Second Hand Rose No Late Bloomer

Q: What New York born Jewish singer and comedienne was launched to fame by Jewish Broadway impresario Flo Ziegfeld?

A: Fanny Brice

Fanny Brice was the stage name of Fania Borach, the third child of relatively well-off saloon owners of Hungarian Jewish descent. In 1908, Brice dropped out of school to work in a burlesque revue, and two years later she began her association with Florenz Ziegfeld, headlining his Ziegfeld Follies from 1910 to 1911. She was hired again in 1921 and performed in them into the 1930’s.

In the 1921 Follies, she was featured singing “My Man” which became both a big hit and her signature song. The second song most associated with Brice is “Second Hand Rose,” which she introduced in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921.

Thirteen years after her death, she was portrayed on the Broadway stage by Barbra Streisand in the musical “Funny Girl” and its 1968 film adaptation.

Join Menorah for a celebration of Jewish New York, honoring Professor David Shneer. Sunday, September 18, 5:30 pm at the Avalon Ballroom.  To register for “New York, New York” click here. Questions?  contact Kathryn@boulderjcc.org or visit www.boulderjcc.org.