Miller Brothers and Lois
Across the buttes and valleys of five narrow platforms a few feet high that spell out M-I-L-L-E-R, Lois and one of the guys range sideways and backward, spreading a brisk and daring routine that would be impressive enough on the ground.
Tap dancer Edwina Evelyn commented that while the team of brothers in the act received much attention, Lois Miller "never seemed to get the recognition she deserved for performing the same dance as the men."
Honi Coles always confirmed that Miller Brothers and Lois, performing in top hats, white ties and tails, were the epitome of class-act tap dancing.
"[12] In a February 1934 review of Nana entitled "Anna Sten makes her American film bow in a picture suggested by Emile Zola's 'Nana'" at the Radio City Music Hall, among the stage offerings were the Miller Brothers.
They began with rhythm-style soft-shoe, followed by Danny and Lois performing precision tap and acrobatics, then climaxed with the trio dancing on, and quickly across, the pedestals executing wings, barrel turns and trenches.
[2] Variety on May 15, 1940 published a review of the group's performance at the State-Lake Theater in Chicago: "Topping the turns are Miller Bros. and Lois, a dancing trio with some sockeroo acrobatics that make them apart from the general run of hoofing acts.
"[16] In December 1940, Miller Brothers and Lois performed with Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra at the Metropolitan in Providence as part of a stage and screen combination including Phantom of Chinatown.
"[17] In October 1941, Miller Brothers and Lois performed with Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburg as part of a stage and screen combination including Married Bachelor.
"[19] Miller Brothers and Lois were principals in Harlem Cavalcade assembled and produced by Ed Sullivan at the Ritz Theatre with staging by Noble Sissle which opened May 1, 1942 and closed after 49 performances.
"[21] In August 1942, Miller Brothers and Lois performed with Will Osborne's Orchestra at the RKO Theater in Boston as part of a stage and screen combination including My Favorite Spy.
The Variety reviewer opined that the dance team "catch on at their entrance with a top-gear tap routine and follow up with whimisical intricacies on a high rig which spots them nicely."
[22] In February 1943, Miller Brothers and Lois performed with the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh as part of a vaudeville movie bill including Andy Hardy's Double Life.
[24] Curtain Time: The Revue, a vaudeville style show presented by Fred Finkelhoffe and Paul Small opened December 23, 1943 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco for a six week run starring Chico Marx and Connie Boswell with Miller Brothers and Lois appearing in Act I.
