A study of the iconographic significance of the Ziegfeld girl in twentieth-century American conceptions of sexuality, race, class, and consumerism.

New York City, 1914. Suzanne and Jada. Entwined as sisters. Talented and resourceful. Black and white. Wealthy employer and devoted maid. Together, they realize Suzanne’s dream to see her name in lights on Broadway as she becomes the dazzling Ziegfeld Follies’ rising new star. But Jada’s superb voice and dance skills give her an unexpected shot at her own success—and her own life. And when a jealous Suzanne reveals a shattering secret, their friendship becomes a bitter rivalry. Floundering without Jada, Suzanne consoles herself with dashing suitors and champagne nights. Jada transforms into Harlem’s hottest nightclub sensation, complete with financial security and a promising new beau. But when Suzanne is plagued with increasingly dangerous “accidents,” and both women receive threatening notes, they discover just how cold and hard staying on top can be. Now in the face of relentless racism and vicious obsession, Suzanne and Jada make an uneasy alliance to find out the truth. And with the Follies’ lavish world in peril and their careers on the line, their pursuit of love, success, and equality could cost more than they ever dreamed. Set against a glittering background of vintage glamour, famous figures of the time and high-stakes, Ziegfeld Girls is an unforgettable novel of two extraordinary women seizing their own fates in a pivotal era. Praise for Sarah Barthel’s House of Silence “Barthel debuts with an original take on historical events and personages. Suspense blends with history. . . . Haunting and thought-provoking.” --RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars “An engaging, fast-paced blend of historical fiction and suspense.” –Shelf Awareness

This book contains 19 colorable images in gray scale of the women who were part of the Ziegfeld Follies. There is also some history about the women and the Ziegfeld Follies.

11 dolls model 30 costumes worn in lavish musical extravaganzas. Figures of Anna Held, Helen Morgan, Billie Burke, Marilyn Miller, and other stars.

"Thousands of nude photos of Jazz-era women were found in boxes marked "private" on the estate of former Ziegfeld Follies photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston after his death in 1971. Johnston had photographed many of the era's brightest stars and most beautiful women, but who were these unknowns sometimes posed in little more than a string of pearls or flash of lace?" "Compiled here for the first time are more than 200 publicity stills and photos of America's first "it" girls, as well as the "secret" nudes discovered on Johnston's estate after his death. The images do most of the talking, but also included are some of the stories behind these silent-film era starlets and the sometimes high prices they paid for being the first generation of women to reject the roles laid down before them." "Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston also paid a price for the commercial applications of his art. This book offers insight into Johnston's own Jazz Age mystery, as well as into his unique and cutting-edge photography techniques. It also pays tribute to a man whose artistry extends beyond the Follies and who deserves a place among the stars himself."--BOOK JACKET.

 Mary Nolan (1905-1948), also known as Imogene "Bubbles" Wilson, was the subject of two infamous court cases--one with Frank Tinney and the other with Eddie Mannix--in the 1920s. Like many Ziegfeld Follies girls, she had the beginnings of a promising career, but by the 1930s it had been destroyed by adultery, drugs and physical abuse. This biography follows Nolan's life from the backwoods of Kentucky to her death in 1948. Included is a series of newspaper articles published in 1941 that were to be expanded into her memoir, which she was unable to complete before her death.

In this definitive biography, Cynthia Brideson and Sara Brideson offer a comprehensive look at both the life and legacy of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Drawing on a wide range of sources, they provide a lively and well-rounded account of Ziegfeld as a father, a husband, a son, a friend, a lover, and an alternately ruthless and benevolent employer. Lavishly illustrated, this is an intimate and in-depth portrait of a figure who profoundly changed American entertainment.

"This biography recounts the early life of this superstar as well as her coronation on Broadway, her work in silent film, and her sexual liaisons. It also covers her eventual disappearance from public life, her alcoholism and her death, which went largely unnoticed. The book includes first-hand personal anecdotes and observations from recently discovered tapes"--Provided by publisher.

The Ziegfeld Follies, Florenz Ziegfeld's stage spectaculars, promised the best performers, the most lavish sets, and the most ravishing girls. Doris Eaton Travis was one of these prized beauties–and, at 14, was chosen as the youngest chorus girl in the Follies. "Mine eyes are yet dim with the luminous beauty of a girl named Doris," one Chicago reviewer wrote. Doris Eaton Travis was the last living Ziegfeld girl. In her 106 years, she performed for presidents and princesses, entertained Gershwin, Lindbergh, and Astaire, starred in silent and talking pictures, bantered with Babe Ruth, offended Henry Ford, outlived six siblings, written a newspaper column, hosted a television show, earned a Phi Beta Kappa degree in history, raised turkeys, and raced horses. In 2010, she performed on Broadway, returned home to Detroit and two weeks later peacefully passed away. Century Girl is a visual tour of this extraordinary woman's journey through life.

This informative two-volume set provides readers with an understanding of the fads and crazes that have taken America by storm from colonial times to the present. Entries cover a range of topics, including food, entertainment, fashion, music, and language. Why could hula hoops and TV westerns only have been found in every household in the 1950s? What murdered Russian princess can be seen in one of the first documented selfies, taken in 1914? This book answers those questions and more in its documentation of all of the most captivating trends that have defined American popular culture since before the country began. Entries are well-researched and alphabetized by decade. At the start of every section is an insightful historical overview of the decade, and the set uniquely illustrates what today's readers have in common with the past. It also contains a Glossary of Slang for each decade as well as a bibliography, plus suggestions for further reading for each entry. Students and readers interested in history will enjoy discovering trends through the years in such areas as fashion, movies, music, and sports.