ZIEGFELD FOLLIES

April 8, 1946

Directors: Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth. Vincente Minnelli, George Sidney, 
Norman Taurog, Charles Walters. Robert Lewis
Producer: Arthur Freed for Metro Goldwyn Mayer

The shooting schedule ran between April 10 and August 18, 1944, with retakes plus additional segments filmed on December 22, 1944 and then between January 25 and February 6, 1945. The film was first proposed in 1939. 

Synopsis ~ We meet a grayed, immaculately garbed Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. in Paradise (his diary entry reads “Another heavenly day”), where he looks down upon the world and muses over the sort of show he’d be putting on were he still alive.

PRINCIPAL CAST

Lucille Ball (‘Here’s to the Ladies’) is appearing in her 64th film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. 

Fred Astaire (‘Here’s to the Ladies’ / Raffles in ‘This Heart of Mine’ / Tai Long in ‘Limehouse Blues’ / Gentleman in ‘The Babbit and the Bromide’) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Roberta (1935), Top Hat (1935), and Follow the Fleet (1936). His name was mentioned twice on “I Love Lucy.”

Lucille Bremer (Princess in ‘This Heart of Mine’ / Moy Ling in ‘Limehouse Blues’) 

Fanny Brice (Norma Edelman in ‘A Sweepstakes Ticket’) appeared in the original stage version of many editions of The Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.

Judy Garland (The Star in ‘A Great Lady Has An Interview’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943). 

Kathryn Grayson (Kathryn Grayson in ‘Beauty’)

also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943).

Lena Horne (Lena Horne in ‘Love’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943).

Gene Kelly (Gentleman in ‘The Babbit and the Bromide’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943),  Du Barry Was A Lady (1943), and A Guide for the Married Man (1967). He made an appearance on the Lucille Ball special “Lucy Moves to NBC” (1980).  

James Melton (Alfredo in ‘La Traviata’)

Victor Moore (Lawyer’s Client in ‘Pay the Two Dollars’)

Red Skelton (J. Newton Numbskull in ‘When Television Comes’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Having Wonderful Time (1938), Thousands Cheer (1943),  Du Barry Was A Lady (1943), and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950).  On TV he appeared on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in “Lucy Goes To Alaska” (1958). Ball and Skelton appeared in numerous TV specials together. 

Esther Williams (Esther Williams in ‘A Water Ballet’) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Easy To Wed (1946). 

William Powell (Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.) also played the same character in The Great Ziegfeld (1936). 

Edward Arnold (Lawyer in ‘Pay the Two Dollars’) appeared with Lucille Ball in Roman Scandals (1933) and Ellis in Freedomland (1952).

Marion Bell (Violetta in ‘La Traviata’)

Cyd Charisse (Ballerina in ‘Beauty’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943).

Hume Cronyn (Monty in ‘A Sweepstakes Ticket’) was honored by The Kennedy Center in 1986, at the same ceremony as Lucille Ball. 

William Frawley (Martin in ‘A Sweepstakes Ticket’) played the role of Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”. He also appeared on “The Lucy Show,” his final screen appearance. 

Robert Lewis (Chinese Gentleman in ‘Limehouse Blues’ / Telephone Voice in ‘Number Please’)

Virginia O’Brien (Virginia O’Brien in ‘Here’s to the Ladies’) also starred with Lucille Ball in Thousands Cheer (1943),  Du Barry Was A Lady (1943), and Meet The People (1944). 

Keenan Wynn (Caller in ‘Number Please’) appeared with Lucille Ball in Easy To Wed (1946), Without Love (1945), and The Long, Long Trailer (1954). 

SUPPORTING CAST

Ziegfeld Girls

• Karin Booth  
• Lucille Casey  
• Aina Constant  
• Elizabeth Dailey  
• Frances Donelan  
• Natalie Draper  
• Karen X. Gaylord  
• Aileen Haley  
• Carol Haney  
• Shirlee Howard  
• Margaret Laurence  
• Helen O’Hara  
• Noreen Roth  
• Elaine Shepard  
• Kay Thompson  
• Dorothy Tuttle  
• Dorothy Van Nuys  
• Eve Whitney – appeared on “I Love Lucy” episode “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15).

Dancers

• Gloria Joy
  Arden
• Jean Ashton  
• Irene Austin  
• Judi Blacque  
• Bonnie Barlowe  
• Norman Borine  
• Hazel Brooks  
• Ed Brown  
• Kathleen Cartmill  
• Jack Cavan  
• Marilyn Christine  
• Laura Corbay  
• Rita Dunn  
• Meredyth Durrell  
• Shawn Ferguson  
• Jeanne Francis  
• Jean French  
• Mary Jane French  
• David Gray  
• Bill Hawley  
• Doreen Hayward  
• Charlotte Hunter  
• Virginia Hunter  
• Patricia Jackson
• Margaret Kays  
• Laura Knight  
• Laura Lane  
• Dale Lefler  
• Melvin Martin  
• Diane Meredith  
• Lorraine Miller  
• Joyce Murray  
• Janet
  Nevis  
• Ray Nyles  
• Billy O’Shay  
• Jane Ray  
• Dorothy Raye  
• Beth Renner
• Melba Snowden  
• Walter Stane  
• Ivon Starr  
• Robert Trout  

Chorus Boys

• Rod Alexander
• Milton Chisholm  
• Dick D’Arcy  
• Dante DiPaolo  
• Don Hulbert  
• Herb Lurie  
• Matt Mattox  
• Bert May – appeared on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford”
• Jack Purcell  
• Tommy Rall  
• Ricky Ricardi (!)
• Alex Romero

“LIMEHOUSE BLUES” starring Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer, and Robert Lewis

• Robert Ames (Masked Man)  
• James Barron (Couple with Banners)  
• Eleanor Bayley (Couple with
  Branches)  
• Mary Jo Ellis (Couple with Banners)  
• Sean Francis (Ensemble)  
• James King (Rooster)  
• Harriet Lee (Bar Singer) 
• Eugene Loring (Costermonger)  
• Charles Lunard (Masked Man)  
• Patricia Lynn (Ensemble)  
• Ruth Merman (Ensemble)  
• Garry Owen (1st Subway Policeman)  
• Ellen Ray (Couple with
  Parasols)  
• Jack Regas (Masked Man)  
• Billy Shead (Couple with Parasols)  
• Ronald Stanton (Couple with Branches)  
• Wanda Stevenson (Ensemble)  
• Ray Teal (2nd Subway Policeman)  

“LOVE” starring Lena Horne

• Juliette Ball (Club Patron)   
• Lennie Bluett (Dancer)   
• Suzette Harbin (Flirt)   
• Avanelle Harris (Club Patron)  
• Maggie Hathaway (Dancer)  
• Charles
  Hawkins (Club Patron)  
• Marie Bryant (Woman Getting Her Man Taken)   
• Cleo Herndon (Dancer)   

“THIS HEART OF MINE” starring Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer

• Helen Boyce (Countess)   
• Feodor Chaliapin Jr. (Lieutenant)
• Naomi Childers (Duchess)
• Charles Coleman (Majordomo)   
• Sam Flint (Majordomo’s Assistant)
• Sidney Gordon (Masked Man)   
• Count Stefenelli (Count)   
• Robert Wayne (Dyseptic)   

“PAY THE TWO DOLLARS”  starring Edward Arnold and Victor Moore

• William
  Bailey (Subway Passenger)
• Joseph Crehan (1st Judge) – played a Detective on “I Love Lucy” “The Great Train Robbery”
• William
  B. Davidson (2nd Judge)
• Eddie Dunn (3rd Subway Policeman)   
• Harry Hayden (Warden)   
• George Hill (2nd Subway Policeman)   
• Wilbur Mack (Subway Passenger)   
• Larry Steers (Magistrate)

“NUMBER PLEASE” starring Keenan Wynn

• Peter Lawford (Voice of Porky)
• Grady Sutton (Texan)
• Audrey Totter (Phone Operator Voice)
• Kay Williams (Girl)

OTHERS

• Bunin’s Puppets
• Elise Cavanna (Tall Woman)
• Jack Deery (Man)

• Rex Evans (Butler in “A Great Lady Has An Interview”)

• Sam Garrett (Roping / Twirling Act)
• Silver (Horse in "Here’s to the Ladies’) 
• Arthur Walsh (Telegraph Boy in "A Sweepstakes Ticket”) – appeared on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined” (ILL S3;E11). 

‘FOLLIES’ TRIVIA

Sidney
Guilaroff, Lucille Ball’s hair dresser, who takes responsibility for her
famous ‘golden red’ for this movie, becoming her trademark color.

Although they appear in different segments, this is the only feature film collaboration between “I Love Lucy co-stars" Lucille Ball and William Frawley. Coincidently, Frawley’s character in this film shares a striking similarity with his iconic character of Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy.” In this film he plays a money-hungry curmudgeon of a landlord, much like the show. In the above photo, he appears with director Minnelli and co-star Brice. 

The horse ridden by Lucille Ball is the Lone Ranger’s Silver!

Lucille Ball was actually fired by Ziegfeld from his road company production of Rio Rita in the 1930s.

In February 1956, Lucy and Desi appeared on “MGM Parade” to promote their MGM film Forever Darling. The show also included footage of Lena Horne singing from Ziegfeld Follies. 

Lucy also played a showgirl in pink in “Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (ILL S4;E19) aired on February 21, 1955. The scene was inspired by Ziegfeld’s legendary stage shows featuring beautiful women wearing elaborate costumes navigating long staircases. To solidify the comparison, Ricky says he is going to a meeting with Mr. Minnelli. Vincente Minnelli was one of the directors of Ziegfeld Follies. 

Lucy Ricardo had previously cavorted around in a lampshade in the manner of a Ziegfeld girl in both the unaired pilot and “The Audition” (S1;E6).

Ziegfeld Follies includes a sketch for Red Skelton called “When Television Comes” aka “Guzzler’s Gin” in which a (future) television spokesman gets increasingly sloshed on his product. This sketch was an obvious influence on Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin routine in “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (ILL S1;E30) aired on May 5, 1952. 

Ziegfeld Girl Eve Whitney appeared on “I Love Lucy” episode “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15). She used her own name for the character.  

The Telegraph Boy in “A Sweepstakes Ticket" Arthur Walsh

– appeared on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined” (ILL S3;E11) as Arthur ‘King Cat’ Walsh. He teaches Lucy how to jitterbug. 

The first Judge in the “Pay the Two Dollars” James Crehan also played the Police Detective on “I Love Lucy in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5) first aired on October 31, 1955.

Porky, a voice on the telephone in “Number Please” Peter Lawford, played “Password” against Lucille Ball on September 24, 1964.  At the time, Lawford was married to President Kennedy’s sister, Patricia. On November 26, 1968, Ball was a guest on “The Tonight Show” when Peter Lawford was sitting in for Johnny Carson.

Chorus Boy Bert May appeared as a solo dancer on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford” (TLS S5;E21) in February 1967. 

In the dressing room, Lucy jokes with Fanny Brice, one of the funniest women in showbusiness.  This was the only time Ball and Brice collaborated and was Brice’s last film. 

Ziegfeld’s follies began on Broadway, so it was appropriate that the show featured past and future Broadway musical stars:

• Lucille Ball ~ Wildcat (1960)
• Carol Haney ~ The Pajama Game (1954)
• Tommy Rall ~ Call Me Madame (1950)
• Fanny Brice ~ The Ziegfeld Follies 
• Marion Bell ~ Brigadoon (1947)
• Victor Moore ~ Anything Goes (1934)

There was a lot of material that was not filmed, but written and cast. Some of the original skits would have added “Lucy” performers Mickey Rooney, Ann Sothern, and Van Johnson to the cast.