| Florenz Ziegfeld (March 21, 1869
– July 22, 1932) was a Broadway impresario who
achieved fame by perfecting the United States revue. He is best known for his series of theatrical spectaculars the Ziegfeld Follies, based on the Folies
Bergères of Paris.
His stage spectaculars, beginning with his Follies of 1907 were produced annually until 1931. These extravaganzas featured a bevy of beauties chosen personally by "Flo" Ziegfeld, and featured prominent
composers such as Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern, elaborate costumes and sets.
His promotion of Polish-born Anna
Held as a Parisian beauty, with press releases about her milk baths brought her fame and set a pattern of star making through
publicity. Ziegfeld married Anna in 1897 but she divorced him in 1913 after he moved his mistress into an apartment one floor up
from theirs.
The Follies launched the careers of Fanny Brice, W. C. Fields, Eddie Cantor,
and Ziegfeld's second wife, Billie Burke, whom he married in 1914.
Ziegfeld produced other landmark productions as well, including Show
Boat. Although he recognized its artistic value, he was terrified Show Boat would fail because of its unusually
dramatic storyline. On opening night, the audience (according to an eyewitness) barely applauded, but it was not because they
disliked the show, but because they were so taken aback by it. It was a great success, and by 1932, after Ziegfeld had lost much
of his money in the stock market crash, he decided to stage a
revival of "Show Boat". It became the biggest grosser on Broadway, until the Great Depression affected its run.
On his passing, Florenz Ziegfeld was interred in Kensico
Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.
Broadway productions
- A Parlor Match -
1893
- The French Maid -
1897
- Papa's Wife - 1899
- The Little
Duchess - 1901
- Red Feather - 1903
- Mam'selle
Napoleon - 1903
- Higgledy-Piggledy - 1904
- Higgledy-Piggledy - 1905
- The Parisian
Model - 1906
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1907 - 1907
- The Parisian
Model - 1908
- The Soul Kiss -
1908
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1908 - 1908
- Miss Innocence -
1908
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1909 - 1909
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1910 - 1910
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1911 - 1911
- Over the River -
1912
- A Winsome Widow -
1912
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1912 - 1912
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1913 - 1913
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1914 - 1914
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1915- 1915
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 - 1916
- The Century
Girl - 1916
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1917 - 1917
- The Rescuing
Angel - 1917
- Miss 1917 - 1917
- Night in Spain -
1917
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1918 - 1918
- By Pigeon Post -
1918
- Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic - 1919
- Caesar's Wife -
1919
- Ziegfeld
Girls of 1920 - 1920
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1920 - 1920
- Sally - 1920
- Ziegfeld 9 O'clock Frolic - 1921
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1921 - 1921
- The
Intimate Strangers - 1921
- Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic - 1921
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1922 - 1922
- Rose Briar - 1922
- Sally - 1923
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1923 - 1923
- Kid Boots - 1923
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1924 - 1924
- Annie Dear - 1924
- Louis the 14th -
1925
- Ziegfeld’s Revue “No
Foolin’&rdquo - 1926
- Betsy - 1926
- Rio Rita - 1927
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 - 1927
- Show Boat - 1927
- Rosalie - 1928
- The Three Musketeers - 1928
- Whoopee! - 1928
- Show Girl - 1929
- Bitter Sweet - 1930
- Simple Simon - 1930
- Smiles - 1930
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1931 - 1931
- Hot-Cha! - 1932
- Show Boat - 1932
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