Fanny Fields (born Fanny Furman, September 15, 1880 – September 12, 1961), often billed as 'Happy' Fanny Fields, was an American singer, dancer and comic entertainer who found success in British

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

s and

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...

s in the early 1900s.

Biography

She was born in New York City, into a Jewish family of Polish and German heritage, and first appeared in variety shows in the city around 1899. She took the stage name Fields from that of her sister's husband, who was one half of a duo, Gallagher and Fields. In her act, she sang and told comic stories as Gretchen, a naïve young German or Dutch woman who "spent much time contemplating the actions of a sweetheart". In 1902, she travelled to London, where she became a great success in

s and in

s such as ''

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; ar, علاء الدين, ', , ATU 561, ‘Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with ''The Book of One Thousand and One Nights'' (''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part of ...

''."Fanny Fields papers", ''New York Public Library''
Retrieved 6 September 2020 Later that year, a reviewer in '' The Playgoer'' described her as "one big bubble of mirth and merriment". She toured in the company of Welsh harpist

Nansi Richards Nansi Richards Jones (14 May 1888 – 21 December 1979) was a Welsh harpist, sometimes known as the "Queen of the Harp"Folktrax 351"Nansi Richards, Triple Harp" or by her bardic name "Telynores Maldwyn". Early life and education Jane Ann "Na ...

, and helped devise tricks for Richards to perform, such as playing with her back turned, or playing two harps simultaneously. In 1906, Fanny Fields had her greatest success with the song "By the Side of the

Zuider Zee The Zuiderzee or Zuider Zee (; old spelling ''Zuyderzee'' or ''Zuyder Zee'') was a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the Netherlands, extending about 100 km (60 miles) inland and at most 50 km (30 miles) wide, with an o ...

", written for her by A. J. Mills and

Bennett Scott Bennett Scott (12 October 1871 – 1 June 1930)Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.154-156 was an English writer of music hall songs. Born in London, of Jewish background, he started wo ...

. She also performed "The

Suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...

", with a monologue section starting: "The points is, girls, stand up for your rights. If you can't stand up, sit down, but don't let them catch you bending. Why should a woman play second fiddle to a man? Huh!...". She performed her act before

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

at the first

Royal Command Performance A Royal Command Performance is any performance by actors or musicians that occurs at the direction or request of a reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Although English monarchs have long sponsored their own theatrical companies and commis ...

, held in 1912.Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , p.80 She also starred in a short film, ''Happy Fanny Fields and the Four Little Dutchmen'', made by the Selsior company. The following year, 1913, she quit her entertainment career. Described as "one of hebrightest stars" of the music halls, a farewell dinner was arranged by the theatrical profession in her honour at the

Savoy Hotel The Savoy Hotel is a luxury hotel located in the Strand in the City of Westminster in central London, England. Built by the impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan opera productions, it opened on 6 August 188 ...

. She returned to the United States and married Dr. Abraham Rongy ( Roginsky, 1878–1949), a

gynecologist Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area ...

who set up

maternity hospital A maternity hospital specializes in caring for women during pregnancy and childbirth. It also provides care for newborn infants, and may act as a centre for clinical training in midwifery and obstetrics. Formerly known as lying-in hospitals, most o ...

s and later published ''Abortion: Legal or Illegal?'' (1933), one of the first books proposing the

legalization of abortion Abortion-rights movements, also referred to as pro-choice movements, advocate for the right to have legal access to induced abortion services including elective abortion. They seek to represent and support women who wish to terminate their pre ...

. As Fanny Furman Rongy, she became an active fundraiser for Lebanon Hospital and other Jewish medical organizations. "Fanny Fields - original 1909 letter", ''WorthPoint.com''
Retrieved 6 September 2020 She died in New York City in 1961, aged 80.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fields, Fanny 1880 births 1961 deaths Music hall performers Vaudeville performers