New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-07
MYSTERIES OF THE CHORUS
Revealed by Flo Ziegfed, Jr., and Ned Wayburn the
Worlds Authorities.

ambition, flock TO the New Amsterdam
roof in hopes of being designated as
the elite
Into this chattering company enters
the omnipotent Mr. Ziegfeld, and with
his practised eye he sorts out the chat
and the wheat, the sheep and the
goats, the dross and the gold. Do not
think that the profile made famous by
Harris on Fisher is what gets over with
Mr.. Ziegfeld. That is not his idea of
chorus beauty. Hear the great au-
thority explain in his own words how
he decides the destinies Of the palpi-
Eating 750:
personality is what look for. Per
sonality is the big item in a chorus
girl. Personal magnetism. that in
tangible and indefnable something
which sets one girl apart from an
other that is what ] try to get. I
rate Personality as tho big first requi-
site, looks the second, figure the third.
"I have no preference for blondes
or bruncttcs, but when pick out my
girls always size up their feet care
fully. A girl cant be beautiful unless
she has a pretty foot and ankle.
20 study their looks and personality
and dress them accordingly. That is
NY big point-the dress. When my
girls leave me for other shows they
don't show up at all They aren't
dressed properly. An unsuitable hat
will queer the best-looking girl in the
world Girls know that I can get the
maximum efficiency out of their looks,
and that's why they come to me first"
Enter Ned Wayburn-
When Mr.. Ziegfeld has picked the
girls he IS through. The task Of train
ing them is Mr.. Wayburn's.
Before Mr.. Wayburn will say thing
he wants to dissipate several rcigning
lotions aneut the carmine-lipped cham
rions of silk stockings and dramatic
lingerie. There is an idea persisting
abroad that the baby-doll stare as
sumed by the young women Of the
front row is Mother Natures mask for
a thick and impenetrable vacuum. This
is the impression which Mr.. Wayburn,
for twenty years a deep student Of the
sDccics. would contradict.
"Thc people who have the idea that
chorus girls"-Mr Wayburn is now
talkiuC-"are stupid nobody-home
types. are the same who imagine that
theatrical folk 60 into hotels and steal
towels and silver spoons a chorus
girl must be intelligent, or she hasn't
a chance. Nowadays every girl is crazy
TO 90 on the stage, and the consequence
is that the competition is terrific. Why,
just take the case Of this show, we
had 10 pick less than a hundred out Of
eight times that many. If We plan to
give smart and classy 50 entertain
ment, we must have the organization.
And the only way to get organization
is to have mental calibre back Of dis
cipline. The day of the notorious
chorus girl is no more. There were
over a dozen girls, good lockers and
dancers, who would have been eligible
for this show who were refused be-
cause Of uotoriety in their past"
The Intellect Starts TO Work.
For the first week of the rehearsal
the young women devote their intel
lectuai powers TO the mastery Of the
lyrics. They are divided into three
sections, the sopranos, altos and the
dancing voices" The latter category
includes the girls who have near
voices. They sit apart and just make
their lips 60. Messrs. Louis Hirsch.
Dave Stamper and Jerome Kern are
responsible for the musical output Of
the 1916 Follies, which entities them