Ziegfeld Follies

About the show

The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with revivals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air. Inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris, the Ziegfeld Follies were conceived and mounted by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Many of the top comedians, singers and other entertainers in America appeared in the shows. They were also known for displaying beautiful chorus girls, commonly called Ziegfeld Girls, dressed in elaborate costumes. The biopic The Great Ziegfeld won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1937. A 1941 film, Ziegfeld Girl, starring Judy Garland, and another in 1946, Ziegfeld Follies, recreated or reimagined numbers from the revues. The stage musical Funny Girl, which premiered on Broadway in 1964 depicts Fanny Brice's career with the Follies, starring Barbra Streisand, who then starred in the 1968 film adaptation; it was the year's top-grossing movie.