The woman behind America's 'topless revolution': Inside the wild life of the country's first breast-baring dancer - who 'liberated' the US with raunchy performances after undergoing 44 SURGERIES on her 44DD boobs (which were insured for $1.5 MILLION)

In the 1960s, America found itself in the throes of a 'nationwide topless revolution' - and it was all down to one woman.

Carol Doda, who grew up in San Francisco, sparked change across the US after first baring her chest during a performance at the now infamous Condor Club.

During her time in the limelight, the star underwent 44 surgical operations to inject silicone into her breasts to take them from a size 34B to 44DD.

Her impressive bust, which was dubbed 'the new Twin Peaks of San Francisco,' was later insured for $1.5 million.

She earned widespread praise for spearheading the 'liberating movement' which shaped the next 20 years of entertainment.

Carol, who passed away in 2015, continued dancing until the age of 49. 

Here, FEMAIL explores her rise to fame as a new documentary is set to delve into her mesmerizing story.

Carol Doda, who grew up in San Francisco, sparked change across the US after first baring her chest 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 the eighth grade and began making her own way from a very early age.

She found work as a secretary and became a cocktail waitress at just 14 years old which set her on a now infamous rise to fame.

The platinum blonde found work as a lounge entertainer at the Condor Club - a lively bar in San Francisco - but was keen to take her act one step further.

Carol first went topless in an impromptu performance at the bar in June 1964 - in a move that changed every nightspot on busy Broadway in San Francisco. 

She wore a chest-baring monokini by avant-garde designer Rudi Gernreich - in what was later described as precedent-setting act which cemented her as a major American cultural sex icon of the 1960s.

The swimsuit design, which 'sent shockwaves across the world,' has since been 'faithfully reissued' and is still available today for $145.  

Word soon spread about Carol's groundbreaking display.

Crowds began flocking to the venue and the performer told The San Francisco Chronicle in 2009: 'The minute I knew I existed in life was the night I started the Condor thing. The only thing that mattered to me was entertaining people.' 

Her impressive bust, which was dubbed 'the new Twin Peaks of San Francisco,' was later insured for $1.5 million 

Carol would dramatically descend to the stage atop a white piano on an elevator platform that was lowered from the ceiling on cables

San Francisco newspaper columnist Herb Caen previously characterized Carol as 'the Susan B. Anthony of this particular liberating movement,' in reference to the American social reformer who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement.

Interest in the star only continued to grow and it was said her act became a tourist attraction second only to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Carol soon began adding further elements to her performance. 

She previously admitted that she was not the greatest dancer but enticed viewers with her stagecraft, telling the outlet at the time: 'A lot of great dancers don't get the audience reaction that I do.'

Carol would dramatically descend to the stage atop a white piano on an elevator platform that was lowered from the ceiling on cables.

Tragically, the mechanism she became synonymous with would later prove fatal for another employee at the club in 1983.

Bouncer Jimmy Ferrozzo and his exotic dancer girlfriend Theresa Hill were having sex on top of the infamous piano when they accidentally hit the on switch, according to reports.

The instrument rapidly rose to the ceiling in just 90 seconds and crushed 40-year-old Ferrozzo, who weighed 240-pound, to death. 

Hill, 23, survived only because she was thinner than her companion.

The performer told The San Francisco Chronicle in 2009: 'The minute I knew I existed in life was the night I started the Condor thing. The only thing that mattered to me was entertaining people'

Due to the scandalous nature of her act, t he Condor was raided by authorities but Carol was ultimately found not guilty of indecency according to community standards 

Carol continued to bare her breasts each night and was eventually earning the equivalent of about $4,000 a week today

However, Carol continued on with her act nonetheless.

Throughout the years, as a result of being thrust into the limelight, the performer underwent a series of breast augmentations.

She had 44 surgical treatments in which emulsified silicone was injected into her bust at a cost of about $12,000 in today's money - expanding 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 - with her breasts were dubbed as 'the new Twin Peaks of San Francisco.'

By 1968, Carol went one step further and even went bottomless - performing completely nude - until California ruled that women could not perform completely naked in clubs that served alcohol.

Due to the scandalous nature of her act, the Condor was raided by authorities but Carol was ultimately found not guilty of indecency according to community standards. 

And so she continued to bare her breasts each night and was eventually earning the equivalent of about $4,000 a week today.

Nightclubs up and down the country began enticing customers with bare-breasted dancers in an era that spanned more than two decades.

She had 44 surgical treatments in which emulsified silicone was injected into her bust at a cost of about $12,000 in today's money - expanding her bra size from 34B to 44DD

Carol, who later appeared on screen with a whole host of acting credits to her name, left the club in 1985

Before her death in 2015, Carol told website babyboomerdaily.com: 'I was the first to go topless in 1964 and started a sexual revolution that spun as fast as twirling tassels.' 

Carol, who later appeared on screen with a whole host of acting credits to her name, 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 avenue she pursued.

She was the frontwoman for her own rock band the Lucky Stiffs, modelled and performed comedy.

The entrepreneur was still dancing, this time fully clothed, at North Beach clubs in 2009, telling the press: 'The only way I'll stop performing is when I can't walk anymore, honey.' 

The star performed until the age of 49. She never married or had children. 

Carol died from complications caused by kidney failure in 2015 aged 78. 

She is still considered by many to be 'part of the legacy of San Francisco' and was even immortalized in a mural last year.

Carol Doda Topless At The Condor is set to be released in theaters on March 22