Famous funny lady, Fanny Brice, was one of the many stars who got her start in the Ziegfeld Follies. Born with a gift for comedy, an excellent singing voice, and plenty of acting chops, Fanny Brice took the world by storm. From humble beginnings and a less-than enviable love life, Fanny rose to mega-stardom. She … Continue reading Fanny Brice – Ziegfeld’s Funniest Lady
Who was Glinda the Good Witch? Watch this video and learn about actress, Billie Burke who was forever immortalized as the enchanting witch, Glinda, in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Married to the famous Broadway showman, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., she had an amazing career of her own on stage and screen. Just tap … Continue reading Ziegfeld’s Girl – Actress Billie Burke
Referred to as “The People’s Princess,” “The Tragic Princess,” “The Peacock Princess,” and “The Island Rose,” Princess Ka’iulani is one of Hawaii’s most beloved royal Princesses. Born in 1875, this amazing young woman lived her life with heart, passion, and a sense of duty to her native land. Unfortunately, her destiny to rule would be … Continue reading Seven Fascinating Facts About Hawaii’s Last Royal Heir – Princess Ka’iulani
Fanny Brice (sometimes spelled Fannie) was born on New York’s lower east side in 1891 as Fania Borach. She was the third child of Hungarian/Jewish saloon owners, but her interests were not in the family business. At fourteen years old, she made her stage debut during amateur night at Keeny’s Theater in Brooklyn. Shortly after, … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Fanny Brice, Funny lady
Named the first ever “It girl,” Clara Bow, America’s favorite flapper, made a huge impact in the roaring twenties and was known as one of the decade’s leading sex symbols. Raised as an only child, (her two siblings before her died) Clara’s survival is nothing short of miraculous. The doctors warned Sarah Frances (Gordon) Bow, … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Clara Bow, It Girl
Olive Thomas was born Olivia R. Duffy, October 20, 1894, to a working class Irish American family in Pennsylvania. To help support her family, she left school at 15 years of age. At 16 she married Bernard Krush Thomas. The marriage lasted two years. After her divorce she moved to New York City, lived with … Continue reading Women in Show Business History – Olive Thomas, Tragic Beauty
Her Irish name is Gráinne Ní Mháille, and she is known as one of the most tenacious female pirates of the Emerald Isle. Born of a noble family in 1530, Grace took over the lordship of the Ó Máille dynasty in the west of Ireland after the death of her father, despite having a brother. … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Grace O’Malley, Lady Pirate
A prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adult and children’s literature, Maria Edgeworth was instrumental in the evolution of the novel in Europe. Many of her works featured the plight of the Irish, women’s issues, politics, and education. A contemporary of Jane Austen, she was also a friend and correspondent of famed literary and economic writers Sir … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Maria Edgeworth, the Irish Jane Austen
Catherine Hayes (not to be confused with the murderess of the same name) was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1818. Abandoned by her musician father at age 5, Catherine grew up in poverty with her mother and younger sister. While singing in the garden one day, the purity of twenty-year-old Catherine’s voice was heard by … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Catherine Hayes, The Victorian Pop Star