How Did Ziegfeld Influence American Theatre

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Broadway in America and theatre abroad was greatly influenced by the works of Florenz Ziegfeld and his new look on entertainment in theatre. Flo was a great proponent of the “glorification of the american girl” setting the “standard of the time for female sexuality”. (Kantor) In the nearly two dozen variations on the theme between 1907 and 1931 he set forth refined ideas of what makes a female beautiful, and how to make them as beautiful as they could be. This era of middle-class american entertainment was what made the Ziegfeld Follies a memorable history and influence on theatre abroad that is still present in theatre today. Towards the turn of the 20th Century, theatre of Paris began to be influenced by the thriving scene of variety-entertainment …show more content…

We discussed the variety shows in very little detail and minstrelsy that followed but the influence of his success in the American theatre circuit, being the most successful producer of this style of theatre, is a very valid reason that he should not be glossed over by our syllabus. The years that people would flock to the theatre to see his girls dance, sing, and walk on and off stage in elaborate costumes surrounded by beautiful elaborate sets with the best of the best being presented before them. The influence he has had on the entertainment industry is still seen today especially in Las Vegas style shows the expense and abundance of possession and wealth shown to the middle-class audience that only dreams of being of that status. While the influence of taste was a big part of Florenz Ziegfelds legacy he also is known as helping to stir the pot for creating the first musical comedy. Wherein his acts were composed of Music, Dancers, and comedy acts all melded together into one artistic vision matching “ his color to his music and his comedy to his spectacle. No one knew how he accomplished it”— Billie Burke Ziegfeld 1948. The musical comedy of course, in my opinion, is one of the most well received theatrical pieces of art in the modern age, always striving technically to be bigger and brighter than the

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