From the October 4, 1948 DANCE feature, 70 years ago this week, “TIGER LILY DANCER—Valerie Bettis, a Houston highbrow, becomes a popular New York hit.” According to LIFE, “Valerie Bettis from Houston, Texas is a catlike tawny blonde with a sexy appearance and a serious approach to the art of dancing. For some years in New York she gave recitals which were well received by highbrow critics, but wide popularity was something Bettis never expected. Now, suddenly, she has it. Last spring Valerie made her first Broadway appearance in ‘Inside USA’ as a dancing murderess named Tiger Lily.” She won two Donaldson awards for this role. This image ran in the feature. (Nina Leen—THe LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #thisweekinLIFE #TigerLily #1940s https://www.instagram.com/p/BoZGF9nB02B/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cz4vf8mbqj72











