She was around 14 years old when she was hired by Nils Granlund, the publicity manager for Loews Theaters, who also served as the stage-show producer for Texas Guinan at Larry Fay's El Fay nightclub, a speakeasy frequented by gangsters. She was noticed by Broadway producer Charles B. Dillingham, who gave her a role in "Bye, Bye, Bonnie" (produced by L. Lawrence Weber), which ran for six months. She then appeared in "Lucky" and as Mamie in "The Sidewalks of New York", also produced by Dillingham. In the later show, she was seen by Flo Ziegfeld, who sent her a bunch of roses and a note that stated "May I make you a star?"