Ziegfeld, << ZIHG fehld, >> Florenz (1867-1932), was an American theater producer. He became famous for a series of musical revues, called the Ziegfeld Follies, which he presented annually from 1907 to 1927, as well as in 1931.
The Ziegfeld Follies featured a chorus line of beautiful women in lavish costumes performing in extravagant settings. Many Ziegfeld beauties became motion-picture stars, including Marion Davies, Irene Dunne, and Paulette Goddard.
Ziegfeld also introduced many famous entertainers in the revues, notably Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Will Rogers, W. C. Fields, and Bert Williams. Ziegfeld commissioned such composers as Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern to provide songs for the Follies. Ziegfeld also produced numerous musical comedies, such as Rio Rita (1927), Show Boat (1927), and Rosalie (1928). Ziegfeld was born on March 21, 1867, in Chicago. He died on July 22, 1932. After Ziegfeld’s death, J. J. and Lee Shubert, two brothers who operated theaters throughout the United States, bought the rights to the name Ziegfeld Follies and produced revues in 1934, 1936, and 1943.
