Ziegfeld, Florenz

Ziegfeld, Florenz flôrˈənz zēgˈfĕld [key], 1869–1932, American theatrical producer, b. Chicago. The talent manager son of a German immigrant, in 1907 he first produced the Ziegfeld Follies, for 24 years an annual revue famous for its extraordinarily elaborate staging, variety of performers, and chorus line of beautiful women. Anna Held, Billie Burke, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, and W. C. Fields were among his stars. His other spectacular productions included Sally, Rio Rita, Rosalie, Show Boat, and Bitter Sweet. He was married to Anna Held from 1897 to 1913 and in 1914 married Billie Burke.

See biographies by C. Higham (1972) and E. Mordden (2008); M. Farnsworth, The Ziegfeld Follies (1956).

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