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Ann Pennington (Ziegfeld star)
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This article is about Ann Pennington, the stage actress. For the Playboy model of the same name, go to Ann Pennington (model).
Ann Pennington (December 23, 1893–November 4, 1971) was an actress, dancer, and singer who starred on Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s, notably in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White's Scandals.
She became famous for what was, at the time, called a “Shake and Quiver Dancer,” and was noted for her variation of the “Black Bottom”.
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Encyclopedia
This article is about Ann Pennington, the stage actress. For the Playboy model of the same name, go to Ann Pennington (model).
| Ann Pennington |
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| Ann Pennington in
her Ziegfeld days. | | colspan=2 | | Birthname | Anna Pennington |
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| Birth | Wilmington, Delaware |
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| Death | New York City |
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| Height | 4'10" |
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| Nicknames | "Penny", "Tiny" "Pipsy" "Duchess" |
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| Spouse | None |
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Ann Pennington (December 23, 1893–November 4, 1971) was an actress, dancer, and singer who starred on Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s, notably in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White's Scandals.
She became famous for what was, at the time, called a “Shake and Quiver Dancer,” and was noted for her variation of the “Black Bottom”. She was also noted as an accomplished tap dancer. Ray Henderson wrote the extant version of "Black Bottom" for Ann - she had already been performing the popular version of the dance for some time. Some years prior to this, she had also topped the bill on Broadway in her performance of the musically similar "Charleston".
Pennington also achieved fame as a star of both silent and sound motion pictures.
Biography
Anna Pennington was born in Wilmington, Delaware on December 23 1893 and reputedly moved with her family to Camden, New Jersey around 1900 . Her father worked for the Victor music company, they were Quakers, and she had at least one sibling,Nellie.
She began her career on Broadway as a member of the chorus in The Red Widow (1911) starring Raymond Hitchcock. Her debut in the Ziegfeld Follies was in 1913, where she quickly established herself as one Ziegfeld's top attractions.
With dimpled knees and long dark red hair, the petite, pretty, charming, and often scantly-clad Pennington stood a mere 4' 10" tall and wore only a size 1½ shoe. Because of her diminutive stature, she was referred to as “Penny” by her friends and colleagues. Her nickname for herself was “Tiny”.
During her years in the Ziegfeld Follies she appeared alongside the likes of Bert Williams, Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Fanny Brice (who became her closest friend), Marilyn Miller, and W. C. Fields.She switched back and forth between George White's "Scandals" and the "Follies" more than once, earning a salary of $1000 per week at one point, and continued to moonlight in the early New York film industry. She also frequented Harlem in its jazz heyday. She was until the late 1920s chaperoned at performances by her mother. She was noted for a quick and witty personality, but was said to be shy off stage and easily embarrassed, and in her latter years was loathe to discuss her early life.
Gershwin was her rehearsal pianist and wrote for her.Ray Henderson,Joe Burke,Edward Ward ( later to write the score to the Claude Raines' "Phantom of the Opera"), and Cole Porter all wrote for her shows, "the New Yorkers" 1931 being her last great show for Porter.She could sing as well as dance, and her recording of "Believe Me" 1930 is engaging and charming. No films of her signature dance routines have been preserved. Her key dances in "Gold Diggers on Broadway" 1929 remain lost. Some of her scenes from "Tanned Legs" are discoverable online, but her role in "The Great Ziegfeld", while still listed in some inventories, was in fact cut before release.
Ann Pennington could dance, sing and act, but her first love was dancing on stage, and she never became established as a movie actress.
The New York Times (November 5, 1971) noted:
Pennington was romantically linked to several men during her lifetime, and at one time or another was engaged to boxer Jack Dempsey, theatrical producer and early dance partnerGeorge White, actor Buster West, and musician Brooke Johns. None of these romances lasted and Pennington never married.She never spoke on record about any of her engagements,whether to confirm or deny them.
Ann Pennington never settled in one place for very long. She lived mostly in hotels in New York apart from some years in California as the constant companion of Fanny Brice, whom she had helped out at least once with loans of stupendous amounts of money. Ann was noted for her generosity and many of her loans were never repaid, however most of her huge earnings were wiped out over the years by betting at the racetrack,decades of hotel bills, and gifts to charities and churches.
After her years on stage and screen ended, Pennington toured in vaudeville. She retired from performing in the 1940s. She last appeared on stage in a benefit show for the armed forces in 1946. She had a committed work ethic, and worked wherever the opportunity arose, although as she aged and tastes changed, she ended her stage days in shabby theaters with low rank dance companies. Film of her "Snakes Hips" dance at the Worlds Fair 1939 survives,but is more memorable for her enthusiasm than her star quality in her fading years.
Ann Pennington died in New York City on November 4 1971, aged 77. She had lived alone on welfare in New York hotels overlooking 42nd street for the previous 20 years since the death of her best friend Fanny Brice ("Funny Girl"). She is buried in the Valhalla cemetery in New York. No family were known to have attended her funeral, which was paid for by the Actors Benevolent guild.
A few years before her death, she was asked what had been the greatest reward from her years of stardom, and her reply was " in living, honey ".
Review
Of Ann Pennington’s official film debut in Susie Snowflake, the New York Times stated on June 26, 1916:
Stage Credits
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The following list includes Ann Pennington's major stage credits:
| # | Title | Type | Role | Theatrical Run | Notes |
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| 1 | The Red Widow | Musical | Member of the Chorus | June 22, 1911-Feb 24, 1912 | | | 2 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1913 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 16, 1913 - Sep 6, 1913 | | | 3 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1914 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 1, 1914 - Sep 5, 1914 | Appeared in the "Tango Palace" scene. | | 4 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1915 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 21, 1915 - Sep 18, 1915 | Performed the "Flirtation Melody Dance" with George White. | | 5 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 12, 1916 - Sep 16, 1916 | | | 6 | Miss 1917 | Musical Revue | Herself | Nov 5, 1917 - Jan 5, 1918 | | | 7 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1918 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 18, 1918 - Sep 11, 1918 | | | 8 | George White's Scandals (1919) | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 2, 1919 - Sep 1919 | | | 9 | Midnight Frolic | Musical Revue | Herself | April 24, 1918- May 12, 1918 | Performed "A Syncopated Frolic". | | 10 | George White's Scandals (1920) | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 7, 1920 - Oct 2, 1920 | | | 11 | George White's Scandals (1921) | Musical Revue | Herself | Jul 11, 1921 - Oct 1, 1921 | | | 12 | Jack and Jill | Musical Comedy | Gloria Wayne | Mar 22, 1923 - Jun 9, 1923 | | | 13 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1924 | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 24, 1924 - Mar 7, 1925 | | | 14 | George White's Scandals (1926) | Musical Revue | Herself | Jun 14, 1926 - Jun 1927 | Performed "The Black Bottom". | | 15 | George White's Scandals (1928) | Musical Revue | Herself | Jul 2, 1928 - Jan 1929 | | | 16 | The New Yorkers | Musical Revue (Satire) | Lola McGee | Dec 8, 1930 - May 2, 1931 | | | 17 | Everybody's Welcome | Musical Comedy | Louella Carroll | Oct 13, 1931 - Feb 13, 1932 | | | 18 | The Student Prince | Operetta (revival) | Gretchen | Jun 8, 1943 - Oct 2, 1943 | | |
Motion Picture Credits
The following list contains all of Ann Pennington's known motion picture appearances.
ass="wikitable"
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! #!! Title !! Year !! Role !! Notes
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Silent Films
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| align=right|1 || [untitled film] || 1916 || Herself || A short film of Ann Pennington that was incorporated into her stage act in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1916.
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| align=right|2 || Susie Snowflake || 1916 || Susie || Ann Pennington’s official film debut. She plays an itinerant stage actress forced to live with her stern aunt.
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| align=right|3 || The Rainbow Princess || 1916 || Hope || Ann Pennington as a circus performer who is pawned off as the long-lost granddaughter of a wealthy judge. In this film she performs a Hula dance.
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| align=right|4 || The Antics of Ann || 1917 || Ann Wharton || Ann Pennington as a hoydenish young lady trying to crash society.
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| align=right|5 || The Little Boy Scout || 1917 || Justina Howland || Ann Pennington as a young woman who inherits a fortune. Co-stars Owen Moore (who was married to Mary Pickford at the time).
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| align=right|6 || Sunshine Nan || 1918 || Nance Molloy || Ann Pennington as a reform school parolee working as a stenographer in a shoe store. Co-stars Richard Barthelmess.
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| align=right|7 || Manhandled || 1924 || Herself || Stars Gloria Swanson with Ann Pennington in a cameo.
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| align=right|8 || The Golden Strain || 1925 || Lucy Sulter || A Western with Pennington in a supporting role.
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| align=right|9 || The Lucky Horseshoe || 1925 || Dancer || A Tom Mix Western with Ann Pennington in a cameo.
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|10 || A Kiss in the Dark || 1925 || Dancer || A comedy starring Adolphe Menjou. Pennington has a cameo appearance.
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|11 || The Mad Dancer || 1925 || Mimi || Ann Pennington stars as a Latin dancer and model. Reputedly she appeared nude in this film.
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|12 || Madame Behave || 1925 || Gwen Townley || A starring film for fermale impersonator Julian Eltidge. Ann Pennington plays his girlfriend.
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|13 || Pretty Ladies || 1925 || Herself || A comedy about a dowdy comedienne (ZaSu Pitts) in the Ziegfeld Follies. Pennington has a cameo.
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Sound Films
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|14 || Tanned Legs || 1929 || Tootie || Ann Pennington performs the title song and “You’re Responsible”.
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|15 || Night Parade || 1929 || Herself || A boxing melodrama.
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|16 || Is Everybody Happy? || 1929 || Lena Schmitt || Co-stars Ted Lewis. Ann Pennington performs “Samoa”.
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|17 || Gold Diggers of Broadway || 1929 || Ann Collins || Filmed in Technicolor. One of the big hits of 1929. Pennington dances to “Painting the Clouds With Sunshine” and "The Song of the Gold Diggers (Dig, You Little Diggers, Dig)".
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|18 || Night Club || 1929 || Herself || A three-reel short in which Ann Pennington appears with Fanny Brice.
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|19 || Hello Baby! || 1930 || Herself || A two-reel Technicolor short. Songs include "Hello Baby", "Believe Me", "I Gotta Have You", "Dance of the Wooden Shoes" and "Huddlin'".
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|20 || Happy Days || 1930 || Herself || An all-star extravaganza filmed in 70mm “Grandeur Process”. Pennington performs "Snake Hips (Do the Wiggle Waggle Woo)".
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|21 || Texas Terrors || 1940 || Dancer || A Western starring Don "Red" Barry. Pennington performs "Listen to the Rhythm of the Range".
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|22 || Unholy Partners || 1941 || Telephone operator || Stars Edward G. Robinson.
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|23 || China Girl || 1942 || Sugar Fingers || Stars Gene Tierney and George Montgomery.
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External links
- features pictures of Ann Pennington
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