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5 unusual facts about Ziegfeld Follies


Jean Schwartz

They co-wrote many songs which were used in Broadway shows, including "Mr. Dooley," which was sung by the title character in The Wizard of Oz, as well as the Ziegfeld Follies.

Marcus Klaw

Despite being near universally despised by most in the industry for their ruthless tactics, Klaw and Erlanger produced dozens of Broadway plays and financed many others including the early editions of the Ziegfeld Follies.

Mickey's Follies

The animals in the barnyard are watching a series of short song and dance numbers performed by other barnyard animals, similar to the Ziegfeld Follies of the day.

The Rainbow Princess

When Ann Pennington was creating a sensation on the stage of the Ziegfeld Follies, the little star decided that she had enough spare time to become a motion picture satellite, constellation or luminary.

Will Vodery

Vodery also created the vocal arrangements for several editions of the Ziegfeld Follies.


Betty Compton

A member of Ziegfeld Follies, she appeared in the original stage production of Funny Face (1927) alongside Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire, as well as Oh, Kay! in 1926.

James V. Monaco

Further success came with "Row, Row, Row" (lyrics by William Jerome) in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1912.

John Murray Anderson

Anderson directed the film King of Jazz (1930), wrote the screenplay for Ziegfeld Follies (1946), directed the water ballets in Bathing Beauty (1944), and directed the circus sequences in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).

London Calling!

American inventor Hammond had earlier developed a Teleview sequential viewing system for use as part of the successful productions of the Ziegfeld Follies (1907–1931).

Meredith Howard Harless

Her experiences at Miss America led to a five-year stint as a performer with the Ziegfeld Follies, where she worked with such stars as Eddie Cantor, Fred Astaire and Ed Wynn.

Portuguese Diamond

The first documented record of the diamond finds its ownership with the Ziegfeld Follies glamor woman named Peggy Hopkins Joyce who bought the diamond from Black, Starr and Frost in February 1928.

Winter Garden Theatre

Following the 1932 death of Florenz Ziegfeld, the Shuberts acquired the rights to the name and format of his famed Ziegfeld Follies, and they presented the 1934 and 1936 editions of the Follies featuring performers such as Fanny Brice, Bob Hope, Josephine Baker, Gypsy Rose Lee, Eve Arden, The Nicholas Brothers, and Buddy Ebsen.


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