March, 2017 - Fanny Brice - Whisky Sour

Fania Borache (October 29, 1891 - May 29, 1951)
Known professionally as Fanny Brice, Fania was born in New York City, the third child of a Hungarian Jewish woman and Alsatian immigrant.  The Boraches were saloon owners.  In 1908, Brice dropped out of school to work in a burlesque revue.  Two years later she began her association with Florenz Ziegfeld, headlining his Ziegfeld Follies.  Her hit songs included "My Man" and "Second Hand Rose."  Her films include My Man (1928), Be Yourself! (1930) and Everybody Sing (1938) with Judy Garland.  From the 1930s until her death in 1951, Fanny made a radio presence as a bratty toddler named Snooks, a role she premiered in a Follies skit co-written by playwright Moss Hart.  Brice did not like to rehearse the roll ("I can't do a show until it's on the air, kid.") Thirteen years after her death, she was portrayed on the Broadway stage by Barbra Streisand in the musical Funny Girl and its 1968 film adaptation.  Brice married a barber, Frank White, whom she met in 1910 when she was touring.  The marriage lasted three years until she brought suit for divorce.  Her second husband was professional gambler Julius W. "Nicky" Arnstein.  Prior to their marriage, Arnstein served fourteen months in Sing Sing for wiretapping.  Brice visited him in prison every week.  In 1918 they were married after living together for six years.  In 1924, Arnstein was charged in a Wall Street bond theft.  Brice insisted on his innocence and funded his legal defense at great expense.  Arnstein was convicted and sentenced to the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, where he served three years.  Reluctantly, Brice divorced him on September 17, 1927, soon after his release, and Arnstein disappeared from Brice's life and that of their two children.  Brice married songwriter and stage producer Billy Rose in 1929 and appeared in his revue Crazy Quilt, among others.  Brice sued Rose for divorce in 1938.

The Drink

Whisky Sour
2 oz bourbon whisky
2 tsp sugar (or honey for one lady)
1 tbsp lemon juice
maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

Drinkability:  2.5
Drunkability:  5
Taxic Diversity:  2
Accessibility:  5
Priority for Conservation:  4

Comments:

From "Women in Comedy" themed meeting, hosted by Ball Buster.