The Follies of 1907: History and Key Facts

The Follies of 1907 is a 1907 musical revue which was conceived and produced by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. The first of two dozen theatrical revues that are collectively known as the Ziegfeld Follies, the work featured material written by a variety of individuals, including music by Seymour Furth, E. Ray Goetz, Gus Edwards, Billy Gaston, Jean Schwartz, Silvio Hein, Matt Woodward and Gertrude Hoffman; lyrics by Vincent Bryan, Edgar Selden, Will D. Cobb, Billy Gaston, William Jerome, Matt Woodward, Martin Brown and Paul West; and comic and dramatic sketches by Harry B. Smith used in-between and around the musical numbers; Smith also served as head lyricist. Herbert Gresham staged the production, and Max Hoffman, Sr. served as the musical director.

The Follies of 1907 premiered at the Savoy Theatre in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 3, 1907, for tryout performances prior to its presentation on Broadway. The revue premiered on Broadway at the Olympia Theatre on July 8, 1907. For these performances the Olympia Theatre was renamed the Jardin de Paris, after the Parisian theatre that housed the Moulin Rouge, a reflection of the Follies pulling inspiration from the Paris stage. It ran until November 10, 1907, transferring to two other theatres, and playing for 79 performances. The production included entertainers from vaudeville, such as singer Emma Carus, actresses Grace La Rue and Lillian Lee, actor Charley Ross, comediennes Florence Tempest and Harry Watson Jr., dancer Mademoiselle Dazie, and the troupe of chorus girls from Anna Held's touring company, among others.

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