Billie Burke (1884–1970)

Billie Burke may no longer be a household name from the entertainment world, but at one time she was. And so was her husband, Florenz Ziegfeld. Both were big in the stage world, and Billie later in movies. Billie was known for her acting performances, and Flo for his Follies productions and other stage works. One role that might be the most familiar to a number of generations is Glenda the Good Witch in the movie “The Wizard of Oz” – the original one.

This book is a recollection of Billie’s life from her start in stage work in England in 1905 through her arrival in New York in 1907 up to 1948, when this memoir was written.

Billie was the daughter of Billy Burke, a clown with Barnum & Bailey’s circus. Her full name was Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke; she chose Billie for short. The family wound up in England where her father created his own small circus. Her mother decided Billie would be an actress and so was made to study music, acting and all the other necessities to become an actress. Billie’s father wasn’t big on it, and Billie didn’t really care.

The book tells of her rise in the stage performance world, the other well-known actors and actresses, directors and writers she came to know and the numerous plays she was in. It also tells of her meeting of Flo Ziegfeld and the attraction that brought them together. She gives an interesting and personal view to Ziegfeld and the man he was: driven, a perfectionist, extravagant, and moody.

It is a tour of the many plays and casts she was involved with and what was like during the turn of the century, on stage and off: being the wife of a high profile celebrity, working actress and mother. Quite a plateful, as Zeigfeld was a man larger than life.

It was interesting to read. I was familiar with Billie Burke, but not aware she had such a stage history. If you’re interested in the theatre and early movie world, this book should be of interest. It is also nice that there are some photographs sprinkled throughout the book to add images to the text.… (more)