titbit       Another

 [VARIED]
1957-1963 LEAVE IT TO BEAVER --Fifties little girl bouffant and a few adult glimpses now and then.  At the end of the episode entitled "Beaver Finds a Wallet," Beaver's mother, June, wears a full, petticoated skirt which is not her normal attire. BARBARA BILLINGSLEY
2003-2006 LESS THAN PERFECT  Out Takes (VARIED)
1953-1961 LORETTA YOUNG SHOW a/k/a 'Letter to Loretta'& 'Loretta Young Theater' in reruns --
Famous for her entrances.		 LORETTA YOUNG
2007-2008 MAD MEN --Set in 1959-61, there is a good share of petticoat displays in this series. (VARIED)
1953-1965

MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY (known after 1957 as "The Danny Thomas Show")    Clips!

Very few episodes went by without irresistible little " Linda Williams" being picked up by her father, amidst a flurry of fluffy petticoats! She seemed to KNOW she was cute, with this wonderful smile!  More pictures of Miss Cartwright in the Celebrities in Petticoats section.

Also worth mentioning is Sherry Jackson (the older sister) from the early episodes. She was powerfully fetching in bouffants -- and not just on this program. She guested on The Twilight Zone and on an early Dobie Gillis Show, both times in full skirted frocks. Then there was Marjorie Lord, the mom!

 ANGELA CARTWRIGHT, SHERRY JACKSON & MARJORIE LORD
1983-1990 MAMA'S FAMILY -- Peeks of petti now and then. VICKI LAWRENCE
1959-1963 THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS SHEILA JAMES KUEHL
2004

MARPLE: THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE (In two parts) -- Set in 1953...beautiful bouffant dresses!  

GERALDINE McEWAN
1955-1959 THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB -- Typical scenario Many of the vignettes and the Talent Day Roundup  featured full skirts. One of the best, though, was when the gorgeous Lennon Sisters appeared on the show in the most wonderful "teenage", full skirted, confections! Here are the Half Tones.        Review by Shelley 
Spanish dancers		 ANNETTE FUNICELLO &
ROBERTA SHORE
1961-1966 MISTER ED -- One particular scene is memorable CONNIE HINES
2002-present MONK -- The episode 'Mr. Monk Visits a Farm' features a square dance TRAYLOR HOWARD
1978-1982 MORK AND MINDY  -- Here is a clip from an a typical episode PAM DAWBER
1984-1992 NIGHT COURT -- One particular 1991episode CATHY McAULEY
1986-1990 PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE -- Miss Yvonne wears a petti all the time. LYNNE MARIE STEWART
1957-1966 PERRY MASON -- She didn't wear them often enough, but when she DID--ooh-la-la! BARBARA HALE
1963-1970 PETTICOAT JUNCTION  Click here for images of the Bradley girls!!
Gotta say that there are plenty of bouffant dresses, but little pettis showing!

MORE PICTURES

"Well worth seeing is the square dance routine performed by the three Bradley sisters in the second episode of season one and Billie Joe's terrific solo dance in the first season episode "The Talent Show" (March, 1964).  Billie Joe's square dance dress and petticoats flare out nicely, revealing her shapely legs and black panties very nicely.

Also, in an episode of early 60's series, The Nurses",  called "Party Girl", the wonderful Zina Bethune performs a wild party dance with a doctor in which she does an extended pirouette in her flaring early 60's party dress, with delightful results.  She also gets flipped over the doctor's shoulders during her routine, providing a very nice view indeed." -Dennis

Chris: "Take a look at the stills I got off a Petticoat Junction 3 DVD compilation (11 hours for around $40.) There are about 22 episodes. The first two disks are best and the ones featuring the pictures below (you will need your smelling salts for these!). The company selling the set is Movies Unlimited in Philadelphia."
      CLICK TO ENLARGE        

        

Jeannine Riley................ (1963-1965)

Gunilla Hutton................ .(1965-1966)

Meredith MacRae............ (1966-1970)

Pat Woodell..... .............. (1963-1965)

Lori Saunders........ ......... (1965-1970)

Linda Kaye.... ................. (1969-1970)
2006 PRINCESS, PRINCESS D - TV Series in Japan, available on DVD-- Boys in a boys school are required to dress as poufy girls for a year to alleviate tension between the students.   YouTube videos  Stillclips (VARIED)
1953-1957 PRIVATE SECRETARY (aka "Susie")-- We'd certainly all like a secretary like Susie McNamara! ANN SOTHERN
1999-2002 PROVIDENCE-- In a Halloween episode ('Trick or Treat', episode: #3.2 - 27 October 2000,  Ms. Cale is dressed as Little Bo Peep and she is shown trying to fool around with her date in the back seat amongst a flurry of pettis. PAULA CALE
2007 THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE -- "Hairworld" episode (DOCUMENTARY)
2007-2008 PUSHING DAISIES-- Ms. Friel often wears 50's style dresses, including petticoats (especially in the first four episodes).  ANNA FRIEL
1989 QUANTUM LEAP-- Time travel, especially to the Fifties!  Moving clip example VARIED
1957-1963 THE REAL McCOYS-- Hassie, now and then, frocked pouf-illy! LYDIA REED
2001-present REBA-- On episode saw Miss Garcia in a French maid's outfit. JOANNA GARCIA
1988-1997 ROSEANNE-- In Episode 19 in the 4th series of Roseanne, grungy Darlene had to put on a cute dress to appear in a TV ad, which had a nice little petticoat. SARA GILBERT
2007

RONNI ANCONA & CO.  Stillclip

 RONNI ANCONA
1975-present SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE-- Skit with Patrick Swayze doing a take-off on Dirty dancing? It was called, "Dirty Square Dancing". It was as hot as it was funny!  Review by Shelley JACQUELINE BEER
1998 THE SECRET DIARY OF DESMOND PFEIFFER-- If you like Civil War hoops with your comedy. CINDY AMBUEHL
1982-1983 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS -- Lots of "Western" pettis here! JOAN KJAR
1958-1964 77 SUNSET STRIP -- Era bouffant   Vidclip

(VARIED)
1998-2004 SEX AND THE CITY -- Tessy had never really watched this series, but Poufies have advised her in the past that there is some bouffant apparent now and then.  Well, after watching the final three episodes, she will be looking at the reruns with high expectations:
Third-to-last episode: Sarah Jessica Parker not only wears a beautiful peach prom-type  dress, but a an incredibly full, many-layered, feathered, gold and gray ballgown! Last episode:  First, we see Ms. Parker in an off-red sundress with white polka-dots, and peeking out form  underneath was a pale blue petti (NICE combo!).   This outfit is sworn for a long period of time, and the petti is shown quite well, particularly when she lift up the skirt during an attempt to clean her shoe, having stepped into something on the Paris streets; later, when she sits on some steps they are  fully revealed once more.
Later, we see her in a light teal poufy tulle cocktail dress for an extended period time as well, twice on the floor in disarray!
Finally, the last scene show her in a tan bouffant print dress, showing a white petti -- as the series ends.  An apt farewell!                                         		SARAH JESSICA PARKER
1956-1960 THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW -- Many bouffanted stars of The Era, including Georgia Gibbs (VARIED)
2006-present STRICTLY COME DANCING -- Examples:   #1   #2  #3  #4  #5  Christmas Day Special 2008 
West Side Story number   #1  #2 (Alesha Dixon)		 (VARIED)
2008-present THE SUITE LIFE ON DECK -- At least one episode features a square dance with plenty of pettis DEBBY RYAN &
BRENDA SONG
1989 TALES FROM THE CRYPT -- Now and then a crispy crinie! (VARIED)
1966-1971 THAT GIRL -- Specifically, "The Eye Of The Beholder" from the third season--the prologue and the first act. The outfit, it's sort of a late-'60's updated version of a bouffant, with a dazzling full skirt and a pretty scarf to go with it. It certainly impressed Guy!  If anyPoufie has a clip or still, we would LOVE to see it! MARLO THOMAS
1998 THAT SEVENTIES SHOW -- Ms. Kunis gets a job promoting cheese in a mall wearing a delightful milk-maid outfit.
If you buy the 4th box set, it's well worth it; she wears the outfit in several episodes."		 MILA KUNIS
2003-
present		 THAT'S SO RAVEN -- In one episode, Raven has a dream that she is Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Her Dorothy outfit is rather beautiful and the petticoats she has underneath is astounding.      Another stillclip RAVEN SYMONÉ  
1962-1965 THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS (VARIED)
1952-1961 THIS IS YOUR LIFE -- Era fashions included plenty of pettis on guests.  Example  (VARIED)
1977-1984 THREE'S COMPANY -- One episode finds Miss DeWitt in a cute maid's outfit. JOYCE DeWITT &
SUZANNE SOMMERS
1991-1992 THE TORKELSONS -- Sit-com with varied petti-appearances RACHEL DUNCAN
1959-1965
THE TWILIGHT ZONE -- Very occasional bouffant, mainly because the series was filmed in
the fifties.  The episode, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is a particularly good example.		  

 BUY
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(VARIED)
1996 THE VICKI LAWRENCE SHOW  (a/k/a "Fox After Breakfast") -- Here are some scenes from an episode of
The Vicki Lawrence Show, where Vicki talks about the crinolines she wore as a girl and demonstrates same.		 VICKI LAWRENCE
1998-present WILL AND GRACE -- Only in two instances does this series pay off, as far as we know. Grace is in a black lacy crinoline under a full skirt  (It is shown a lot).  The episode was "Grace Moves Across the Hall").  In "Crouching Father, Hidden Husband," she is see in a white petti under a red dress. DEBRA MESSING
1950-1961 YOU BET YOUR LIFE -- Groucho may not be pretty petti sight, but some of his contestants surely were! (CONTESTANTS)
1950-1959 YOUR HIT PARADE   Stillclip DOROTHY COLLINS, GISELE MacKENZIE
 and contestants

SPECIAL PETTICOAT JUNCTION SECTION

A nice candid autographed picture of the Petticoat Junction cast

(Tessy would be upset if she were wearing a football outfit, and the others were wearing pretty pettis, too!)

 

  

 


 (above) Out-takes?  [Click for larger]

Cover of TELEVISION CHRONICLES -- The three gals from "Petticoat Junction" let their pettis peek!
This one I know you'll all like!                          
On The Ed Sullivan Show

German Television

"Gitti und Erika, a popular German folkmusic act. The picture on the right is from a  program in 1990s. They don't dress quite so nicely these days, especially when they on mainstream programs. There are dozens of regular "Volksmusik Programmes" and pretty petticoats on German television. They used to be better a few years ago but there are plenty of repeats of old shows and programs that show clips of old shows when the costume were more "petticoatful".

The highlight of the German TV calendar is "Karneval." They have hundreds of programs featuring, "Tanzmariechen", "Tanzpaar", "Prinzengarde", "Tanzgarde" and "Funkengarde."  The outfits look like an elaborate majorettes, many with short skirts poufed out by pretty little pettis.
The dance routines seemed designed to alert the viewer to the fact they wear frilly knickers, or ruffled panties to Americans.

 

 

 

 

 


Think of the Karneval as the frilly knickers festival  It's great. The German cameramen are to be applauded for their inventive camera shots, and terrific angles, such as low down looking straight up some pretty young Fraulein's skirt!"

(Compliments of Rhino)

Latin films on Television

A few years ago, Tessy received a video from an avid Pond fan with many excerpts of Latin films on it, mostly Mexican.  In one case, the film portrayed a happy summer party with a myriad of 50s-styled petti-ed dresses on a myriad of pretty girls.  Shelley was kind enough to render some frames for our enjoyment.  With that, we present them to you!  Wish we knew the title!

Special

Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria

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