"The Etting-Ziegfeld collaboration ran its course with the Follies of 1931, staged shortly before the great producers death, and featuring Etting's stunning performances of "Shine On, Harvest Moon," the Nora Bayes hit of some two decades earlier." -- Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Take Two Records, 1987

In 1931 Ruth Etting appeared in the very last Follies, shortly before Florenz Ziegfeld's death. The show opened at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 1, 1931, and ran through November 21 before heading out on tour, for a total of 164 performances on Broadway.

Ruth Etting revived a song Nora Bayes made famous in The Follies of 1918, "Shine On, Harvest Moon." It became one of her biggest hits, and is so closely associated with Ruth Etting, that her recording is considered the definitive version of this standard. In fact, she ended up recording the song again for the film, California Weather in 1933. She also sang another standard, "You Made Me Love You" and while dressed as a Cigarette Girl, sang "Cigarettes, Cigars."

The 1931 Follies also starred another very well-known torch singer - Helen Morgan, who sang Noel Coward's "Half-Caste Woman."

Etting and Morgan were considered the top torch singers in their day - Etting is often called the Queen of the Torch singers. Morgan originated the role of Julie La Verne in the original production of Florenz Ziegfeld and Jerome Kern's Show Boat in 1927, and recorded many of the same songs as Etting, including Mean To Me and Body And Soul. Only Fanny Brice came close in popularity. Brice had introduced a French torch song, My Man, in the 1921 edition of the Follies, and is largely credited with bringing the torch song to America.

It is only fitting that Etting and Morgan starred in the very last Follies. They were joined by Jack Pearl, Harry Richmond, Gladys Glad, Dorothy Dell, and tap dancers Hal LeRoy and Mitzi Mayfair. The chorus of dancers, singers, and specialty performers was huge - perhaps the largest cast for any of the Follies. Ziegfeld went out with a bang!

Ziegfeld Follies, 1931

Ziegfeld Theater, 6th Avenue at 54th Street, New York, NY.
Opened July 1, 1931, ran for 164 performances

Produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.
Directed by Edward C. Lilley
Musical Director: Oscar Bradley
Music orchestrated by Maurice De Packh, Will Vodery, Howard Jackson and Joe Jordan
Staged by Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. and Gene Buck
Dialogue staged by Edward Clarke Lilley
Dances staged by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch
Scenic Design by Joseph Urban
Costume Design by John Harkrider

Cast:
A. Samish
Albert Carroll
Albertina Rasch Dancers
Alice Burrage
Anne Lee Patterson
Arthur Campbell
Barbara Smith
Bernice Roberts
Betty Dumbris
Betty Real
Billie Cortez
Billie Seward
Billy Hughes
Blanche Satchel
Blanche Satchell
Boots Mallory
Buck & Bubbles
Caja Eric
Cassie Hanley
Catherine Clark
Christine Maple
Clayton Estes
Cliff Hall
Conrad Sparin
David Drollet
Dennis McCurtin
Dorissa Nelova
Dorothy Dell
Dorothy Dodge
Dorothy Flood
Earl Oxford
Eileen Wenzel
Emmita Casanova
Ernest McChesney
Ethel Borden
Eunice Holmes
Faith Bacon
Frank Britton
Frank Lang
Frank McCormack
Frieda Mierse
Gene Gory
George Lamar
Georgia Ellis
Gladys Glad
Gordon Carper
Grace Moore
Hal Le Roy
Harry Richman
Helen Carson
Helen Hannan
Helen Morgan
Helen Walsh
Herschel Martin
Iris Adrian
Jack Arthur
Jack Bruns
Jack Pearl
Jean Audree
Jean Howard
Jim Moore
Joan Burgess
John Daly Murphy
John Gurney
John W. Bubbles
Joseph Toner
Katherine Burke
Kay English
Lena Thomas
Leonard Stokes
Lorelle McCarver
Marguerite Durand
Marguerite Eisele
Marie Stevens
Marjorie Levoe
Marjorie McLaughlin
Mary Alice Rice
Mildred Borst
Milt Britton
Milton Le Roy
Mitzi Mayfair
Netta Deuschateau
Olive McLay
Pat O'Day
Paul Gursdorff
Pearl Harris
Robert Baldwin
Robert Walker
Robert White
Rosa Fromson
Rose Gale
Russell Johns
Ruth Etting
Ruth Patterson
Sunny Trowbridge
The Collette Sisters
Thomas Arace
Tito
Tom Kendall
Vera Milton
Virginia Bethel
Virginia Biddle
Vivian Porter
William Royal
Yvonne Grey