Ann Pennington was an American stage actress, dancer, singer, and screen performer best remembered for her Broadway work in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White’s Scandals. She became a notable revue performer during the 1910s and 1920s, an era when Broadway variety shows helped shape American popular entertainment.
The Internet Broadway Database lists Pennington’s birth as December 23, 1893, in Wilmington, Delaware, and her death as November 4, 1971, in New York City. Its Broadway records also document her long stage career, including multiple appearances in Ziegfeld Follies productions and George White’s Scandals.
Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anna Rebecca Pennington |
| Professional Name | Ann Pennington |
| Also Known As | Penny, Tiny |
| Profession | Stage Actress, Dancer, Singer, Screen Actress |
| Date of Birth | December 23, 1893 |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Date of Death | November 4, 1971 |
| Age at Death | 77 years old |
| Place of Death | New York City, United States |
| Known For | Ziegfeld Follies and George White’s Scandals |
| Broadway Career | 1910s–1940s |
| Notable Films | Susie Snowflake, The Rainbow Princess, The Antics of Ann, Happy Days, China Girl |
| Marital Status | Public biographies report that she never married |
| Associated Figures | Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., George White, Fanny Brice, Jack Dempsey |
Early Life and Background
Ann Pennington was born Anna Rebecca Pennington in Wilmington, Delaware. Public records and Broadway databases consistently connect her early identity to Delaware before her rise in New York stage entertainment.
Details about her childhood are limited in widely available verified sources. Because of that, a factual biography should avoid unsupported claims about her early family life and focus on her documented stage, dance, and film career.
Some secondary profiles state that Pennington made an early Broadway appearance in The Red Widow, while the Internet Broadway Database’s first listed Broadway credit for her is Ziegfeld Follies of 1913. This distinction matters because historical stage records sometimes differ from later biographical summaries.
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Career and Professional Journey
Pennington’s Broadway career became strongly associated with Florenz Ziegfeld’s Ziegfeld Follies. IBDB lists her as a performer in Ziegfeld Follies of 1913, followed by later editions in 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, and 1924.
Her career also included major work in George White’s Scandals, another important Broadway revue series of the period. IBDB credits her in the 1919, 1920, 1921, 1926, and 1928 editions of George White’s Scandals.
Pennington appeared in several other Broadway productions beyond those revues. Her later stage credits included The New Yorkers in 1930, Everybody’s Welcome in 1931, and a 1943 revival of The Student Prince.
She also worked in silent and early sound films. The American Film Institute lists her screen credits including The Rainbow Princess, Susie Snowflake, The Antics of Ann, The Little Boy Scout, Sunshine Nan, Manhandled, The Lucky Horseshoe, A Kiss in the Dark, The Golden Strain, and Madame Behave.
One of her best-known early films was Susie Snowflake. AFI notes that the film was released in June 1916 and that reports at the time described it as a successful screen debut for Pennington while she was still active on stage.
Pennington continued appearing in films into the sound era. Turner Classic Movies notes that she appeared in China Girl as an entertainer, describing it as her last movie.
Major Achievements and Recognition
Ann Pennington’s main achievement was her status as a prominent Broadway revue performer. Her repeated appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies placed her among the recognizable stage personalities of early 20th-century Broadway.
Her work in George White’s Scandals further strengthened her reputation as a revue dancer and stage performer. The series was one of the major Broadway revue brands of its era, and Pennington’s repeated credits show her sustained popularity in that format.
Her screen career gave her additional visibility beyond Broadway. AFI’s filmography confirms that she moved between stage and cinema during the silent-film period, with leading or featured roles in multiple films from 1916 onward.
Pennington is remembered today as part of Broadway’s revue tradition, especially the theatrical world of Ziegfeld performers, musical comedy, dance numbers, and early celebrity stage culture.
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FAQ Section
Who was Ann Pennington?
Ann Pennington was an American stage actress, dancer, singer, and screen performer best known for appearing in the Ziegfeld Follies and George White’s Scandals. IBDB documents her Broadway credits from the 1910s through the 1940s.
When was Ann Pennington born?
Ann Pennington was born on December 23, 1893, in Wilmington, Delaware, according to the Internet Broadway Database.
When did Ann Pennington die?
Ann Pennington died on November 4, 1971, in New York City. She was 77 years old.
What Broadway shows was Ann Pennington known for?
She was best known for the Ziegfeld Follies and George White’s Scandals. IBDB lists her in multiple editions of both Broadway revue series.
What movies did Ann Pennington appear in?
Ann Pennington appeared in silent and early sound films including Susie Snowflake, The Rainbow Princess, The Antics of Ann, Sunshine Nan, Madame Behave, and China Girl.
Conclusion
Ann Pennington was a Broadway and screen performer whose career reflected the glamour and energy of early 20th-century American entertainment. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on December 23, 1893, she became closely associated with the Ziegfeld Follies and George White’s Scandals.
The key verified facts about Pennington include her long Broadway career, repeated revue appearances, silent-film work, later sound-era film credits, and death in New York City on November 4, 1971. Her legacy remains tied to Broadway dance, revue performance, and the early bridge between stage fame and motion-picture visibility.
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