From the pen of Florenz Ziegfeld himself: Ziegfeld on his girls, starring his girls, edited by moi.
Morning Telegraph 1925
Beauty, of course, is the most important requirement and the paramount asset of the applicant. When I say that, I mean beauty of face, form, charm and manner, personal magnetism, individuality, grace and poise …
These are details that must always be settled before the applicant has demonstrated her ability either to sing or dance. It is not easy to pass the test that qualifies a girl for membership in a Ziegfeld production …
… but I am frank to say that once she has done so, much of the element of doubt is removed so far as the future success of her career before the footlights is concerned.
There is a prevalent impression that once a girl is enlisted under the Ziegfeld standard, her troubles are over and her hard work is ended …
What a mistake!
Let us hope that for many it does mean the end of trouble so far as earning a livelihood is concerned, that it means happy and comfortable home living honestly earned. But there are other troubles ahead for her, and plenty of hard work ….
A Ziegfeld production is no place for a drone or an idler. Often are the times when you who read these words are just opening your eyes in the morning or are enjoying your breakfast and the early news of the day, that the girls of a Ziegfeld production are busy as bees …
on the stage of an empty theatre …
if indeed they have not already put in an hour or more in striving to come nearer to the perfection …
which is expected of them before the footlights. Yes, there is plenty of hard work for them in addition to that which they do when they appear, smiling and happy …
when the curtain goes up. Giving a performance is the least of their worries.
Let us grant that a girl qualifies for one of my productions. It is interesting to note what follows. First, it is clearly outlined to her what she is expected to do. She may be impressed at the outset that the impossible is required …
but honest application and heroic perseverance on her part plus skillful and encouraging direction by experts very seldom fail to achieve the desired results.
But it is only through constant, faithful endeavor by the girl herself that the goal eventually is reached ….
Leap ahead 81 years and those initial requirements sound like the basics for getting a job at Hooters. The major difference is that forthrightly stating such requirements is now lawsuit material.
Ah, the days before plastic surgery and gymorexia… *sigh…*
I love this post.
And, oh yes, Hooters. Hmmm, the more things change, the more they stay the same.