Wild Facts About Fanny Brice, The Real Funny Girl
In her career, comedian Fanny Brice let no man stand in her way. In her personal life, that’s all men seemed to do.
1. She Had A Soft Spot
Fanny Brice was a woman ahead of her time. In an era where men were funny and women were their sidekicks, she stood out as a sole female performer. And then there was her voice, which could take audiences into joyous laughter and deep sorrow.
Sadly, she had her kryptonite—and it was bad.
In fact, it took two movies to tell the story of Brice’s tragic life. Now, let’s look beyond what the movies tell us and discover the real Fanny Brice.
Alfred Cheney Johnston, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
2. She Grew Up In A Weird Place
Fanny Brice was born Fania Borach on October 29, 1891, in Manhattan. She was one of four children, and their upbringing was in a strange environment. You see, the parents owned saloons, which were bars bursting with entertainment. The saloons made heaps of money, but there was a problem, well…actually two. Dad was both a drinker and a gambler.
Mom was not happy with her husband’s behavior, so she came up with a drastic solution.
3. She Acted Poor
To deal with her husband’s money-wasting vices, mom sold the saloons for a handsome price. She then packed up the kids and headed to Brooklyn, where she wheeled and dealed in real estate. Even though they had more than enough money, Brice did things that poor kids did. She sold lemonade on the street, snuck into movies and even shoplifted.
Then, one single night in 1906 sent her life soaring in a totally new direction.
4. She Made A Drastic Decision
When she was just 15 years old, Fanny Brice entered an amateur talent show at Keeney’s Theater in Brooklyn. Well, to her own surprise, she won. This convinced her that her future was in performing, and she immediately made the drastic decision to quit school. It took a while, but she did eventually get a job, and she hoped it would be her big entrance to the glamorous world of theater.
Yes, she entered a theater, but she was in for a huge disappointment.
