The Greenwich Village Follies

The series of revues was originally presented in a small Greenwich Village theatre but later moved to larger playhouses uptown. Editions were offered from 1919 through 1925 and again in 1928. The brainchild of John Murray Anderson, they were considered the principal rival to the Ziegfeld Follies in elegance and taste, and Ziegfeld early on tried to prevent the revues from using the word “Follies” in the titles. The shows were also admired for their fine comedy, including excellent female impersonators, and their imaginative ballets. Famous songs from these productions included Ted Lewis's “When My Baby Smiles at Me,” “Three O'Clock in the Morning,” and Cole Porter's “I'm in Love Again.”