In the 1960s, America was in the midst of a “national topless revolution,” and it was all because of one woman.
Carol Doda, who grew up in San Francisco, sparked changes across America after baring her chest for the first time during a performance at the now infamous Condor Club.
During her time in the spotlight, the star underwent 44 surgical operations to inject silicone into her breasts and take them from a size 34B to 44DD.
His impressive bust, which was dubbed “San Francisco’s new Twin Peaks”, was later insured for $1.5 million.
He earned widespread praise for spearheading the “liberation movement” that shaped the next 20 years of entertainment.
Carol, who passed away in 2015, continued dancing until she was 49 years old.
Here, FEMAIL explores her rise to fame while a new documentary will delve into her fascinating story.
Carol Doda, who grew up in San Francisco, sparked changes across America after baring her chest for the first time during a performance at the now infamous Condor Club.
Carol, whose parents divorced when she was just three years old, dropped out of school in eighth grade and began making her own way at an early age.
She found work as a secretary and became a waitress at just 14 years old, leading to her now infamous rise to fame.
The platinum blonde found work as an entertainer at the Condor Club, a lively bar in San Francisco, but she was eager to take her act a step further.
Carol first went topless in an impromptu performance in a bar in June 1964. – in a move that changed every nightspot on San Francisco’s busy Broadway.
She wore a chest-baring monokini by avant-garde designer Rudi Gernreich.In what was later described as a precedent-setting act that established her as a major American cultural sexual icon of the 1960s.
The swimsuit design, which “shocked everyone,” has since been “faithfully reissued” and is still available today for $145.
Word soon spread about Carol’s innovative exhibit.
Crowds began to flock to the venue and the artist told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009: ‘The moment I knew I existed in life was the night I started the Condor affair. The only thing I cared about was entertaining people.’
His impressive bust, which was dubbed “San Francisco’s new Twin Peaks”, was later insured for $1.5 million.
Carol would dramatically descend onto the stage atop a white piano on an elevator platform lowered from the ceiling by cables.
San Francisco newspaper columnist Herb Caen previously characterized Carol as “the Susan B. Anthony of this particular liberation movement,” referring to the American social reformer who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement.
Interest in the star continued to grow and his act was said to have become a tourist attraction second only to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Carol soon began to add more elements to her performance.
She previously admitted she wasn’t the best dancer, but she attracted viewers with her performance art, telling the outlet at the time, “A lot of great dancers don’t get the audience reaction like I do.”
Carol would do it dramatically descend onto the stage above a target piano on an elevator platform that was lowered from the ceiling using cables.
Tragically, the mechanism he became synonymous with would prove fatal for another club employee in 1983.
Gorilla Jimmy Ferrozzo and his girlfriend, exotic dancer Theresa Hill, were reportedly having sex on top of the infamous piano when they accidentally hit the power switch.
The instrument quickly rose to the ceiling in just 90 seconds and crushed 40-year-old Ferrozzo, who weighed 240 pounds, to death.
Hill, 23, survived only because she was thinner than her partner.
The artist told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009: “The moment I knew I existed in life was the night I started Condor.” The only thing that mattered to me was entertaining people.’
Due to the scandalous nature of her act, authorities raided the Condor, but Carol was ultimately found not guilty of indecency by community standards.
Carol continued to show her breasts every night and eventually earned the equivalent of about $4,000 a week today.
However, Carol continued with her act.
Over the years, as a result of being thrust into the spotlight, the artist underwent a series of breast augmentations.
She underwent 44 surgical treatments in which emulsified silicone was injected into her breast at a cost of approximately $12,000 in today’s money – eexpanding her bra size from 34B to 44DD.
The procedure has since been banned, but Carol claimed to have suffered no health complications as a result.
In the end, her ample chest was said to be insured for $1.5 million, and her breasts were dubbed “San Francisco’s new Twin Peaks.”
In 1968, Carol went a step further and even went all the way, performing completely naked, until California ruled that women could not perform completely naked in clubs that served alcohol.
Due to the scandalous nature of his act, tEl Cóndor was raided by authorities but Carol was ultimately found not guilty of indecency by community standards.
And so she continued showing her breasts every night and eventually earned the equivalent of about $4,000 a week today.
Nightclubs across the country began luring patrons with bare-breasted dancers in an era that spanned more than two decades.
She underwent 44 surgical treatments in which emulsified silicone was injected into her bust at a cost of around $12,000 in today’s money, expanding her bra size from 34B to 44DD.
Carol, who later appeared on screen with a host of acting credits to her name, left the club in 1985.
Before her death in 2015, Carol told the website babyboomerdaily.com: “I was the first to go topless in 1964 and started a sexual revolution that spun as fast as tassels.”
Carol, who later appeared on screen with a host of acting credits to her name, lHe left the club in 1985.
She later owned a lingerie store in the Bay Area called Carol Doda’s Champagne and Lace Lingerie Boutique.
But that was not the only path he followed.
She was the leader of her own rock band, Lucky Stiffs.He modeled and performed comedy.
The businessman was still dancing, this time fully clothed, in North Beach clubs in 2009, and told the press: “The only way I’ll stop acting is when I can’t walk anymore, honey.”
The star performed until he was 49 years old. YesHe never married or had children.
Carol died from complications caused by kidney failure in 2015 at the age of 78.
Many still consider her “part of San Francisco’s legacy” and she was even immortalized in a mural last year.
Carol Doda Topless At The Condor will be released in theaters on March 22
