The Borden Twins

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1999 Kinkos Copy Add Featuring Marilyn and Roz
1999 Kinkos Copy Add Featuring Marilyn and Roz

The Borden Twins (born May 29, 1932), Rosalyn Borden and Marilyn Borden, are twin sisters, known for their weight, who acted together in numerous television programs from the 1950s until the 1980s. They are best remembered as "Teensy" and "Weensy" in a classic episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Tennessee Bound". They never rose above supporting players, but the duo have performed in many venues, including gigs on the nightclub circuit, as well as larger events including Rose Bowl. The twins also performed at numerous USO shows at home and overseas. The sisters have worked with notable performers such as Lucille Ball, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis, Andy Williams, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jimmy Durante, Bea Arthur, and Bob Newhart.

Rosalyn "Roz" Borden died January 23, 2003 of liver disease in Modesto, California.

Contents

[edit] Television

  • Four Star Revue (Girls in Gondola 1 episode 1952)
  • The Colgate Comedy Hour (1952)
  • The Spike Jones Show (1954 and 1957)
  • The Ed Wynn Show
  • The Jimmy Durante Show (1955-1957 regular performers)
  • I Love Lucy (episode 112 "Tennessee Bound" January 24, 1955 as Teensy and Weensy)
  • Rhoda... Rosalyn (Marilyn's scene was cut).
  • CHiPs .... Lottie and Dottie Tidwell (1 episode, 1977)
  • Maude .... Monica and Shirley (1 episode, 1978)
  • Apple Pie (Rue McClanahan series) .... Trudy, and Judy Laskey (1 episode, 1978)
  • The Ropers .... Hetty and Betty (1 episode, 1979)
  • Lottery! .... Flora and Dora (1 episode, 1984)
  • The Joan Rivers Show.... (1989)
  • Out of This World .... Buffalo Breath Twins (1 episode, 1990)
  • All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling 1998

[edit] Trivia

  • Many Lucy fans do not know that Marilyn and Roz were told to sing off-key when performing the song Ricochet.
  • Though the twins were asked to perform Ricochet for countless audiences over the years, Marilyn's signature song is actually Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey.
  • Their favorite star to work with was Bob Newhart, their least favorite was Jimmy Duarante.
  • Roles usually had to be made around them, their weight being the joke, Lucille Ball specifically had their role on I Love Lucy tailor made for them. Their friendship with Rue McClanahan got them a part on Maude.
  • Were extras in the crowd scene in Singin in the Rain.
  • Bob Newhart wanted them for a role on his series Newhart, but it never panned out.
  • Traveled on a USO tour with Ruta Lee, and they became lifelong friends.
  • Traveled on a USO tour with Charles "Buddy" Rogers, the husband of silent movie star Mary Pickford, and on return the duo were asked to dinner at Pickfair.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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