ziegfeldfollies

Bert Williams, 1874-1922 "Egbert "Bert" Austin Williams was one of the greatest entertainers in America's history. Born in the Bahamas on November 12, 1874, he came to the United States permanently in 1885. "Williams met George Walker in San Francisco in 1893 and the two formed what became the most successful comedy team of their time. After appearing on Broadway in Victor Herbert's The Gold Bug (1896), Williams and Walker created pioneering vaudeville shows and full musical theater productions, including Senegambian Carnival (1897), The Policy Players (1899), The Sons of Ham (1900), their biggest hit, In Dahomey (1902)--which also played in London the following year, Abyssinia (1906), and Bandana Land (1907). "When Walker retired in 1908 due to illness, Williams starred in Mr. Load of Koal (1909)--the last black musical on Broadway for more than ten years. Unable to continue producing shows without Walker, Williams signed on with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1910--the only black performer in this famous review. He explained this controversial move saying, "... colored show business is at a low ebb just now ... it was far better to have joined a large white show than to have starred in a colored show, considering conditions." Williams stayed with the Follies through 1919, after which he appeared with Eddie Cantor in Broadway Brevities (1920) and Under the Bamboo Tree (1921-22). While on tour with the latter show, his failing health caught up with him and he contracted pneumonia. Williams died in New York City on March 4, 1922. "Williams was also one of the most prolific black performers on recordings, making around 80 recordings from 1901-22. Indeed, his first recording sessions with George Walker for the Victor Company in 1901 are considered the first recordings by black performers for a major recording company. Williams signed with Columbia in 1906 and the majority of his recordings were with that company, including what became his signature number, "Nobody," with words written by Alex Rogers." –From BIOGRAPHIES • Selected Works at the Library of Congress. This publicity still portrait was reportedly taken on January 01, 1920. There is a licensed companion photograph which appears to have been taken at the same time here. To look at some of Bert Williams' notated sheet music from the Ziegfeld Follies or to hear selected audio recordings, including his signature "Nobody", at the Library of Congress click here.

I think the Getty dates are often rough guesses.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Williams

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Looks to me like a posed piece, in which she is "dressed as a fancy maid". Cooking on a fairly new (?) gas stove, I think. Her careful cosmetics are inconsistent with a true maid's role. Go to Wikipedia first! She was an actress. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Thomas Her career was a short one, apparently, until she died of poisoning, a supposed accident and major scandal.

Isn't she stunning !!!

Margaret Morris (1888-1966) was a dancer and performed in numerous Ziegfeld Follies productions beginning in 1910. Family members said she was discovered by Florence Ziegfeld dancing on a New York City street corner. She performed in both the Follies of 1912, 1913 and 1920 and in Ziegfield's famed Midnight Frolic atop the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1915 and 1920. Margaret also performed in Ziegfeld's musicals "Miss 1917" and "The Century Girl" in 1917. Margaret was in at least one silent movie, "The Gypsys". In later years she worked in wardrobe on Broadway and was a long time member of the Ziegfeld Club. – Compiled  [1] [2] [3] Not to be confused with Margaret Morris (1891-1980) a British dancer. [4]

A similar photo ran in the Evening star. [volume], November 14, 1920, Image 87 with the caption: "Miss Margaret Morris, member of the Ziegfeld Follies, returns from Paris wearing the the very latest fashion creations from Jeanne." chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1920-11-14/ed-...

Thanks, PW and B-59!

B-59, I think it's always THE BEST when a (Bain) photo is identified as to why it was in the news at the particular time! Nicely done.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Laurell www.imdb.com/name/nm0491042/

In 1915, she was in the Ziegfeld Follies. See NYT of June 20, 1915 select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F14F6395B1773...

Infrogmation and swanq: Thanks for the additional details about Kay Laurell. We will add more about her to the record.

see also