differences

similarities

judging

interview

Cassie: Hey Fanny! How have you been? You know I’m huge fan, I love your work.

Fanny: Thank you darling. That means a lot!

Cassie: Well Ms. Brice, all the fans want to know, what truly got you interested in the arts?

Fanny: Well gorgeous, to tell you, ever since I was little I’ve been singing acting and just being a little ball of fierceness! When I was about ten years old, I starting performing at my fathers shop. Wasn’t much but I thought I was the business. Honestly! I thought I was amazing! And from there I knew that the arts were where I belong.

In 08 I dropped out of school, I was such a rebel, to work in burlesque revue. And guess what?  About two years after that I began with Florenz Ziegfeld! I was the headline in his “Ziegfeld Follies” from 1910 into the 30s! That’s were I first sang "My Man" in the 1921 Follies. Now of coarse this was a big, huge hit and my first signature song. I made quite a popular recording of it for Victor Records I can tell ya that!

Cassie: Well Fanny, who helped you develop your artistic talents and interests?

Fanny: To tell ya Miss. Floyd, my family and friends really didn’t think that I could do it. It’s sad to say, but there really wasn’t anyone helping me in my artistic area. I pretty much motivated myself. Everyone said that I didn’t have the face and too skinny of legs. But I knew that I was born to be a star! And so it happened.

            Soon, after people saw who I was, and my talent, they were astounded. I showed them. I sure did. And when I realized that I did all of this on my own, without much support from the family, I was astounded myself!

Cassie: Wow! That is very deep Fanny.

Fanny: Haha, why thank you dear.

Cassie: Now, Fanny please tell us, what was the world of art like in your field when you entered it?

Fanny: Oh my, it was total excitement! What an exciting time! All of the rising stars! And who would think that I would be one of them? Haha, there were such fun things to do then! All the lights, big cities, shows! All of the stages and opportunities for a person!

Cassie: That does sound exciting.

Fanny: Oh it was.

Cassie: So Fanny, how did the major cultural, economic, and political situations of the time impact your work?

Fanny: Well as you know we were in the Great Depression, and times were awfully hard. Everyone was struggling, and no one really knew what to do. The situations of the time didn’t impact my work particularly, but many people escaped the harsh world and turned to the arts as something to be happy about. Whether that was performing, or just being in the audience. Most of the society turned to the arts because it was something for them practically to live for.

But the theatre suffered also. Many places struggled with paying for things in the theatre. These things including props, fabrics, costumes and lighting. Also paying directors, actors, producers, instruments and much more. But, the show must go on, right?

Cassie: That must have been hard.

Fanny: Yes, yes it was hard but hey! Life ain’t easy!

Cassie: You’re right! Well Fannie what were our major accomplishments and what methods did you used in your art?

Fanny: Well Cassie, I believe that my biggest accomplishment in my art was role playing the bratty little girl named Snooks on the radio show “Baby Snooks.” I was the original Baby Snooks. It was premiered in The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air in February 1936 on CBS. This was a hit! And it was fun too! To be a 30 year old woman playing the role of a toddler it was a smash. I also moved to NBC in the winter of 37, Good News show performing as Snooks, and then I went back to CBS. The methods that I used in my arts were just to be myself. That was to be funny and charming, and a little goofy at times. But always being myself, that’s how I earned all my roles. Not by being someone else, and acting like I was perfect, ad knew everything. Being funny is what got my places! I mean I am a comedian right? That’s what I was born to be!
Cassie: You’re right! So what were the key opportunities you had that led to your turning points in your life and art?
Fanny: Well I’d say that working with Mr. Ziegfeld helped me really get out there; I always knew that he was brilliant you know? Well he got me working a lot of things, like I told you before. He was such a sweetheart. A good guy you know?
            Yes well I’m pretty sure that without that loveable guy I wouldn’t be where I am at the moment. I’d probably still be famous of course, but maybe not as famous. Heck maybe I would have been more famous! Sorta like Hannah Montana! Or Oprah! Oh my, what am I saying? I’m getting carried away. Okay next question!
Cassie: Haha! You sure are funny Fanny. You were that famous! Anyway, what were the personal choices that you made to become successful?
Fanny: Oh that’s a good one, well there are a lot! Let’s see, well sticking with Mr. Ziegfeld of course! Ha as I just told you. You know h made me do a lot of things that I didn’t even know would help me, but they sure did. I guess a personal choice I made was to trust him. Ya know? I could have chickened out but I chose to trust the guy.
            Also another choice that I made that most definitely helped me become successful was to not care what others think. Just to be myself and outgoing and just do things and not worrying about anyone else but me. I think that thinking that way really did help me.
Cassie: Interesting Fanny. Now what hardships or roadblocks did you have to overcome in order to be successful?
Fanny: Oh there were many. I mean who doesn’t have hardships? Gosh well one hardship that I had was me not being the prettiest girl around. I mean lets face it, I’m ugly! And they were really hard. Competing for roles against gorgeous women! I mean these girls were pretty. But they truly had no wondrous talent.
            And that’s how I knew that I was gona making it somewhere. Because I did have talent. And that talent was beauty itself. I know that people would rather see a great singer, or a great actor or actress that might not be the prettiest over some pretty airhead women who hasn’t the slightest artistic talent.
Cassie: That is very true Fanny. Very true.
Fanny: At least that’s what I believe.
Cassie: Yes, okay now what kind of limitations did you run into as both an artist and a person?
Fanny: A limitation you say? Well I think that all of my husbands would definitely be a limitation. Well I married in my teens to a White, Frank White. He was the local barber. Young love. But it didn’t last long. Try a few days, and then I wanted a divorce. I was young a stupid, I know.
            My next husband was Julious Arnsteain. A gambler he was. He ended up in jail. I visited him almost every day. It was heart breaking. We ended up divorcing also. Then I fell in love again. His name was Billy Rose. He was a dreamy song writer, and he also was a stage producer. That also was a bust. We fell out of love, and divorced.
Cassie: That is very sad.
Fanny: Yes, it is sad.
Cassie: Well Fanny, what personal stories illustrate how you became successful in the arts?
Fanny: Well really working in the Ziegfeld Follies helped me be successful. That’s were everyone realized my talent. One day, I was rehearsing with the girls, and I started singing. That’s when they told me to do my own solo in the coming up show. When I sang that solo there were many important people in the audience. And that got me places. I was introduced to many people that night. Also I was invited to many places. That’s pretty much what got me started.
Cassie: Well it was really nice talking to you Fanny!
Fanny: You too Ms. Floyd. Thank you so much!

This is a photo of me while recording my radio show "The Baby Snooks Show."

This is a photo of me being recorded by George Groves in the musical 'My Man' in 1928

This is Nicky Arnstein, a man that I fell in love with.

This is my hit single "My Man."

This is Billy Rose, a man that I once loved also.

This is the movie "Funny Girl" that was made about my life.

This is another song of mine called "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You."

I performed for the Ziedfeld Follies at the beginning of my career.

This is my star for radio. I also have a star for flim too below.