Gladys Feldman | |
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 Feldman, c. 1920 | |
| Born | Gladys E. Feldman September 28, 1891 |
| Died | February 12, 1974 (aged 83) Manhattan, NY, U.S. |
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Gladys Feldman (born Gladys E. Feldman) was an American actress, dancer, and showgirl.
Gladys Feldman | |
|---|---|
| Feldman, c. 1920 | |
| Born | Gladys E. Feldman September 28, 1891 |
| Died | February 12, 1974 (aged 83) Manhattan, NY, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouses |
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Gladys Feldman (born Gladys E. Feldman) was an American actress, dancer, and showgirl.
Feldman was born on September 28, 1891, in Chicago to Joseph Feldman and his wife, Mattie (Beabers or Beavers) Feldman. [1] [2]
On July 3, 1909, Feldman was billed as "the most beautiful woman in the world" as part of Fred J. Hamill's "Bathing Girls" revue playing in Atlantic City, NJ. [3] She and Mr. Hamill were billed on Broadway at the American Music Hall in September 1909 [4] and at the Grand Opera House in October 1909. [5]
Feldman appeared in the 1910 Broadway show The Girl and the Kaiser, which led to her working as a chorus girl in La Belle Paree (1911) and Tortajada (1911). In 1912, Feldman was described as "ragging it" to the song Everybody's Doing It at Manhattan's Cafe Martin while working as a showgirl with the noted comedy team of Weber and Fields. [6] After appearing in a named role in High Jinks (1913–14), she had breakthrough success when cast as a principal in Ziegfeld Follies of 1914 as "The Spirit of the Tango." [7]
“I got into the Follies because that dear Flo Ziegfeld happened to see me when I was having lunch at the Hotel Claridge," Feldman recalled some years later. "He sent word to my table that he would like to see me in his office the next day, I went and he offered me $50 or $60 a week. I told him I would have to have $100. He seemed amazed, but he paid me." [8]
She had a comparatively long run as a Ziegfeld girl, appearing in Ziegfeld Follies of 1915, Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic 1915, Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 and Ziegfeld Follies of 1918. In 1919, she had a big role in The Gold Diggers (1919–1921) on Broadway. After many more shows, her last Broadway appearance was in Good Men and True (1935). [7]
Feldman had a brief career in silent movies, appearing in the films Shams of Society (1921) and West of the Water Tower (1923). [9]
Feldman appeared on the radio periodically. She is noted as reprising her role in a radio version of the play Counsellor-at-Law with Paul Muni in 1935. [10]
After her stage career ended, Feldman's major activity was serving as president of the Ziegfeld Club, an organization of alumnae of Ziegfeld musical shows from 1939 to 1965. “The Ziegfeld Club tries to help young actresses who are seeking success in the theater,” Feldman said in 1964. “Many of the Follies girls married well and are living in luxury, but many others need all the help that we can give. Some of Flo’s pets of other years would be lying in graves in Potter’s Field except for the efforts of the Ziegfeld Club." [11]
In 1907, Feldman married Fred J. Hamill, who brought her into show business as part of his "Bathing Girls" revue. Although the record lists her as 21 years old, she would have just turned 16. Hamill was 38 years old. [12] Hamill and Feldman are not mentioned in the press as a couple after 1909.
In 1918, Feldman, along with actresses Marjorie Rambeau and Gaby Deslys, was reportedly duped by a conman posing as "Marquis Edmond Rousselot de Castillo” of the French diplomatic service. Police referred to the bogus nobleman as "a devil with the ladies," with photographs of women “in loving attitudes," including one of Feldman, in his possession. [13]
Feldman married fellow actor Horace Braham in 1927; the couple remained married until his death in 1955. [14]
Feldman died in New York City on February 12, 1974. [14]
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.
Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the Ziegfeld Follies (1907–1931), inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris. He also produced the musical Show Boat. He was known as the "glorifier of the American girl". Ziegfeld is a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame.
Fania Borach, known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedian, illustrated song model, singer, and actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. She is known as the creator and star of the top-rated radio comedy series The Baby Snooks Show.
Virginia Bruce was an American actress and singer.
Ziegfeld Girls were the actresses, singers, chorus girls, showgirls and other female performers who appeared in Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the Ziegfeld Follies, produced in New York City. The revues were originally based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Ziegfeld girls also included female performers who participated in the Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic and the Ziegfeld 9 O'Clock Revue (1919-1920).
Doris Eaton Travis was an American dancer, stage and film actress, dance instructor, owner and manager, writer, and rancher, who was the last surviving Ziegfeld Girl, a troupe of acclaimed chorus girls who performed as members in the Broadway theatrical revues of the Ziegfeld Follies.
Anna Pennington was an American actress, dancer, and singer who starred on Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s, notably in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White's Scandals.
Blanche Ring was an American singer and actress in Broadway theatre productions, musicals, and Hollywood motion pictures. She was best known for her rendition of "In the Good Old Summer Time."
Blanche Mehaffey was an American showgirl and film actress.
Ziegfeld Girl is a 1941 American musical film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring James Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, Tony Martin, Jackie Cooper, Eve Arden, and Philip Dorn. The film, which features musical numbers by Busby Berkeley, was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Bee Palmer was an American singer, dancer, and showgirl who achieved fame during the Jazz Age as the "Shimmy Queen."
Lillian Lorraine was an American stage and screen actress of the 1910s and 1920s, and a prominent Ziegfeld Girl in the Broadway revues Ziegfeld Follies during the 1910s.
Annabelle Moore, also known as Peerless Annabelle, was an American dancer and actress who appeared in numerous early silent films. She was the original Gibson Girl in the 1907 Ziegfeld Follies.
Daisy Ann Peterkin, known by the stage name Mlle. Dazie, was an American vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies dancer at the turn of the 20th century. She was a toe-dancer.
Dorothy Deborah Wegman Raphaelson was an American dancer, Ziegfeld Girl, vaudeville performer, and novelist.
Joan Gardner was a Broadway actress and chorus girl in the early 20th century. She was known for being in the Ziegfeld Follies as a tall beauty standing at 5 feet 8 inches.
Hilda Ferguson was an American dancer and showgirl.
Vera K. Maxwell was an American actress, dancer, choreographer, and showgirl.
Norma Taylor was an American dancer and showgirl.
Emma Haig was an American dancer and actress known for her performance in Broadway musicals, including the Ziegfeld Follies.
