Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC), a National Football League cheerleading squad from Texas, are one of the most famous cheerleading organizations in the world.
The DCC started with the founding of the Dallas Cowboys, in 1960. Originally known as the CowBelles & Beaux, the DCC was formed from local high school students. It was typical of other cheerleading teams throughout the 1960s, rarely getting much attention. At that time, cheerleading was more about, as its name implied, exhorting the audience to show their support for the team. Seeing the cheerleaders was rarely a reason for watching football at the time.
In the early 1970s, Cowboys manager, Tex Schramm, decided to change their image to boost attendance. At first he simply tried hiring professional models but that did not work due to the their lack of athletic ability. So, he then decided to train an entirely new and unique squad which would combine an attractive appearance, athletic ability, and talent as performers.
This was done first for the 1972-1973 NFL season, where they organized a more sophisticated set of choreographed routines. This was when they first gained widespread national attention.
Even greater national attention came in 1978 when the squad was on two network TV specials, NBC Rock-n-Roll Sports Classic and The Osmond Brothers Special on ABC. In 1978, they had their own hour special to launch the season for Monday Night Football.
The made-for-TV movie "The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders", was aired January 14, 1979. Starring Jane Seymour, it had a 48% share of the national television audience[1][2] The sequel, "The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II", was aired January 13, 1980. Through the years, they have had many other TV appearances.
They have toured throughout the US (on and off field) and overseas. Included in this are regular appearances in United Service Organizations (USO) tours. This started in the Christmas of 1979, for US troops stationed in South Korea. This remains a regular function for them.
The current Director of the DCC is Kelli McGonagill Finglass and the choreographer is Judy Trammell. Unlike the early days with Tex Schramm, current owner and general manager Jerry Jones has much less involvement with the DCC, focusing on the football team instead.
The making of the 2006 team was featured on the Country Music Television reality series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
The cheerleaders release an annual swimsuit calendar.
Off-field TV appearances
The squad has appeared on variety of TV shows and specials, as performers, guest acting roles, and game show contestants. Some of the shows they have appeared on are:
- The Love Boat - Episodes #62 and #63[3] - One cheerleader has an unwanted admirer follow her on the ship. Another is hit on by her mom's fiance. As a group the cheerleaders perform their routines.
- Family Feud - Participated as a team, on celebrity special for charity against the cowboys in June 1980.
- Harry and the Hendersons TV Series - Made guest appearance on show
- Billy Bob's New Year Special for CBS
- Nashville Palace Show (1981) - Hosted by John Aylesworth.
- Saturday Night Live
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- The Late Show with David Letterman
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team
- Wife Swap
Notable former cheerleaders
A number of former cheerleaders have found success outside the organization:
- Lezlie Deane - Actress in films such as Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare[4]
- Kristi Ferrell (DCC: 1978-1979) - Actress on the soap opera Guiding Light.[5]
- Tina Gayle (DCC: early 1980s) - Actress on the TV series CHiPs.[6]
- Tamara Glynn (DCC: 1991) - Actress in the horror film Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.[7]
- Janet Gunn (DCC:early 1980s) - Actress on the TV series Silk Stalkings and Dark Justice.
- Kristin Holt[8] - Hostess of the video game show Cheat!, contestant on the first season of American Idol, and correspondent the next season. She also appeared on the cover of Stuff.
- Jill Marie Jones - Starred in the TV series Girlfriends on The CW. [9]
- Bonnie-Jill Laflin - Host of ESPN2's Speed World, correspondent for ESPN’s Cold Pizza morning show, cast member of Spike TV's Hotlines, and is one of the dance competition judges for NFL Network's NFL Cheerleader Playoffs.[10]
- Michelle Parma (DCC: 1995-1996) - Actress[11]
- Sarah Shahi (DCC: 1999-2000) - Cast member on the TV series The L Word. She appeared in the movie Old School. She was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2000 Swimsuit Calendar Covergirl.[12]
- Sheila Slaughter Richey (DCC: late 80's) - Noted TV producer and Host for E! Entertainment Television, Lifetime Television and TNN.
See also
References
- ^ Dingus, Anne. "The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders", Texas Monthly: Read Me. Texas, Emmis Communications. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders History", Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ "TV Land Presents The Love Boat". Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ Biography for Lezlie Deane. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ Biography for Kristi Ferrell. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ Biography for Tina Gayle. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
- ^ Biography for Tamara Glynn. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
- ^ "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Alumna Kristin Holt", blackdcc.net, Black Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.
- ^ Biography for Jill Marie Jones. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
- ^ Groce, Cassandra. "Former NFL Players Join Troops in Ir", AmericaSupportsYou.mil (United States Department of Defense), 2006-02-07. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
- ^ Biography for Michelle Parma. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
- ^ Biography for Sarah Shahi. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.
External links
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