Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr (born in Chicago, 1867), might have created modern Broadway, but it was his father, Florenz Ziegfeld Sr, who created Chicagos classical music heritage. Ziegfeld Sr (German born) earned his degree from the Leipzig Conservatory (as a student of Wagner) & immigrated to join Chicagos vast German community in 1863. By 1867, Ziegfeld Sr established the Chicago Music Academy/College (ultimately joining Roosevelt Univ in 1954). He brought famous musicians to Chicago, including Johann Strauss. Ziegfeld Sr also help foster military bands in France, Ger. & Eng. He worked w Theodore Thomas to develop the Ger. Chicago Symphony Orchestra - later the CSO. In 1890, he led the Ill. Natl Guard as Col. Ziegfeld. In 1893, Florenz Jr ran the familys Trocadero Club @ the Columbian Exhibition, booking vaudeville & circus acts. Shortly thereafter, Jr married Anna Held, a Polish Catholic/French Jewish European star & started his musicales (Billie Burke, his 2d wife was the Good Fairy in The Wizard of Oz). Jr died in Hollywood in 1932.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 03:08:52 +0000
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