Loose Ankles, A Charity Performance in Des Moines

On October 30, 1928, Des Moines theatergoers packed the house for Loose Ankles, a lively comedy starring William Walsh and Dora Clement of the President Players. Walsh called it a “jolly, peppy comedy,” the kind of fast-talking, flirtatious romp that kept audiences grinning through the curtain call.

The performance wasn’t just another night of stage lights and laughter—it had a mission. The show was staged to raise money for the Sally Joy Brown Milk Fund, a charitable drive organized by The Tribune-Capital. The fund helped struggling families, especially mothers with small children who couldn’t afford milk, a daily necessity many took for granted.

So, while Loose Ankles brought laughs to the crowd, it also brought hope to hungry homes across Des Moines. It was a night when the city’s actors proved that even a bit of Broadway-style comedy could make a difference in the lives of those who needed it most.