Original Follies history- Page 2

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 3:27pm

I have a coffee table book called "The Ziegfeld Touch: The Life and Times of Florenz Fiegfeld, Jr." by distant cousins Richard and Paulette Ziegfeld, with a foreword by Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson, daughter of F. Ziegfeld and his wife Billie Burke, copyright 1993. It is chocked full of photos of the Follies and the Frolics, photos of sheet music covers, and details about the casts of all of Ziegfeld's productions. I got it at a reduced price at a Barnes & Noble store several years ago. It weighs a ton.

I agree that the 1936 MGM film "The Great Ziegfeld" is worth getting ahold of. It has a wonderful performance in the title role by the always charming William Powell, and performances by Follies stars Will Rogers, Fanny Brice, and Ray Bolger. Frank Morgan is also wonderful in the movie, playing one of Ziegfeld's colleagues. It has the most elaborate movie take on a musical number that I have ever seen: "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody". It has to be seen to be believed.

Incidentally, the theatre for the "Midnight Frolics" atop the New Amsterdam Theatre still exists, but it is gutted with only the stage area apparent. I actually saw it when the construction foreman took me up there in a construction elevator when the New Amsterdam was being renovated. It was used for rehearsal space for upcoming Broadway shows in the past, until The Nederlanders, one time owners of the New Amsterdam, allowed the roof to deteriorate, letting rain water in to damage the space. At the time of my seeing this area, the construction foreman told me that there were no plans to restore the space.

Pal Joey, your old photos are amazing.

Updated On: 1/25/07 at 03:27 PM