The Coolest People in the Performing Arts

A Sample:

• Theatrical impresario Florenz "Flo" Ziegfeld knew how to get publicity. One of his first stars was French singer Anna Held. Word leaked out to the newspapers that Mr. Ziegfeld was being sued because he had failed to pay his milk bill. Word also leaked out that Mr. Ziegfeld was buying so much milk that it took six cows to provide his daily order. Enterprising reporters investigated, and they heard that Ms. Held was taking baths in the milk! This provided much publicity that helped make French star Anna Held a star in the United States. Of course, this was just a publicity stunt. Ms. Held did not take baths in milk-doing that would have made her sticky! Mr. Ziegfeld did not buy that much milk, and he paid a milk dealer to sue him. Playwright Max Marcin had read about ancient Roman milk baths, and Mr. Ziegfeld paid him $250 for the idea of the publicity stunt.- When Ruth St. Denis was very old, she asked dance critic Walter Terry why a certain publication was always so kind in covering her activities. He investigated and discovered that an executive on the publication had had a romance with Miss Ruth long ago-a romance that Miss Ruth had totally forgotten but which the executive had never forgotten. Once, the executive approached Miss Ruth and Mr. Terry, and Mr. Terry just had time to whisper the name of the executive's publication and the reminding phrase "night in moonlight California." Miss Ruth looked into the executive's eyes and said, "It has been so long ...." The favorable publicity continued.

• Choreographer George Balanchine valued imperfect excitement over correct boredom. In a rehearsal, he criticized a dancer, saying, "No! Not big enough, does not travel enough, feet come together too slowly in assemble. Do again." The dancer tried again, with more energy, and Mr. Balanchine told her, "Better, but not good enough." Again, the dancer tried, this time putting into the steps all the energy she had. She jumped into the air with her feet together in assemble-and she landed on her rear end in front of Mr. Balanchine, who appreciated her energy and smiled and told her, "That's right. Now I see something."