Ziegfeld Girls

by Sarah Barthel

  “Stay by my side today, Jada,” Suzanne said again. “I need you to watch the dances so we can practice at home. I need to impress Ziegfeld.”

  “You will,” Jada assured her. “No one will expect you to be perfect right away. It takes time for everyone to learn new numbers, and you have to learn the Ziegfeld style on top of the dance steps.”

  Suzanne groaned. “I hadn’t thought of that.” Her pace slowed. “Jada, I can’t fail at this. I can’t give up like that other girl. We’ve come too far to go home. He can make me a star!”

  “Look, you aren’t some frail lady,” Jada said. She linked arms with Suzanne and pulled on Suzanne to walk faster. “You work hard. We will make sure you shine. Don’t worry about those weaker than you.”

  Suzanne stopped and looked at Jada. “Don’t you think those others had talent too? Mr. Ziegfeld chose them, the same as me. That girl in his office . . . you didn’t see her. She looked scared.”

  “Of what?” Jada’s forehead crinkled in confusion.

  “I don’t know.”

  Jada didn’t reply. Instead, she started walking again. Suzanne maintained the silence, but inwardly she was concerned. When Elton first became ill, Jada offered dozens of solutions for how to bring him out of his depression. She was always full of ideas. This silence was new. Suzanne knew that the adjustment to theater life had been hard. Not only had her parents died, but Suzanne was the one onstage and not her. A cloud had come over Jada lately, but Suzanne could do little to help. Every choice they made was needed. Once Suzanne was a celebrated Ziegfeld girl, Jada would see that it was worth it. But Suzanne missed the glint in Jada’s eyes. There must be something that would add to her excitement.

  She grinned as she realized the one thing she’d forgotten to tell Jada.

  “Bert Williams is performing in the Follies again.”

  Jada tripped over a bump in the curb. “Bert Williams, really?”

  Suzanne nodded. “His name is on all the advertisements.”

  “Do you think you’ll meet him?”

  “I would think so!” Suanne laughed, delighted with Jada’s excitement. “And if I do, I’m sure you will see him at the very least.”

  “I’ve seen others do his cakewalk, but never thought I’d see him do it. Is he performing with Leon Errol again? I wonder what he is like.” Jada practically bounced. “He is so talented. He’d have to be to headline the Follies.”

  “Especially since he’s a Negro,” Suzanne added. Instantly she knew she should have kept race out of the conversation. A bit of the joy melted off of Jada’s face. Suzanne tried to find a way to bring the conversation back to herself. “Perhaps I’ll get to dance with him.”

  “You onstage with him?” Jada shook her head. “That will never happen. You read the papers when they hired him. People nearly revolted. Putting you beauties on the stage with him would be scandalous.”

  “Oh, of course.” Suzanne turned down the back alley of the theater.

  Jada grabbed for the stage door and held it open. “Sometimes I don’t know where your head is.” She shook her head and grinned at Suzanne as they walked into the building.

  After some wrong turns they eventually found the dressing room. Each room was assigned to three or more girls. Suzanne and Jada walked down the hallway, looking at the various names written on chalkboards beside the doors. After passing two rooms, Jada motioned for Suzanne to stop. On a crooked slate it read: RUBY BOOTH, LILLIAN DARMIN, AND SUZANNE HASKINS. Suzanne reached up to straighten the slate. In The Dancing Duchess she had her own dressing room. She crossed her fingers and promised that by the time 1915 rolled around she would have star billing in the Follies.

  The door opened and revealed two of the prettiest girls Suzanne had ever seen. One had a long pink silk dressing gown tied loosely at the waist and falling off one shoulder to reveal a lace undershirt. The other wore practical bloomers and a crisp white linen skirt with a shawl draped over her shoulders. Both had pale, smooth skin and bright brown eyes. Suzanne thought of her own overly bleached bloomers and plain jersey top and felt very plain next to Ruby and Lillian. Why waste clean garments on sweaty hours in a dirty rehearsal room?

  “You must be Suzanne!” the girl at the door cried. Her perfectly curled hair bounced as she spoke. It was her pale skin that made her so luminous. It made Suzanne instantly regret the few freckles she had. The girl held out her hand. “I’m Ruby. This is Lillian.”

  Lillian pulled her robe on tighter and turned toward Suzanne, a raised eyebrow wrinkling her forehead. “You brought a servant?”

  “Is she European? She looks Spanish.” Ruby gushed and gestured for them to enter the room.

  The room itself was not large, but it was designed with the girls in mind. Along the long wall was a row of vanities and large mirrors and bright lights. On one end was a wide wardrobe that Suzanne assumed they were all to share. Lillian’s vanity already had various photographs of stars tucked into the mirror frame, while Ruby’s table was covered with a purple shawl and had a vase of yellow roses. Suzanne’s area was bleach white, waiting for her to put her own personality into it.

  “Jada is a treasure,” Suzanne replied vaguely.

  Ruby took Suzanne’s word as confirmation and nearly jumped up and down with excitement. “That’s wonderful! I tried to find immigrant help, but all we have is a black girl at home. I couldn’t bring her. We must keep up with the trends, you know. Where ever did you find her?”

  “I am just one of the lucky ones. Isn’t she lovely?” Behind her, Jada stuttered as if about to speak, but said nothing. Suzanne refused to feel guilty. They had discussed this. Any deception was worth it if it added to Suzanne’s stature.

  Ruby moved a pile of shirts so Jada could put the bag down and start unpacking. “I just love her skin. I wish mine tanned like that.”

  “You have perfect, porcelain skin. Don’t let some fad make you question your beauty.” Lillian’s voice was filled with passion.

  Suzanne cleared her throat as Jada adjusted her stance. Neither was prepared for the animosity in the girl’s words. Jada hung Suzanne’s rehearsal attire on a hanger and set to unpacking the few containers they brought for her to use at the theater. Powder, lavender water, and her good-luck brush didn’t personalize her space like she hoped it would. She and Jada would have to find something to make her space special, but that was for another day.

  Ruby nudged her friend. “Stop that, Lillian. Because of Suzanne’s girl, we won’t have to clean up now. It’s perfect. We’ll be first to rehearsal! Thanks, Suzanne!” She grabbed Lillian’s arm and the two hurried down the hall to rehearsal. Lillian glanced at them briefly over her shoulder, but followed her friend.

  “Clean the room?” Jada repeated once they were out of earshot.

  Both girls looked around the small dressing room. There were garments and powders scattered across all the counter and tables.

  “I’m sorry, Jada. You can come to rehearsal after lunch. I’ll be sure to come down and get you. I promise.” Suzanne moved a pile of chemise so she could apply some rouge to her lips. “It will just be introduction instructions and such.”

  “Of course.” Jada’s face was unreadable. “Do you want me to use an accent?”

  Suzanne flinched. “I don’t know. No, of course not. We’ll figure it out.”

  The two stood in silence for a moment. Both knew there was more to say, but since Jada didn’t say anything else, Suzanne didn’t know how to start the conversation. Instead, she cleared off the remaining chair and table by the mirror and started to hang Suzanne’s clothes. Suzanne let her work in silence as she quickly stepped out of her day gown and stepped into the short petticoat she wore for rehearsals. A soft linen shirt completed her look. She leaned over to tuck any loose strands of hair back off her face.

  “I think I’m ready, Jada,” she declared.

  Jada looked up for the line of glass jars she was pulling out of the bag and said, “Knock ’em dead.”

  “
Thanks!” Suzanne hugged her friend before rushing out into the hallway and up to the stage, leaving Jada to clean up whatever mess was lurking in the dressing room.

  * * *

  The stage was positively abuzz with excitement. Dozens of young women were standing in groups of three and four, stretching and leaning in close for the best gossip. A few of them glanced at Suzanne, but none came to speak to her. Suzanne kept her head high, she knew what to expect as the new girl. Soon they would all be laughing together. And, if she made it to next year’s Follies, she would be able to look down and laugh at whatever new talent was brought in as well.

  She pretended to adjust her chemise as she looked for an empty spot to warm up. At the far left corner at the very front of the stage was a large, empty section. Suzanne made a beeline for it, quickly sat, and began her stretches. The walk to the theater was enough of a warm-up. If she was lucky, she would have time for a lengthy stretch before the day’s activities began. She opened her legs as far as they would go and leaned forward. She was so close to doing splits that she could nearly roll forward and lay flat on the ground. One girl close to her gasped. Suzanne smiled to herself. Had she managed to truly impress someone?

  “Hello there.”

  Suzanne looked up into the long dark curls of Ann Pennington herself. The woman was even more beautiful than her photos. Her hair sat in a low ponytail down her back, and her big brown eyes were rounder than any Suzanne had seen. From the corner of her eye, she could see other girls watching to see what would happen. Had she somehow made a faux pas on her first hour?

  “Hello,” Suzanne replied. She rolled into a sitting position and brought her legs together.

  Ann sat down across from her and tilted so her back was to the other girls. “You are new?”

  Suzanne nodded. “Mr. Ziegfeld saw me in The Dancing Duchess. It closed last week.” Suzanne forced a bit of laughter. “But for two weeks, I was a headliner.”

  “Isn’t that the worst?” Ann leaned over her legs and grabbed her toes. She was so short, it was like warming up next to a child. “At least the performance got you his attention.”

  Lillian and Ruby appeared beside Suzanne. “Can we warm up with you?” Lillian asked.

  Suzanne was about to respond when Ann waved at them dismissively. “I would prefer to get to know Suzanne alone.”

  “Oh, of course,” Ruby said, then pulled on Lillian’s arm.

  “You do like the pretty girls, don’t you, Ann?” Lillian replied before letting Ruby pull her away.

  “Ugh, those girls!” Ann whispered to herself.

  “I share a dressing room with them.” Suzanne held her elbow to her chest to stretch her arm.

  Ann snickered. “They are such ninnies. They started last year same as me and have been trying to get in my good graces after they poured ink on my gown at the opening night party. Lillian swears it was an accident, but I overheard her later telling Leon how clumsy I was and shouldn’t she take over my number in case I embarrass myself.”

  “Oh my,” Suzanne swallowed. “That is horrible.”

  “It is childish.” Ann sighed. She leaned in as if to tell a secret. “Flo himself told me to look for the new girl with shiny golden hair. He thinks you are quite unique.”

  All strength fell from Suzanne’s arms and they flopped down to her sides like lumps of lead. “What? He thinks I’m . . . what?”

  “Special.” Ann clarified. “Come now, Suzanne. You wouldn’t be here if he didn’t see something in you. In me he saw beauty and lust, in Fanny Brice he saw hysterical talent, in Lillian Lorraine he saw sex appeal, and in you . . . I’m not sure what he saw. But he saw it.” Ann winked.

  Suzanne glanced over at Lillian and Ruby, who were talking quietly a few steps away. Lillian met her eyes and the smile she plastered to her face was all too obviously fake. Suzanne steeled herself to a difficult discussion later.

  “What is your talent?” Ann asked.

  “Well, I was known for my tango performance when I was on the circuit; however, when Mr. Ziegfeld saw me, I was dancing and singing. I didn’t ask what caught his eye.” Suzanne laughed. “Though that might have been good information to have.”

  Ann laughed. She spread her legs wide and held out her hands for Suzanne to take them. They matched their legs and Suzanne pulled gently back on Ann’s arms, giving her a deeper stretch.

  “You have excellent turnout,” Ann observed.

  Suzanne shrugged. “I’ve always been flexible.”

  “That might be what Flo noticed,” Ann muttered. “Why the tango? With that blond hair, you hardly look Spanish.”

  Ann leaned back, pulling Suzanne forward in a deep stretch. Her legs burned so much that Suzanne had to focus on her breathing. When Ann stopped pulling on her arms, Suzanne let her grip go and stood up, rolling her shoulders and shaking her legs. “We needed an act and it was a dance I performed well. It just happened.” Suzanne prayed Ann didn’t ask more questions. She didn’t want to go into what lead her to vaudeville or the countless nights they went without food because of the decision. To this day, Suzanne prayed never to have to eat beans again.

  Luckily, just then a thin, balding man walked into the auditorium, down the aisle, and up onto the stage.

  “Good day, ladies!” he said. “For those who don’t know me, I am Leon Errol, your director. For those who I’ve worked with before, welcome back.”

  There was a general muttering of greetings and comments about the previous year’s schedule.

  “I want to address the elephant in the room before more gossip spreads. As many of you already know, Bert Williams is back this year, and he has the good fortune to be onstage with some of you lovely ladies this year—”

  “That is indecent!” a raven-haired girl in the back cried out. Soon the stage was abuzz with complaints and cheers regarding Bert Williams.

  Ann leaned over to Suzanne. “Bert is the kindest man you’d know. Lord knows only a man’s skin color can make a woman fear for her virtue so drastically.”

  Another girl stood up and stomped her foot. “You can’t be serious, Leon. I won’t risk my safety for this job. I won’t do it.”

  Leon frowned. “Now, Mary, we went through this two years ago. As Flo said, Bert is irreplaceable, you are not.”

  That threw the room into a wave of whispers.

  “That isn’t fair!” Mary exclaimed.

  Suzanne rolled her eyes at the commotion. “Mr. Ziegfeld can make any girl a graceful beauty. From what my girl tells me, talent like Bert Williams can’t be taught.”

  The girls around her had grown silent and her words carried throughout the auditorium. She had meant her supportive words for Ann’s ears only. Suzanne met the accusatory stares from some of the girls. Whether she wanted it or not, her stance had been chosen on the subject.

  Mr. Errol looked approvingly at Suzanne. “That is exactly what Flo said to the few girls who already demanded Bert’s removal. If you look around you’ll see more than a few new faces. I suggest any of you who have a problem performing with talent like Bert’s to think seriously before complaining again.”

  While others frittered about Leon’s threat, Suzanne breathed a sigh of relief. This was why so many girls left: Bert Williams.

  Next to her, Ann grinned. “Bert is really doing it,” she whispered.

  “What?” Suzanne asked.

  “He is changing the game for colored folk. And he is doing it single-handedly.” The pride on her face for her friend was contagious.

  “Will you introduce me?” Suzanne asked before she could think about it.

  “Of course!” Ann replied.

  “And, could I . . .” Suzanne stopped herself. She barely knew Ann. She couldn’t ask if she could bring Jada to meet him as well. It felt too forward.

  Ann laughed knowingly. Suzanne gave her a quizzical look. Ann didn’t know about Jada, what did she think Suzanne wanted from her?

  “Let’s see how you dance. If you have the right qualiti
es, I’ll get you in a number with him. These ninnies don’t know it, but those girls onstage with him are going to be making history!”

  Suzanne’s stomach flopped. Onstage with Bert Williams. Fear and excitement battled for attention. If she got in that number she would be able to introduce Jada to Bert for sure. More than anything else, she wanted to make Jada’s dream come true. In the end, all she could say was, “Thank you.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Whatever Ruby and Lillian did before performing, it clearly did not involve cleaning. Jada jammed the last of the dressing gowns into the closet and slammed the door. It was as if they just opened their bags and dropped everything out without a thought as to what was what or where it should go. Everything might not be in the right place, but at least the clothes were all hung and the bottles were all cleaned and aligned in some order.

  She perched on a chair and listened for some hint of what was happening upstairs. It was quiet.

  Ruby’s bottles were all made of pink glass. They sat in a line on the vanity. Jada stared at them. How could that silly girl think she was Spanish? She rubbed a smudge off one of the bottles. It moved and a small piece of paper stuck out underneath.

  Slobs, Jada thought to herself. She pulled the paper out. It was a small card, perhaps a calling card or one that would accompany a flower delivery. Jada rolled her eyes. These girls must have dozens of suitors. Knowing who was courting these girls would help Suzanne steer clear of trouble. She unfolded it and read: Don’t think I’ve forgotten. Leave the Follies before it’s too late.

  Jada’s stomach lurched as she read the threat neatly scrawled on the pretty paper with a floral design. What had Ruby done? She threw the card in the trash and set the bottles to right. Suzanne didn’t need to discover that and let it get into her head.

  She refused to stay in this room and wait for them to return. Her curiosity about what was happening onstage was too much. She had to know what these girls were like. Suzanne had promised—no, begged for Jada to watch rehearsal, and that was what Jada was going to do.