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Glite Dictionary
Ziegfeld Follies

Ziegfeld Follies

2 8.9
A famous early 1900s New York stage show with very fancy costumes and many songs and dances
  • proper noun
  • /ˈziːɡfɛld ˈfɑːliz/
: Ziegfeld Follies

Examples

  • (n17) Edmund Wilson reflected on the ways in which the Ziegfeld Follies, with their "efficiency of mechanical movement," expressed "the soul of New York." (n18)

    Academic text (1999)

  • The Ziegfeld Follies showcased extravagant performances and stunning costumes in New York City during the early 20th century.

  • Bert Williams became famous for his roles in the Ziegfeld Follies, where he captivated audiences with his talent.

  • The Ziegfeld Follies set the standard for lavish theatrical revues, emphasizing glamour and showmanship.

Synonyms

revue
vsZiegfeld Follies
  • Archaic
16 8.6

A stage show of short songs, dances and comedy sketches that often makes fun of current events

is a more lavish musical form focused on costumes and visual spectacle
follies
vsZiegfeld Follies
  • Archaic
8 9.5

Musical shows that have many dancers, large fancy sets, and bright expensive costumes

is the specific New York series produced by one producer with greater spectacle

Surface Forms

Ziegfeld Follies main

Morphology

Ziegfeld + Follies

This is a fixed proper name for a specific historical theatrical revue (the productions by Florenz Ziegfeld). Even if a learner knows the word 'follies' or recognizes 'Ziegfeld' as a name, the encyclopedic, culturally specific reference and the connection to a particular series of shows cannot be derived from the constituents alone, so the meaning is not compositional.

Etymology

Ziegfeld Follies comes from producer Florenz Ziegfeld, who in the early 1900s put on very fancy stage follies in New York with big sets, bright costumes and many dancers, and that's why the name now refers to a famous series of very fancy theater 'shows'.