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THE little Ettjng girl, in her first years back in David City, Nebraska, dreamed of becoming a great de¬ signer. High school completed, she went to Chicago and enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts for a course in designing. When she finished the course and set out to look for a job, some sort of lucky fate led her to the costuming department of the Marigold Gardens — the famous Chicago theatre where so many revues have been staged. And one night, when one of the chorus girls obligingly took sick, it was Ruth Etting who stepped into her place.
Good-by designing! She made a hit. She was given a regular bit in the show. Furthermore, the stage bug had bitten her. That was in 1922.
Shortly after, she was appearing in vaudeville. And then a smart night club bid for her services.
Ziegfeld heard about her. And a Zeigfeld accredited agent hopped the Century to secure Miss Etting for the “Follies of 1927.”
Ruth signed a Ziegfeld contract. However, rehearsals for the “Follies” were slow in starting. Meantime, she fidgeted about in New York with nothing to do. So when
A. J. Ballaban, theatrical producer, asked her to team up with Paul Whiteman for the opening of the Paramount Theatre she consented. She played three weeks at the Paramount — and would have remained longer, but Mr. Ziegfeld objected.
Her not-to-be-imitated torch singing was a sensation. In the “Follies” and in “Simple Simon” and “Whoopee” and again in the “Follies of 1931.” The movie people got after her. She couldn’t go to the Coast because of her stage contract, but, after all, Warner Brothers have a studio in Brooklyn. Ruth made several Vitaphone shorts. And movie audiences loved them. Perhaps some day she’ll make a full length picture.
Ruth’s recordings are the best sellers in the platter market. And in a radio contest she was chosen the most popular non-commercial artist on the air. Salary? Well, for all she sings about getting ten cents a dance, her weekly earnings run up into five figures.
As a matter of fact, Ruth Etting loves rural domesticity. And old overalls. And she says she’d like to retire in a few years and go back to David City, Nebraska. Her dad, incidentally is mayor of the town.
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