That was my one big Hollywood hit, but, in a way, it hurt my picture career. After that, I was typecast as a lion, and there just weren't many parts for lions.

He played to packed houses performing classic routines such as "The Song of the Woodman" (which he later reprised in the film Merry-Go-Round of 1938). It was a success and received enthusiastic ovations from the audience. Lahr also contributed ad-lib comedic lines for his character.

Lahr is remembered today for his roles as the Cowardly Lion and Kansas farmworker Zeke in the film The Wizard of Oz (1939) but was also well known for work in burlesque vaudeville and on Broadway.