Dorothy Custer

Dorothy Bailey Cline Custer (May 30, 1911 – April 22, 2015) was an American comedian, harmonicist, and centenarian most famous for her two appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She has since become the subject of the most-viewed story of all time[1] on the website of Boise-based television station KTVB and has been the subject of numerous interviews in Idaho and other states.[2]

Dorothy Custer
Custer in 2009
Born
Dorothy Bailey Cline

May 30, 1911
Hailey, Idaho
DiedApril 22, 2015(2015-04-22) (aged 103)
Twin Falls, Idaho
NationalityAmerican
Known forAppearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Spouse(s)Marvin Custer (m. 1937–2005, his death)
ChildrenCarole, Neal, Colleen, Gary

Custer was born in 1911 in Hailey and grew up in Rock Creek south of present-day Hansen. She attended the College of Idaho and taught school in Murtaugh in the early 1930s. In 1937, she married Marvin Custer, who claimed descent from George Armstrong Custer. The couple moved to Twin Falls in 1939.[3]

Custer began working as an amateur entertainer in 1916, eventually creating 13 characters as part of her stand-up routine. She had been an active harmonica player since 1923 and featured music in many of her acts, including her performances on the Tonight Show.[4] Despite her long career, by her own admission Custer didn't achieve fame until after her first appearance on the Tonight Show in 2011 at age 100.[3]

Custer was asked back later to Tonight Show where she sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to Jay[5] on Valentine's Day 2012.

In May 2012, Custer celebrated her 101st birthday by ziplining in the Snake River Canyon.[6]

Author and physician Jacob M. Appel honored Custer by modeling a minor character after her in his novel The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up (2012);[7] in a 2013 interview, Custer said she was flattered by the honor but acknowledged not having read the book.[7]

In June 2013, Custer celebrated her 102nd birthday by BASE jumping off the Perrine Bridge into the Snake River Canyon.[8] She became the oldest BASE jumper with the help of Sean Chuma[9] a world-renowned base jumper and BASE jumping instructor.

Custer died in her sleep on April 22, 2015, shortly before her 104th birthday.[3]

References
  1. KTVB, KTVB.COM (5 December 2013). "Watch video of Dorothy Custer on Tonight Show with Jay Leno". KTVB. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012.
  2. http://www.nwcn.com/video/featured-videos/139388673.html%5B%5D
  3. Matthews, Mychel. "Dorothy Custer, 'Idaho's Grandma,' Dies at 103", Times-News, April 24, 2015. (accessed 3 May 2015)
  4. "National Centenarian Awareness Project - Archive". adlercentenarians.org.
  5. KTVB, KTVB.COM (16 February 2012). "100-year-old Dorothy Custer makes Valentine's appearance on Leno show". KTVB. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012.
  6. "Idaho's Dorothy Custer turns 101, goes zip lining" Archived July 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, KTVB, 31 May 2012. (accessed 7 December 2012)
  7. Times-News (Twins Falls, ID), 19 December 2012
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-06-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), KTVB, 02 June 2013
  9. "Professional Base Jumper: Twin Falls, ID: Base Jumping Instruction & First Course". Professional Base Jumper and Stuntman.
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