Florenz Ziegfeld

“Not only may she unconsciously register a favorable impression with my associates and me, but she may also suggest something by her work that will lead to some new and novel feature in a forthcoming production.”

“But it is only through constant, faithful endeavor by the girl herself that the goal eventually is reached.”

“Let us hope that for many it does mean the end of trouble so far as earning a livelihood is concerned, that it means happy and comfortable home living honestly earned. But there are other troubles ahead for her, and plenty of hard work.”

“Yes, there is plenty of hard work for them in addition to that which they do when they appear, smiling and happy, when the curtain goes up. Giving a performance is the least of their worries.”

“Beauty, of course, is the most important requirement and the paramount asset of the applicant.”

“How little the public realizes what a girl must go through before she finally appears before the spotlight that is thrown upon the stage.”

“Curtain! Fast music! Light! Ready for the last finale! Great! The show looks good, the show looks good!”

“To illustrate what I mean, an apt dancer may be in thorough unison with the others in that particular group, and at the same time reveal a difference in dancing temperament, rhythm or technique; she may phrase, accentuate or actually interpret differently.”

“And, I may add, from what totally unexpected sources come many of those who from the comparatively modest beginning in the chorus rise to the heights of really great achievement in the theatrical profession.”

“They all hope I will go broke and I wouldn't like to cause them displeasure.”

“It is the task of several months and it is a fact that a girl, either while rehearsing or actually playing, may be training for some character or feature in some future production not yet definitely fixed even in my own mind.”

“I don't have a very quick sense of humor.”

“Half of the great comedians I've had in my shows and that I paid a lot of money to and who made my customers shriek were not only not funny to me, but I couldn't understand why they were funny to anybody.”