FLORENZ ZIEGFELD
Ziegfeld was not only a good dancer himself, but he also had an excellent ear for music. Added to these talents was his ability to choose chorus girls who fit his conception of musical numbers. It was not long before his reputation for having excellent taste in beautiful women was established. In 1914, he said, " Women glorify gowns, and certain gowns can glorify certain girls." Thus, any girl who appeared in a Ziegfeld chorus was considered "glorified," and "glorifier" was the recognition of his fame.
After his marriage to Anna Held failed mainly as a result of his womanizing, Ziegfeld then married the stage beauty, Billie Burke, in 1914. They had met at a New Year's Eve Party where Miss Burke was had gone with the author, Somerset Maugham, in 1913. Ziegfeld was so taken with Miss Burke that he changed his costume from that of a tramp, went back to the party dressed in evening clothes, and began an ardent courtship which culminated in their civil marriage in Hoboken, New Jersey, April 11, 1914.
It was in 1927 that Ziegfeld turned away from his Follies and began producing musical comedies. His first productions, "Sally," starring Marilyn Miller, was a huge success, reportedly making $1,000,000. "Show Boat" and "Kid Boots" were also hugely successful. However, he reputedly lost $350,000 on his production of "Smiles."
A flamboyant big spender, Ziegfeld built a house, named Burkely Crest, at Hastings-on-Hudson, which was reported to have cost $1,000,000. His theatre, The Ziegfeld Theatre, which was built with funds provided by William Randolph Hearst, expressed himself and his love of the opulence of his shows.
In February 1932, Ziegfeld became ill from influenza, which turned into pneumonia. On July 19, his physician issued a statement saying that he was "hopeful" of a full recovery. He said that the impresario had suffered an attack of pleurisy but was improving. Sadly, he had a relapse and died July 22, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 63.
Still, the name of Ziegfeld will forever resound as the founder of modern musical revues and the producer of ageless musicals like "Show Boat" and "Sally." After his death, he was immortalized in a motion picture, "The Great Ziegfeld," in 1936, starring William Powell. During the period of movie musicals, in the 1940s, several motion pictures were produced under various titles, all of them including the name "Ziegfeld" or "The Ziegfeld Follies."
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