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

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.

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

"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.

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

 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.

"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.