The Real Dolly Sisters.

The Dolly Sisters, twins Rosika (Rose) and Jansci (Jenny) Deutsch, were born October 25, 1892 in Hungary, and traveled to the United States in 1905. They perfected a dance act, under the name of 'The Dolly Sisters' they began earning money in beer halls in 1907. Barred for being under age by the New York City stage, they toured the Orpheum circuit until 1909 when they debuted on the Keith vaudeville circuit till 1911 when they signed with the Ziegfeld Follies for two seasons.

In addition to making about a half dozen films from 1913 to 1920, they toured the theatres and dance halls of Europe. Sometimes they would perform with separate partners as "rival" acts to boost ticket sales.



Rosie lived long enough to see a biopic made in 1945 of their lives called, The Dolly Sisters - starring June Haver and Betty Grable.

The Dolly Sisters (1945) Biographical film, about the Dolly Sisters, identical twins who became famous on Broadway. Cast: Betty Grable, June Haver and John Payne.

In 1904, Hungarian sisters Yansci and Roszika Dolly, travel to America with their uncle Latsie, when they stop by a New York City restaurant. On a whim the little girls dance as the band performs. It is 1912, and the girls, are now grown, they call themselves Jenny and Rosie, and they still love to dance and sing at the restaurant. Needing money to pay bills, Jenny and Rosie talk the restaurant owner help them find a job in upstate New York. On the train, the sisters meet singer Harry Fox, who is not too happy to find out that he has been billed below the two sisters and a performing seal. Harry and Jenny, fall in love. When the girls have to move on, Jenny promises Harry, that she will wait for him. Back in New York City, the sisters, are not having any luck with their singing career, until one day, Harry, comes back into their lives. Harry and Jenny, are very happy to see each other. Harry says, with his help, he can arrange an interview with, Oscar Hammerstein. Harry puts up the girls in an expensive hotel and buys them expensive clothes. The girls audition for Hammerstein, who is very impressed with them, and soon has them starring in one of his shows. But their success takes them out of Harry's league. Lots of wonderful songs. One of my favorite Betty Grable films. I think my favorite scene is when Betty was driving the car and has an accident. She really looked like she was having a nervous breakdown. Also in the hospital scene, she was again very convincing in her performance. Too bad the academy did not nominate her for an Oscar.

FUN FACTS:

Jenny Dolly, Rosie Dolly, and Harry Fox were real people.

The real Rosie Dolly, loaned her scrapbooks to Twentieth Century-Fox, for research on this movie.

Twentieth Century Fox, planned to have Alice Faye and Betty Grable, star in this movie. Miss Faye, becoming weary of musical roles, declined.

Betty Grable, using the pseudonym Ruth Haag (which combined her middle name with that of her husband Harry James), performed as vocalist for Harry James and His Music Makers on the best selling commercial disc, released by Columbia Records, of the movie's Oscar-nominated ballad, I Can't Begin to Tell You.

Video from the The Dolly Sisters (1945) Biographical film.

Be My Guest

Hey Dawn,

Starting a monthly feature where I ask a friend and fellow blogger to discuss their favorite things. Next month I have asked Kori of Blonde Episodes to kick things off because she recently asked me to post on her blog. For June I hope to have you Dawn to be the guest of honor. I will provide some questions and you as the guest can respond with your answers. Hopefully it won't be a one time thing either, for that month the guest can comment on anything they fancy and would love to discuss your favorite films in depth ala TCM's Essentials.

Happy Birthday Ann-Margret

To a fabulous actress and dancer, Happy Birthday Ann-Margret


Ann-Margret Photos
This Swedish-born actress and singer has remained one of the most famous sex symbols and actresses since the early 1960s, and has continued her career through the following decades. Born in Sweden on April 28, 1941, she came to America at age 6. She studied at Northwestern University and left for Las Vegas to pursue a career as a singer. She was discovered by George Burns and soon afterward got both a record deal at RCA and a film contract at 20th Century Fox. In 1961, her single "I Just Don't Understand" charted in the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Her acting debut followed the same year as Bette Davis' daughter in Frank Capra's Pocketful of Miracles (1961). She appeared in the musical State Fair (1962) a year later before her breakthrough the following year.

With Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Viva Las Vegas (1964) opposite Elvis Presley, she became a Top 10 Box Office star, teen idol and even Golden Globe winning actress. She was marketed as Hollywood's hottest young star and in the years to come got awarded the infamous nickname "sex kitten." Some of her pictures, like The Cincinnati Kid (1965) with Steve McQueen, were hits. While others such as Bus Riley's Back in Town (1965) and Murderers' Row (1966), were ripped apart by critics. She couldn't escape being typecast because of her great looks. By the late 1960s, her career stalled, and she turned to foreign films and television for new projects. She returned and was back in the public image with Hollywood films like C.C. and Company (1970), Las Vegas sing-and-dance shows and her own television specials.

She finally overcame her image when she co-starred with Jack Nicholson in Carnal Knowledge (1971), receiving an Academy Award nomination and succeeding in changing her image from sex kitten to respected actress. A near-fatal accident at a Lake Tahoe show in 1972 only momentarily stopped her career. She made a recovery and was again Oscar-nominated in for her performance in Tommy (1975), the rock opera film of the British rock band The Who. Her film career continued successfully into the late '70s with starring roles in films like Magic (1978). She wowed the critics with her performances in Who Will Love My Children? (1983) (TV) and the remake of A Streetcar Named Desire (1984) (TV) (TV), the first of many projects to earn her Emmy nominations.

After starring in a string of forgettable films throughout the 80s, she had one of the biggest commercial successes of her career with Grumpy Old Men (1993) as the object of desire for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and it's equally successful sequel, Grumpier Old Men (1995) with Sophia Loren. Ann-Margret has also performed with such notable leading men as Al Pacino, John Wayne, Anthony Hopkins, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gene Hackman, Vince Vaughn, and John Travolta, vintage actresses such as Julie Andrews and Janet Leigh, as well as contemporary female stars like Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz. She continues to act in the 1990s and 2000s, with lead roles in TV and independent films, and supporting roles in Hollywood mainstream pictures such as Any Given Sunday (1999), Taxi (2004/I), The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), and The Break-Up (2006).

Since 1967 she has been married to Roger Smith, and is the stepmother of his three children. Ann-Margaret is considered iconic and legendary, remaining one of Hollywood's top sex symbols and one of the most famous women in America.

Betty Grable- From the movie: Three for the Show(1955).

From the movie: Three for the Show(1955). Musical comedy remake of Too Many Husbands. It starred actress Betty Grable in her last musical, opposite Jack Lemmon, Gower Champion and Marge Champion.

Is it just me or does this dance number seem like: you took Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees - Who's Got the Pain. Mix them together and whoa la ???

Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin

Tony Martin received a soprano saxophone on his tenth birthday. In his grammar school glee club, he became an instrumentalist and soprano pop singer. When in high school he then formed his first band called "The Red Peppers", eventually joining a local orchestra leader, Tom Gerun, as a reed instrument specialist, sitting along with a future band leader, Woody Herman. In 1937, Martin married Alice Faye. After divorce, he married Cyd Charisse in 1948, their marriage lasted sixty years. As musicals faded from the screen, as did Cyd Charisse career. They became a husband and wife team and performed on television and nightclubs.

Martin performed in the movies: Follow the Fleet (1936), The Farmer in the Dell (1936), Pigskin Parade (1936), The Holy Terror (1937), Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937), The Big Store (1941), Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), Casbah (1948), Clash by Night (1952), and Hit the Deck (1955).


Cyd Charisse in "Party Girl" - Title Sequence- With the theme song sung by her husband Tony Martin. Party Girl is a 1958 film noir directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Robert Taylor and Cyd Charisse. Charisse performs two dance routines in the gangster film. Party Girl was the last film Robert Taylor did under contract for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.





Dance sequence # 1 Directed by Nicholas Ray.



Dance sequence # 2 Directed by Nicholas Ray.

Happy Birthday Shirley MacLaine

(1934-present) Happy Birthday to a wondeful and talented lady.
My favorite Shirley films include:
The Sheepman
The Apartment
Sweet Charity
Some Came Running
Steel Magnolias
The Trouble With Harry
Irma La Douce
Ocean's Eleven

Shirley MacLaine Photos

Donald O' Connor. Was best known for his ability to do somersault against walls.

Donnald O'Connor, began his movie career in 1937. He performed with Bing Crosby in Sing, You Sinners, and at age 12 showed perfect comedic timing. Paramount Pictures used him in Tom Sawyer, Detective and Beau Geste. In 1940, he returned to vaudeville.

In 1942 O'Connor joined Universal Pictures. He played roles in four of the Gloria Jean musicals, and became a star in Mister Big (1943).In 1944, O'Connor was drafted into the Army. Universal Pictures rushed him through three films. After his discharge, Universal (now reorganized as Universal-International) cast him in musicals and comedies.In 1949, he played the lead role in Francis, the story of a soldier befriended by a talking mule. It was because of Francis that O'Connor could not play Bing Crosby's side kick in White Christmas. O'Connor became ill from an illness transmitted by the mule.
O'Connor's role as Cosmo the piano player in Singin' in the Rain earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical.

Donald O'Connor was a regular host of NBC's popular Colgate Comedy Hour. He hosted a color television special on NBC in 1957. He also had a television series in the late 1960s.His career took off when he hosted the Oscar Awards, which earned him two Prime time Emmy nominations. He performed as a gaslight-era entertainer in the 1981 film Ragtime, known for performances by James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. O'Connor performed in, Bring Back Birdie on Broadway in 1981, and continued to make film and television appearances into the 1990s. Donald O'Connor's last feature film was the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out to Sea, in which he played a dance host on a cruise ship. O’Connor was still making public appearances well into 2003.
Donald O' Conner performing with Carmen Miranda.
Donald O' Conner performing with Angela Lansbury.

Donald O Connor performed in: There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) . With Marilyn Monroe.

Donald O' Connor, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. On the Singin' in the Rain set. Fred Astaire helped performers with their dance routines.

The Milkman (1950). With Jimmy Durante.

Singin' in the Rain (1952). What a Glorious Feeling !

Singin' in the Rain(1952). Comedy/musical. Cast: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Jean Hagen. Directed: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also as choreographer. It offers a comic view of Hollywood, and its transition from silent films to "talkies."

There are so many wonderful Singing in the Rain reviews, I thought I would share some of my favorite scenes of the movie..



The film opens with everyone standing in front of Hollywood's Chinese Theater for the premiere of Monumental Picture's, The Royal Rascal, with silent screen couple Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont.



Don shares with radio announcer Dora Bailey that his motto has always been "dignity" and tells a cute story loosely based on his childhood.



The audience loves the swashbuckling film and asks to hear from its stars, who they all think are a couple, but Don, can not stand his bossy screechy-voiced co-star.



Don sneaks away from Lina and drives with his best friend, studio pianist Cosmo Brown, to the premiere party. On Hollywood Blvd., Cosmo's car breaks down, and Don is surrounded by his fans. To escape from being pulled apart, Don jumps onto a passing car driven by Kathy Selden. She is frightened, but when a policeman tells Kathy who Don is, she offers him a ride to his home in Beverly Hills.




Although, Kathy says she has seen only one of Don's films, she is actually a chorus girl at the Coconut Grove nightclub. After dropping Don off, Kathy drives to the party at R. F.'s house, where she will be performing. When Don arrives at the party they are showing a short talking picture. Most of the guests are unimpressed, even when R. F. says that the Warner brothers are about to release a feature-length talking picture. When the entertainment starts, Don is surprised, to see Kathy jump out of a cake and tries to talk with her, but she thinks that he only wants to make fun of her.



Just as a Lina walks up to them, Kathy throws a pie at him, but misses, and hits Lina instead.





Fun Fact:

Debbie Reynolds was not a dancer at the time she made Singin' in the Rain, was as a gymnast. Kelly insulted her for her lack of dance experience. Fred Astaire was at the studio and he found Reynolds crying under a piano. Astaire volunteered to help her with her dancing. After shooting the "Good Morning" routine, Reynolds' feet were bleeding. Years later, she was quoted as saying that "making this film and surviving childbirth were the two most difficult experiences of her life".



In the famous dance routine in which Gene Kelly sings the title song while twirling an umbrella, splashing through puddles he was actually dancing in water with a little bit of milk added, so that the water puddles and raindrops would show up better on film. Kelly was sick with a 103-degree fever at the time. Filming of the sequence took place over 2–3 days



Donald O'Connor as Cosmo Brown. The role was based on, and was initially written for, Oscar Levant. For the "Make Em Laugh" number, Gene Kelly asked Donald O'Connor to revive a trick he had done as a young dancer, running up a wall and completing a somersault. The number was so physically taxing that O'Connor, who smoked four packs of cigarettes a day at the time, went to bed for a week after its completion, suffering from exhaustion and painful carpet burns. Unfortunately, an accident ruined all of the initial footage, so after a brief rest, O'Connor, ever the professional, agreed to do the difficult number all over again.



Before this film, dancer Cyd Charisse had only been in films as a 'dance specialty' or as a co-co star since 1944. Her performance as the Louise Brooks-like vamp in the "Broadway Melody" fantasy number was so successful that MGM finally put her in other films. Her next film was, The Band Wagon (1953), starring Fred Astaire.

Many real-life silent-film personalities are parodied, especially in the opening sequence. Zelda Zanders - the "Zip Girl" - is Clara Bow, the "It Girl". Olga Mara is Pola Negri, and her husband, Baron de la Ma de la Toulon, is a reference to Gloria Swanson's husband, the Marquis Henri de la Falaise de Coudray.

Soundtracks:

"Singin in the Rain"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)
Sung by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds
Danced by Gene Kelly
Sung by Debbie Reynolds

"Fit as a Fiddle"
(1932) (uncredited)
Music by Al Hoffman and Al Goodhart
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from the 1932 stage revue "George White's Music Hall Varieties"
Sung and Danced by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor

"All I Do Is Dream of You"
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Sadie McKee (1934)
Sung and Danced by Debbie Reynolds and chorus

"Make 'Em Laugh"
(1948) (uncredited)
Music by Cole Porter
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from The Pirate (1948) as "Be a Clown"
Sung and Danced by Donald O'Connor

"I've Got a Feeling You're Foolin'"
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
Sung by chorus

"The Wedding of the Painted Doll"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from The Broadway Melody (1929)
Sung by chorus

"Should I?"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Lord Byron of Broadway (1930)
Sung by Wilson Wood

"Beautiful Girl"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Stage Mother (1933)
Sung by Jimmy Thompson

"You Were Meant For Me"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from The Broadway Melody (1929)
Sung by Gene Kelly
Danced by Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds

"Moses"
(1952) (uncredited)
(Also known as "Moses Supposes")
Music by Roger Edens
Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Sung and Danced by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor

"Good Morning"
(1939) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Babes in Arms (1939)
Sung and Danced by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds

"Would You"
(1936) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from San Francisco (1936)
Sung by Debbie Reynolds (dubbed by Betty Noyes)

"Broadway Rhythm Ballet"
(1952) (uncredited)
Arranged from "Broadway Rhythm" (1935)
Originally from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) and from "Broadway Melody" (1929)
Originally from The Broadway Melody (1929)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by Gene Kelly
Danced by Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

"Singin in the Rain (in A-Flat)"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)
Sung by Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Millard Mitchell

"You Are My Lucky Star"
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
Sung by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and offscreen chorus

"Temptation"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from Going Hollywood (1933)

Happy Birthday Shirley Temple and Sandra Dee on Friday, April 23rd

Happy Birthday to two lovely women:
Shirley Temple (1928-present) and Sandra Dee (1942-2005)

Shirley Temple Photos

Sandra Dee Photos

Betty Grable and Harry James performing together. (1940).

1940s Hollywood Pin Up girl, Betty Grable, and her husband, bandleader, Harry James performed together in "Baby Wont you Please Come Home".

You Were Never Lovelier (1942).

You Were Never Lovelier(1942). Comedy, set in Buenos Aires. Cast: Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Adolphe Menjou and Xavier Cugat, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Directed: William A. Seiter.

This is the second of Astaire's performances with Hayworth. With beautiful production numbers: "I'm Old Fashioned", and a trio dance routines. When production was complete, he was so pleased with Cugat and his orchestra performance that he presented him with a silver baton. Hayworth had a wonderful voice, Harry Cohn insisted on her singing being dubbed by Nan Wynn.

The story begins with Robert Davis, as an American dancer who is looking for a job in Buenos Aires after losing all his money gambling. Bob's friend, bandleader Xavier Cugat, invites him to perform at a wedding to addition for the bride's father, Eduardo Acuña, who owns a local nightclub.

Acuña begins sending orchids and love notes to her from an unknown suitor, with the hope that she will eventually find the love of her life. One day, Bob delivers the note and flower. Maria, sees Bob leaving and believes that he is her secret admirer. Maria asks her father to introduce them. He makes a deal with Bob: in exchange for performing at the club, Bob will play the part of the secret admirer and upset Maria with his obnoxious behavior.

The plan backfires and the two quickly fall in love. Angry Acuña orders Bob to leave Buenos Aires and composes a farewell love note. Acuña's wife sees him writing the note and suspects him of cheating on her. How will they clear up this terrible misunderstanding?

Rita Hayworth, was absolutely beautiful in this film. She and Fred dance wonderfully to one of my favorite Jerome Kern ballads, I'm Old Fashioned.

FUN FACTS:
Features a 15-year-old Fidel Castro as an extra.

Rita Hayworth's favorite film of her own.


Soundtracks:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



"You Were Never Lovelier"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played during the opening credits and often as background music
Played by the Xavier Cugat Orchestra and sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth at the anniversary party
Danced by Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth at the end and sung by an offscreen chorus

"Chiu, Chiu"
(uncredited)
Written by Nicanor Molinare
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and sung and danced by Lina Romay,
Miguelito Valdés and chorus

"Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
(1850) (uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra at the wedding

"Dearly Beloved"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and sung by Fred Astaire at the wedding
Reprised by Rita Hayworth dancing and singing (singing dubbed by Nan Wynn)
Played as background music often

"Wedding in the Spring"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played on piano and sung by Leslie Brooks and Adele Mara
Reprised by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra) and sung by Lina Romay and chorus,

"Audition Dance"
(uncredited)
Music is a collection of themes
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire

"Los Hijos de Buda"
(uncredited)
Written by Rafael Hernández and Noro Morales
Excerpts played for the Audition Dance
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire


"Bim Bam Bum"
(uncredited)
Written by Johnnie Camacho and Noro Morales
Excerpts played for the Audition Dance
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire

"Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C Sharp Minor"
(1847) (uncredited)
Written by Franz Liszt
Excerpts played for the Audition Dance
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire

"Eco"
(uncredited)
Written by Gilbert Valdes
Excerpts played for the Audition Dance
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire

"These Orchids"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played as background music for orchid deliveries
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and sung by the orchid delivery boys



"I'm Old Fashioned"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Nan Wynn) and Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth
Played as background music at the anniversary party

"The Shorty George"
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Arranged by Lyle 'Spud' Murphy
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and sung by Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth and an offscreen chorus
Danced by Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth

Deep in My Heart(1954) Gene Kelly and his brother Fred Kelly only on-screen performance together.

Deep in My Heart(1954). Biographical musical about the life of operetta composer Sigmund Romberg, who wrote the music for The Student Prince, The Desert Song, and The New Moon. Leonard Spigelglass adapted the film from Elliott Arnold's 1949 biography of the same name. Stanley Donen directed and Eugene Loring choreographed.

The film, which takes its title from "Deep in My Heart, Dear," a song from "The Student Prince," which has cameos by nearly every singer or dancer on the MGM lot at the time. These include Cyd Charisse, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly and his brother Fred Kelly (their only on-screen performance together), Tony Martin, Ann Miller, James Mitchell, Jane Powell, and the ballerina Tamara Toumanova. Robert Easton and Russ Tamblyn both make uncredited appearances.



Some highlights of Fred Kelly's career:

Winner of three Donaldson awards, which were the precursor of the Tony Awards: one for acting (presented by Helen Hayes), one for comedy (presented by Charlie Chaplin), and one for dance (presented by Antoinette Perry, for whom the Tony awards are named).

Directed The Ice Capades.

Introduced the mambo to the New York City dance scene.

Invented the cha-cha.

Taught a young man named John Travolta to dance in Oradell, NJ.

In the movie Meet Me in St. Louis, the song “The Boy Next Door” was based on Fred and his wife, Dottie, who was his childhood sweetheart. They lived next door to each other in Pittsburgh.

Fred produced, directed, or was otherwise involved with the first television drama series, soap opera, cooking show, and talk show - a true television pioneer.

Soundtracks:

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"Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Performed by Tamara Toumanova (dubbed by Betty Wand (uncredited))
Also sung by Helen Traubel
Originally from the musical "The New Moon" (1928)

"Mr. and Mrs."
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Cyrus Wood (as Cyrus D. Wood)
Sung by Rosemary Clooney and José Ferrer
Originally from the musical "The Blushing Bride" (1922)

"I Love to Go Swimmin' with Wimmen"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Ballard MacDonald
Performed by Gene Kelly and Fred Kelly
Originally from the musical "Love Birds" (1921)

"The Road to Paradise"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young
Sung by Vic Damone
Originally from the musical "Maytime" (1917)

"Will You Remember (Sweetheart)"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young
Sung by Jane Powell and Vic Damone
Originally from the musical "Maytime" (1917)

"It"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto A. Harbach
Sung and Danced by Ann Miller
Originally from the musical "The Desert Song" (1926)

"Serenade"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly
Sung by William Olvis
Originally from the musical "The Student Prince" (1924)

"One Alone"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto A. Harbach
Sung and Danced by Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Carol Richards (uncredited)) and James Mitchell
Originally from the musical "The Desert Song" (1926)

"Your Land and My Land"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly
Sung by Howard Keel
Originally from the musical "My Maryland" (1927)

"Lover, Come Back to Me"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Tony Martin and Joan Weldon
Originally from the musical "The New Moon" (1928)

"When I Grow Too Old to Dream"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by José Ferrer, Helen Traubel and chorus
Originally from the film The Night Is Young (1935)

"Leg of Mutton"
Music and Lyrics by Sigmund Romberg
Sung by José Ferrer and Helen Traubel

"'Allo, 'Allo"
Performed by Tamara Toumanova (possibly dubbed by Betty Wand (uncredited))

"Auf Wiedersehn"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds
Sung by Helen Traubel
Originally from the musical "The Blue Paradise" (1915)

"You Will Remember Vienna"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Helen Traubel

"Jazzadadadoo"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Harold Atteridge
Performed by José Ferrer
Originally from the musical "Bombo" (1921)

"Stouthearted Men"
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Helen Traubel
Originally from the musical "The New Moon" (1928)

The Thrill of Brazil (1946)

The Thrill of Brazil(1946), Is a remake of Hawks' HIS GIRL Friday as a musical, instead of Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and Ralph Bellamy, there is Keenan Wynn, Evelyn Keyes and Allyn Joslyn, and instead of it being about newspapers and death, it is about a nightclub. Dance director Nick Castle, really knew how to choreograph a dance number.

Producer Steve Farraugh, tries out his new show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before taking it on to New York. The Star of the show, Linda Lorens, is in love with Steve, but Steve is still in love with his ex-wife, Vicki Dean, a stage director. Vicki arrives in Rio with her new fiancee, John Harbour, to have Steve's sign the final divorce papers. Steve purposely makes the show finale such a flop that she will want to stay and help him fix it. Despite his best efforts Steve admits defeat and signs the papers. Steve hires taxi driver to steal the the divorce papers from Vicki, along with the couples plane tickets. Vicki decides to accept his offer to direct the show. Steve's plan backfires, when the taxi driver discovers that the check Steve gave him has been signed with disappearing ink, and returns to the club and tells Linda about Steve's scheme. Together, Linda and the taxi driver look for Steve, who is with Vicki and John on a sightseeing trip. The police arrive just as a fight breaks out. All but Steve are arrested and thrown in jail. While still behind bars Steve has a photographer snap a picture of John. Will Steve give up his scheme and confesses to Vicki?


Soundtracks:

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"The Custom House"
Written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts
Danced by Ann Miller

"Man is brother to a mule"
Written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts
Sung and danced by Ann Miller, Tito Guízar, and chorus

"Copa-Cabana"
Written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts
Performed by Tito Guízar

"Minute Samba"
Written by Enric Madriguera
Performed by Enric Madriguera and his orchestra

"Mucho Dinero"
Written by Enric Madriguera and Albert Gamse
Performed by unidentified singer, with Enric Madriguera and his orchestra

"Thrill of Brazil"
Written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts
Performed by Tito Guízar

"You Never Say Yes, You Never Say No"
Performed by Tito Guízar

"Linda Mujer"
Written by Raphael Duchesne

Charlie Spivak- aka: Cheery, Chubby Charlie.

Charlie Spivak, trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s. He began to play trumpet when he was ten years old, and played in his high school band, performing with local bands before joining Don Cavallaros orchestra. He played with Paul Specht's band for most of 1924 to 1930, then performed with Ben Pollack (1931–1934), the Dorsey brothers (1934–1935), and Ray Noble (1935– 1936). He spent 1936 and 1937 working as a studio musician with Gus Arnheim, Glenn Miller, Raymond Scott's radio orchestra, followed by Bob Crosby (1938), Tommy Dorsey (1938–1939), and Jack Teagarden (1939. With encouragement and financial support of Glenn Miller, he formed his own band in November 1939. Though it failed in the first year, he tried again, this time taking over an existing band (Bill Downer's) and making a success of it. Spivak's band was one of the most successful in the 1940s-1959. He found top trumpeter Paul Fredricks (formerly of Alvino Rey's Orchestra). Spivak's experience playing with jazz musicians had little effect on his own band's style, which was straight dance music, made up of ballads and popular tunes. Spivak himself (known as "Cheery, Chubby Charlie"). A number of the band's musicians were to make names for themselves, such as drummer Davey Tough, bassist Jimmy Middleton, trumpeter Les Elgart, trombonist Nelson Riddle, and singers Garry Stevens, June Hutton, Tommy Mercer, Jimmy Saunders, and Irene Daye (who had sung with Gene Krupa, and whom Spivak married in 1950). Riddle was also responsible for many of the band's arrangements, together with Sonny Burke. When the Spivak orchestra broke up, he went to live in Florida, where he continued to lead a band until illness led to his temporary retirement in 1963. When he recovered, he continued to lead large and small bands, first in Las Vegas, then in South Carolina; in Greenville, South Carolina in 1967 he led a small group featuring his wife as vocalist. Spivak performed and recorded until his death.

Charlie plays a great trumpet, Stardusters sing. Clip from "Pinup Girl"

Betty Grable and the Stardusters.

Deleted Scene from her movie "Pin-Up Girl" (1944). Song: I'm in the Chips.

Betty Grable and Gwen Verdon.

Betty Grable and Gwen Verdon dancing in, "No Talent Joe" in "Meet me after the Show".

Dawn Sheree North- "The New Marilyn Monroe".

Dawn Sheree North, was first spotted by a choreographer while performing at the Macayo Club, North was then cast as a chorus girl in, Here Come the Girls (1953) starring Bob Hope. Sheree made her Broadway debut in the musical Hazel Flagg, which she won a Theatre World Award. She went on to perform her role in the film version Living It Up. In 1954, North signed on with 20th Century-Fox and performed in lead role in How to Be Very, Very Popular, a role that was rejected by Marilyn Monroe. Which received huge media attention.Film historians, claim North's dance performance to "Shake, Rattle and Roll", as the film's most memorable scene. After the success of How to Be Very, Very Popular, North was named by Fox as the "new Marilyn Monroe". Fox, soon lost interest in her and focused their attention on, Jayne Mansfield. Decades later, North played Monroe's mother in the television movie Marilyn (1980): The Untold Story. After North's contract with Fox ended in 1958, she continued her career in films and guest spots in television shows, Gunsmoke, Breaking Point and Ben Casey. In the 1960s, she returned to Broadway in, Can Get It for You Wholesale, with Elliott Gould and Barbra Streisand. She played the fugitive-aiding photographer in Don Siegel's Charley Varrick (1973) and as John Wayne's long-lost love in his final film, The Shootist (1976). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, North performed in guest spots on Hawaii Five-O, Matlock, Magnum, P.I., The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she played Lou Grants girlfriend, and The Golden Girls, she played Blanche Devereaux's sister, Virginia. She performed in the sitcom I'm a Big Girl Now with Diana Canova, Danny Thomas, Rori King and a young Martin Short. In 1983, she performed in the series Bay City Blues, starring Michael Nouri, Dennis Franz, Pat Corley and Sharon Stone. In the 1990s, she performed as Kramers mother, Babs Kramer, in the TV series Seinfeld. North's last onscreen role came in the 1998 John Landis film Susan's Plan.

Nancy Sinatra- Daddy's Little Girl.

While some children of celebrities try to distance themselves from their famous parents while trying to pursue a similar career, Sinatra embraced her connections, made the most of them, and was very grateful for her father's advice.

The ballad "Somethin' Stupid" — a duet with father — hit #1 in the U.S. in April 1967and spent nine weeks at the top of Billboard's easy listening chart. It earned a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year and remains the only father-daughter duet to hit No.1 in the U.S. It became Sinatra's third million selling disc.

Nancy Sinatra, starred in three 'beach party' films: For Those Who Think Young (1964); Get Yourself A College Girl (1964); and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966). She performed in Roger Corman's The Wild Angels(1966) with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern. She also performed with Elvis Presley in Speedway(1966). She was the only singer to have a solo song on an Elvis album or soundtrack while he was still alive.




First American to perform the opening credits song to a James Bond film (You Only Live Twice, 1967).

Happy!! Easter Parade(1948).

Easter Parade(1948). Musical. Cast: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Ann Miller. featuring music by Irving Berlin, including some of Astaire and Garland's best-known songs, such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "We're a Couple of Swells."

Loved the three musical scenes: first, Ann Miller's tap dance 'Shakin' the Blues Away'. Not only a great song, but a wonderful dance number. Then there is Fred in the toy shop ( blog video). The timing of the dance is fun to watch. Lastly, 'Down the Avenue' is a very cute song. I laugh every time I see Judy Garland and Fred Astaire dressed up as bums!! There are a few laughs, but I mainly watch this movie for the dance numbers. It is a perfect way to celebrate Easter.

The film won the 1948 Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. It also received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical. It was the most successful picture for both Garland and Astaire.

Gene Kelly was originally cast to play Don, but he broke his ankle in a volleyball game. It was his suggestion that he be replaced by Fred Astaire. Cyd Charisse was to play Nadine, but a torn ligament in her knees forced her to drop out. She was replaced by Ann Miller.

Soundtracks:

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"Happy Easter"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Performed by Fred Astaire
Performed also by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"Drum Crazy"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire

"It Only Happens When I Dance With You"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Ann Miller
Performed also by Judy Garland

"Everybody's Doin' It"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Performed by chorus

"I Want to Go Back to Michigan"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Judy Garland

"Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"A Fella with an Umbrella"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Peter Lawford and Judy Garland

"I Love a Piano"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Judy Garland
Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"Snooky Ookums"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"Ragtime Violin"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"Shakin' the Blues Away"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung and Danced by Ann Miller

"Steppin' Out with My Baby"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Chorus

"A Couple of Swells"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland

"The Girl on the Magazine Cover"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Richard Beavers
Danced by Ann Miller

"Better Luck Next Time"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Judy Garland

"Easter Parade"
(uncredited)
by Irving Berlin
Sung by Judy Garland, Fred Astaire

"Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Played as second number by orchestra in restaurant as Nadine and Don reminisce

Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon: "feelin" no pain.

Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees - Who's Got the Pain

Gwen Verdon- Dancer

Gwen Verdon's, family could be described as "show people." Her father was an electrician at the MGM studios and her mother was a former vaudevillian of the Denishawn dance troupe, as well as a dance teacher. As a child, Gwen had rickets, and was called "Gimpy" by other children and spent years in orthopedic boots and leg braces. Ballet training strengthened her legs. By the time she was six, she was dancing on stage. She went on to study dance, ranging from tap, jazz, ballroom and flamenco to Balinese. At age 11, she performed as a solo ballerina in the film The King Steps Out(1936). She then went on to study under balletomane Ernest Belcher and was cast in a revival of Show Boat. Verdon shocked everyone when she abandoned her career in 1942 to elope with reporter James Henaghan. In 1945, she performed as a dancer in the musical The Blond From Brooklyn. Needing to earn a living, Verdon found a job as assistant to choreographer Jack Cole. During her five-year employment with Cole, she took small roles in musicals as a "specialty dancer". She also taught dance to performers such as Jane Russell, Gene Kelly, Fernando Lamas, Lana Turner, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe. Verdon started out on Broadway going from one chorus line to another. Her breakthrough role came when choreographer Michael Kidd cast her in Cole Porter's musical Can-Can (1953), starring Lilo. Reviews stated that Verdon's performance of Eve in the Garden of Eden ballet upstaged the shows star, who demanded Verdon's role be cut to only two featured dance numbers. With that Verdon wanted to quit the show. But opening night, the audience screamed her name until the actress was brought stage to take a curtain call. Verdon was considered the best dancer on Broadway in the 1950s and '60s. She performed in her next show, Damn Yankees (1955). It was on this show that she first worked with Bob Fosse as her choreographer and fiancee. Another Tony came when Verdon played a role in the musical New Girl in Town. In 1966, Verdon returned to the stage in Sweet Charity. Verdon would also travel to Berlin to help Fosse with Cabaret. Although they became estranged as a couple by this time, Verdon and Fosse continued to work on projects such as Chicago (1975) and the musical Dancin' (1978), as well as Fosse's autobiographical movie All That Jazz (1979). She kept Fosse's trademark choreography alive after Fosse's death in the highly successful Broadway revival of "Chicago" that opened in 1996. Verdon then focused playing character roles in movies such as The Cotton Club (1984), Cocoon (1985) and Cocoon: The Return (1988). She continued to teach dance and musical theater and to act. She receiving three Emmy Award nominations for performances on Magnum PI (1988), Dream On (1993) and Homicide (1993). Verdon performed in the Woody Allen movie Alice (1990) and in Marvin's Room (1996). In 1999, Verdon worked as artistic consultant on a Broadway musical designed to showcase Fosse choreography, called Fosse. Verdon's daughter Nicole received a "special thanks" credit. The show received a Tony for best musical. Verdon played in the movie Walking Across Egypt (1999) and appeared in the film Bruno( 2000) .Verdon received a total of four Tonys, for best supporting actress for Can-Can (1953) and best leading actress for Damn Yankees (1955), New Girl in Town (1957) and Redhead (1959). She also won a Grammy Award for the cast recording of Redhead. In 1998, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

On the Riviera (1951): makes a good impression.

On the Riviera (1951). Musical/comedy. Director: Walter Lang. Producer: Sol C. Siegel from a screenplay by Valentine Davies and Phoebe and Henry Ephron, based on the play The Red Cat by Rudolph Lotharand Hans Adler, with dance sequences choreographed and staged by Jack Cole. This "backstage" musical, all songs occurring as stage performances. The film was to Spotlight Broadway veteran Danny Kaye. This was the third film version of the same story. The original was entitled Folies Bergere (1935) and starred Maurice Chevalier, Merle Oberon and Ann Sothern. The remake in 1941 was That Night in Rio and starred Don Ameche, Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda. This version stars Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet with Marcel Dalio, Henri Letondal, Sig Ruman with uncredited featured dancer Gwen Verdon. It was nominated for two Academy Awards; for Best Music and Best Art Direction Lyle Wheeler, Leland Fuller, Joseph C. Wright, Thomas Little, Walter M. Scott.

The movie is about Jack Martin, an American entertainer who does impressions on the French Riviera stage, he does an impersonation of Henri Duran so well that even Duran's wife is fooled by it. When Duran's business takes him to London when he is supposed to be hosting a party at his home, Martin is hired to impersonate Duran at the party. But things turn for the worse when Martin is confronted by several of the womanizers women and by Duran's business rival, M. Periton .

I'm not really a Kaye fan, but his performance is good in his dual role (he won a Golden Globe award for it). I really did not think it was a funny film, except maybe his typical Kaye moment, in the The Puppet dance number, as he mangles names of animals and flowers. I did enjoy seeing Gwen Verdon in her dance numbers.

FUN FACTS:

The painting of Gene Tierney over the fireplace is, the famous portrait of her from the black-and-white noir classic Laura (1944). It is the only opportunity to see the legendary painting in color.


Essentially a remake of the Don Ameche film That Night in Rio (1941), which itself was a remake of 'Maurice Chavalier (I)''s film Folies-Bergère (1936). All three films were based on a 1934 stage play called "The Red Cat".



Soundtracks:

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"On The Riviera"
Music and Lyrics by Sylvia Fine

"Rhythm Of A New Romance"
Music and Lyrics by Sylvia Fine

"Popo The Puppet"
Music and Lyrics by Sylvia Fine

"Happy Ending"
Music and Lyrics by Sylvia Fine

"Ballin' the Jack"
Music by Chris Smith
Lyrics by Jim Burris
French Lyrics by Andre Touffel
Performed by Danny Kaye

Happy Birthday Debbie Reynolds

To a wonderful actress and entertainer, Debbie celebrates her birthday today....born April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas


Debbie Reynolds Photos