Plot Summary

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Flo Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more-successful neighbor Billings, and also steals his girlfriend. This pattern is repeated throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever-bigger, more spectacular shows--sections of which appear in the film. French revue star Anna Held becomes his first wife, but being married to the man who "glorified the American girl" is not so glorious. Late in life, now married to Billie Burke, he seems to be all washed up, but.