Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Theater Director - Born 21 Mar 1867

Bio American theatrical producer who brought the revue to spectacular heights under the slogan "Glorifying the American Girl." During the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, Ziegfeld managed bodybuilder Eugen Sandow (billed as the Great Sandow). In 1896 he turned to theatrical management. His promotion of French beauty Anna Held, with press releases about her milk baths, brought her fame and set a pattern of star-making through publicity. In 1907 he produced in New York City his first revue, The Follies of 1907, modeled on the Folies-Bergère of Paris but less risqué. The revue's combination of semi-nudity, pageantry and comedy was repeated successfully for 23 more years, until the Great Depression ended these annual spectaculars. Four other editions appeared after his death, the last in 1957. In addition to the Follies, Ziegfeld also produced the stage successes "Sally" (1920), "Show Boat" (1927), "Rio Rita" (1927), and "Bitter Sweet (1929). Among the stars who rose to fame as a result of appearing in a Ziegfeld show were Marilyn Miller, Will Rogers, Leon Errol, Bert Williams, Fanny Brice and Eddie Cantor.

Ziegfeld had a long-lasting relationship with Anna Held but they never married due to her already being married to Maximo Carrera. In 1913, he married actress Billie Burke with whom he had daughter Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Marcos Eduardo Acosta Aldrete

Florenz Ziegfeld was one of the greatest Broadway impresarios of all time. His greatest productions were the annual Ziegfeld Follies, running from 1907 up to the early 30s. A few of his other successful musical stage productions like "Sally" with Marilyn Miller were made into film musicals in the early talkie-era.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Stephan Eichenberg

Spouse (1) Billie Burke (11 April 1914 - 22 July 1932) (his death) (1 child)

Other Relationsips Anna Held (Common Law) (1897 - 1913)

Brother of producer William K. Ziegfeld.

In 1927 he produced what is considered his greatest artistic achievement--the original Broadway production of "Show Boat". Although he recognized its artistic value, he was terrified that it would fail because of its unusually dramatic storyline. According to an eyewitness, on opening night the audience barely applauded. It was not because they disliked the show. It was because they were so taken aback by it. The show was a huge success. By 1932, after Ziegfeld had lost much of his money in the stock-market crash, he decided to try what he now considered a sure thing, a revival of the show. It worked, and for a time became the biggest grosser on Broadway, until the Depression finally affected its run. Ziegfeld died that same year.

He always maintained that he had no sense of humor and that he always considered the comedians he hired to be strictly secondary to the famous Ziegfeld Girls. And yet, the comedians who rose to fame in the Follies and other shows he produced may well be his greatest legacy to audiences. Among those who started with Ziegfeld were Will Rogers, Bert Williams, Eddie Cantor, W.C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Leon Errol, Ray Bolger and countless others.

He loved sending telegrams. On a lark, he had one sent to an actor rehearsing on stage while Ziegfeld himself was watching in the same theater.

On his death bed, he went delirious, shouting stage directions, apparently for the closing number of one of his productions seen only in his mind. His last words were, "Looks good! Looks good!".

Daughter, with Billie Burke: Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson born 1916.

Is portrayed by Paul Stewart in W.C. Fields and Me (1976) and William Powell in The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and Ziegfeld Follies (1945), by William Forrest in The Eddie Cantor Story (1953).

Always maintained that, as a teenager in an exhibition shooting match, he actually outshot Annie Oakley. Ms. Oakley didn't remember the incident, however, and the story itself is probably apocryphal.

Longtime companion of Anna Held (1897-1913). They never officially married.

Portrayed by Paul Henreid in Deep in My Heart (1954), William Powell (again) in Ziegfeld Follies (1945), and Walter Pidgeon in Funny Girl (1968).

I don't have a very quick sense of humor. Half of the great comedians I've had in my shows and that I paid a lot of money to and who made my customers shriek were not only not funny to me, but I couldn't understand why they were funny to anybody. You'd be surprised how many of the expensive comics I've run out on and locked myself in my office when they were on stage.

[1925, explaining what he looked for in a "Ziegfeld Girl"] Beauty, of course, is the most important requirement and the paramount asset of the applicant. When I say that, I mean beauty of face, form, charm and manner, personal magnetism, individuality, grace and poise. These are details that must always be settled before the applicant has demonstrated her ability either to sing or dance. It is not easy to pass the test that qualifies a girl for membership in a Ziegfeld production, but I am frank to say that once she has done so, much of the element of doubt is removed so far as the future success of her career before the footlights is concerned.

Women glorify gowns and certain gowns can glorify certain girls.