The Helen Morgan Page

… 1925, one hundred years ago today, Helen Morgan played her final performance as a chorine.

Morgan auditioned – and worked – for Ziegfeld twice before he cast her in Show Boat.

The first time was in 1923. Helen auditioned for that year’s Follies, and Ziegfeld cast her in the chorus … of Sally … set to start its third year as a touring production.

The second time was in late January or early February 1925. Helen auditioned for that year’s Follies, and Flo cast her in the chorus of … Louie the 14th.

Helen was grateful for the work in 1923, but eighteen months later, things were different. By this time, Helen had achieved success as a cabaret soloist in Chicago, and fully intended to make her mark on Broadway as a singer. But, work was work, so she took the job and accompanied Louie on his pre-Broadway tour … while she looked for something better back in Gotham.

Louie the 14th was the star vehicle reward for rubber-legged comic Leon Errol in thanks for leading the company of Sally after Marilyn Miller quit the show – and Ziegfeld – cold. Louie told of American soldiers who stayed in France after WWI. Errol is invited to a ritzy dinner party as an “extra man” to even the table and avoid an unlucky total of thirteen guests. Hilarity ensues.

Sigmund Romberg, just 90 days after the opening of The Student Prince, supplied the music to Arthur Wimperis’ book and lyrics.

Joining Helen in the chorus were Louise Brooks and Peggy Fears. All were at the start of their careers and all were just about have their break-out success.

And all the ladies participated in the show’s big number, “Little Peach.”

The soldiers also had a stirring anthem, “Homeland.”

Louie the 13th premiered at Ford’s theatre in Baltimore on February 17, 1925. The following week, it played the National in Washington D.C., where Helen played her final performance on February 28, by her own choice: she had found work, as a soloist, in a new York cabaret.

Louie premiered in New York on March 3 at the Cosmopolitan Theatre (Ziegfeld’s Follies continued to have pride of place at the New Amsterdam). The production enjoyed a respectable nine-month run, but that was half of the tally for Romberg’s The Student Prince. The Cosmopolitan’s address – 59th and Columbus Circle – more than fifteen blocks away from Times Square – likely dampened business.

This site serves as a companion to the book Helen Morgan: The Original Torch Singer and Ziegfeld’s Last Star.