1. Helene Anna Held was a Polish-born French stage performer of Jewish origin on Broadway.
15 Facts About Anna Held
1. 2.
Anna Held set about creating a wave of public interest in her, feeding stories to the American press, such as her having had ribs surgically removed.
3.
David Monod of Wilfrid Laurier University has suggested that Anna Held succeeded more on image than talent, the illusion she presented to post-Victorian era audiences who were beginning to explore new social freedoms.
4.
From 1896, Anna Held enjoyed several successes on Broadway, including The Little Duchess and A Parisian Model.
5.
Ziegfeld's talent for creating publicity stunts ensured that Anna Held's name remained well known.
6.
Anna Held influenced the format for what would eventually become the famous Ziegfeld Follies in 1907, and she helped Ziegfeld establish the most lucrative phase of his career.
7.
Eve Golden, Anna Held's biographer, wrote that Lianne's abortion claim was likely a lie designed to demonize Ziegfeld, whom Lianne loathed.
8.
In 1909, Ziegfeld began an affair with the actress Lillian Lorraine; Anna Held remained hopeful that his fascination would pass, and he would return to her, but instead he turned his attentions to another actress, Billie Burke, whom he married in 1914.
9.
Anna Held spent the years of World War I working in vaudeville and touring France, performing for French soldiers and raising money for the war effort.
10.
Anna Held was considered a war heroine for her contributions, and was highly regarded for the courage she displayed in traveling to the front lines, to be where she could do the most good.
11.
The year 1917 was one of constant touring for Anna Held; she toured the United States in a production of Follow Me until ill health caused her to close the show in January 1918.
12.
Anna Held then checked into the Hotel Savoy in New York City where her health continued to decline.
13.
Anna Held had been battling multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, for a year.
14.
Approximately two hours later, Anna Held revived, and the media notified she was still alive, only to have Anna Held finally die shortly thereafter.
15.
Anna Held is interred at Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York.