Random Article Summary #154

The Ziegfeld Follies of 1919 was a revue made by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., advertised as the 13th show in his Follies series. It was first tried out at Nixon’s Apollo Theatre in Atlantic City on June 10, 1919, then opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on June 16 and ran until December 6, 1919. Many people consider it the best and most successful Follies Ziegfeld produced. Frank Darling served as the musical director. The show used costumes from several designers and companies, with Ziegfeld selecting many pieces, while other firms handled specific designs, uniforms, and scenic construction. Act 1 of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1919 is made up of many short episodes and musical numbers, featuring elaborate casts in themed acts such as “The Follies Salad” and “A Spanish Frolic,” plus songs like “My Baby’s Arms” and “Sweet Sixteen.” The show also includes comedy and ensemble performances, including routines with Eddie Dowling, Eddie Cantor, Bert Williams, Johnny and Ray Dooley, and Irving Berlin’s “The Follies Minstrels” (including the song “Mandy”). Act 2 continues with more staged fantasies and songs set in places like a harem and a circus, and it culminates in a finale called “The Salvation Army Girls,” with music by Irving Berlin. Critics praised the Ziegfeld Follies of 1919 as a standout, beautiful revue with excellent singing, comedy, dancing, and impressive staging. They noted that while the show’s first night ran a bit long and some parts dragged, the overall performance moved fast and looked spectacular, with strong visual design by Joseph Urban and successful tableaux by Ben Ali Haggin. The Boston Daily Globe called it superior to earlier versions, praising the girls’ costumes, the show’s energy, and especially the lavish scenes and dance acts. In the summer of 1919, the actors planned to strike during the labor unrest. Although Ziegfeld tried to stop it by getting an injunction against Actors’ Equity, several key performers did not appear on August 13, 1919, and the show was canceled minutes after the curtain; the audience reacted with mixed jeers and laughter, tickets were refunded, and the actors faced a lawsuit for large damages. Performances later resumed on September 10, and on November 20 the Prince of Wales attended, reportedly laughing when Eddie Cantor joked about the Prince leaving without seeing The Bronx. In 1919, the Follies went on tour and began performing in Washington D.C. on April 25, 1920. They then moved to Boston, where they started their shows on May 17, 1920.