Ziegfeld girl

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Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical spectaculars known as the Ziegfeld Follies which were based on the Folies Bergères of Paris.

These showgirls, followed on the heels of the "Florodora girls" who had started to 'loosen the corset' of the Gibson Girl in the early years of the twentieth century. These were beauties, of similar size, decked out in Erté designs which led them to become objects of both popular adoration and young male admirers. Many were persuaded to leave the show to marry, some to men of substantial wealth. The Ziegfeld Ball in New York City continued as a social event of the season for years after the last production of the Follies.

Over the years they included many future stars such as Marion Davies, Paulette Goddard, Joan Blondell, Barbara Stanwyck, Billie Dove, Louise Brooks, Nita Naldi, Mae Murray, Bessie Love, Dorothy Mackaill, Claire Dodd, Iris Adrian and other society and business successes such as Peggy Hopkins Joyce, Helen Gallagher, Anastasia Reilly, and Irene Hayes.

Although many future stars started out as Ziegfeld girls, several others were turned down by Florenz Ziegfeld to appear in his revue. Norma Shearer (in 1919), Alice Faye (in 1927), Joan Crawford (in 1924), Lucille Ball (in 1931), Eleanor Powell (in 1927), Hedda Hopper (in 1913), and June Havoc (in 1931) were among the many hopefuls that the master showman discarded after auditions.

The survivors of these spectacular chorus lines of the last century are the Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall and the aging Silver Belles, a troupe of dancers from the Apollo Theater's heyday.

The San Francisco rock band Gosta Berling has a song called Ziegfeld Girl, about Jack Pickford and Olive Thomas.