Vilma Ebsen
Encyclopedia
Vilma Ebsen was an American
musical theatre
and film actress best known for dancing in Broadway
shows and MGM musicals in the 1930s with her more famous brother, Buddy Ebsen
.
Ebsen was born in Belleville, Illinois
. During her childhood, her family relocated to Florida. She learned to dance at her father's dance studio in Orlando, Florida
, in the 1920s. Vilma and Buddy Ebsen moved to New York
in 1928, where they formed a vaudeville
act. One of their first appearances together was in Eddie Cantor
's Ziegfeld production, Whoopee.
When Whoopee closed after a year and a half, Vilma and Buddy Ebsen took their act to Atlantic City
, where they caught the eye of celebrity columnist Walter Winchell
. A one-paragraph rave in Winchell's column lifted the Ebsens from obscurity.
Vilma and Buddy Ebsen performed their dance act on Broadway, as well as around the United States in vaudeville theatres and supper clubs throughout the early 1930s. Some of the Broadway productions they starred in were Flying Colors
(1932) and Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. They came to Hollywood in 1935, where Vilma Ebsen starred in one film, playing Sally Burke in Broadway Melody of 1936
(1935).
After the success of Broadway Melody of 1936, the studio decided to separate the Ebsens. Vilma Ebsen was not interested in accepting Louis B. Mayer
's offer to make her "the next Myrna Loy" and moved back to New York with her husband, composer and bandleader Robert Emmett "Bobby" Dolan
, whom she had married on June 24, 1933. Back in New York, she appeared in one more Broadway musical comedy, Between the Devil, with British dancing stars Jack Buchanan
, Evelyn Laye
, and Adele Dixon
. This show ran from December 22, 1937, until March 12, 1938.
She then retired from show business to become a full-time homemaker. She and Dolan moved to Pacific Palisades, California, in 1941. They had one child, a son named Robert, but later divorced in January 1948. In 1948, she married tennis player Stanley Briggs. They also had a son, Michael.
Later, she opened a dance school in Pacific Palisades with her sister, Helga, partially funded by their brother. She died at the age of 96 in Thousand Oaks, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
and film actress best known for dancing in Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows and MGM musicals in the 1930s with her more famous brother, Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen was an American character actor and dancer. A performer for seven decades, he had starring roles as Jed Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies and as the title character in the 1970s detective series Barnaby Jones, and played Barnaby Jones in the movie...
.
Ebsen was born in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
. During her childhood, her family relocated to Florida. She learned to dance at her father's dance studio in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, in the 1920s. Vilma and Buddy Ebsen moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1928, where they formed a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
act. One of their first appearances together was in Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
's Ziegfeld production, Whoopee.
When Whoopee closed after a year and a half, Vilma and Buddy Ebsen took their act to Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, where they caught the eye of celebrity columnist Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
. A one-paragraph rave in Winchell's column lifted the Ebsens from obscurity.
Vilma and Buddy Ebsen performed their dance act on Broadway, as well as around the United States in vaudeville theatres and supper clubs throughout the early 1930s. Some of the Broadway productions they starred in were Flying Colors
Flying Colors (musical)
Flying Colors is a musical revue with a book, lyrics, and music by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz and sketch contributions by George S. Kaufman, Corey Ford, and Charles Sherman....
(1932) and Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. They came to Hollywood in 1935, where Vilma Ebsen starred in one film, playing Sally Burke in Broadway Melody of 1936
Broadway Melody of 1936
Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical released by MGM in 1935. It was a follow up of sorts to the successful The Broadway Melody, which had been released in 1929, although, beyond the title and some music, there is no story connection with the earlier film.The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss...
(1935).
After the success of Broadway Melody of 1936, the studio decided to separate the Ebsens. Vilma Ebsen was not interested in accepting Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
's offer to make her "the next Myrna Loy" and moved back to New York with her husband, composer and bandleader Robert Emmett "Bobby" Dolan
Robert E. Dolan
Robert Emmett "Bobby" Dolan was a Broadway conductor, composer and arranger beginning in the 1920s. He moved on to radio in the 1930s, and then went to Hollywood in the early 1940s as a musical director for Paramount. He scored, arranged, and conducted many musical and dramatic films in the 1940s...
, whom she had married on June 24, 1933. Back in New York, she appeared in one more Broadway musical comedy, Between the Devil, with British dancing stars Jack Buchanan
Jack Buchanan
Walter John "Jack" Buchanan was a British theatre and film actor, singer, producer and director. He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town in the tradition of George Grossmith Jr., and was described by The Times as "the last of the knuts." He is best known in...
, Evelyn Laye
Evelyn Laye
Evelyn Laye, CBE was an English theatre and film actress.-Early years and career:Born as Elsie Evelyn Lay in Bloomsbury, London, Laye made her first stage appearance in August 1915 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton as Nang-Ping in Mr...
, and Adele Dixon
Adele Dixon
Adele Dixon was a London-born British musical theatre and film actress best known for performing in Broadway musicals, British musicals and in musical, comedy films of the 1930s and 1940s....
. This show ran from December 22, 1937, until March 12, 1938.
She then retired from show business to become a full-time homemaker. She and Dolan moved to Pacific Palisades, California, in 1941. They had one child, a son named Robert, but later divorced in January 1948. In 1948, she married tennis player Stanley Briggs. They also had a son, Michael.
Later, she opened a dance school in Pacific Palisades with her sister, Helga, partially funded by their brother. She died at the age of 96 in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
.