 Vail thought of the show while living in the Chicago area, after having spent several years as a vaudeville performer (often with her husband, George Damerel), basing it largely on her own experiences.She cast herself as Myrtle and her real-life daughter, Donna Damerel Fick, as Marge.Myrt was the elder, experienced chorus girl taking the young, inexperienced, and innocent Marge under her wing.