Let your heart dance with exquisite memories of the masters of dance on the
silver screen: Fred, Ginger, Eleanor and Gene. The birth of the Golden Age of ...
North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement: College for Seniors Dancers of the Golden Age of Hollywood Michael Ruiz (Professor, UNC Asheville) A spellbinding course covering the dancers and choreographers from the earliest short films of the 1890s through the Golden Age of Hollywood (1927-1957). Let your heart dance with exquisite memories of the masters of dance on the silver screen: Fred, Ginger, Eleanor and Gene. The birth of the Golden Age of Hollywood is often taken to be the late 1920s with the coming of the first movies with sound – the “talkies.” The end of the Golden Age of Hollywood is often taken to be the late 1950s. We start with 1927 which marks the year of the first feature film with sound, The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson. We then go 30 years, a nice round number, to 1957.
Selections of Films with Dance from the Birth of Movies through the Golden Age of Hollywood Date 1878 1880s 1888 1894 1895 1895 1896 1897 1897 1898 1903 1903 1904 1910 1916 1916 1916 1919
Movie or Description Muybridge’s Horse Movie Muybridge Dance Movie Louis Le Prince Edison Studio Edison Studio Edison Studio Lumière Edison Studio Edison Studio Edison Studio American Mutoscope American Mutoscope American Mutoscope The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Vaudeville (not by choice) Intolerance The Dumb Girl of Portici Don't Change Your Husband
Dancers or Description Are all feet off the ground? Kate Larrigan Roundhay Garden Scene Carmencita Annabelle Princess Ali Serpentine Dancer Bowery Waltz Crissie Sheridan Ella Lola Ameta Franchonetti Sisters Princess Rajah Bebe Daniels Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn Denishawn Dancers Anna Pavlova Gloria Swanson, Elliott Dexter, and Dancers Rudolph Valentino and Beatrice Dominguez Al Jolson Joan Crawford Mary Eaton
1921 1927 1928 1929
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse The Jazz Singer Our Dancing Daughters The Cocoanuts
1929 1929
Glorifying the American Girl Mary Eaton, Dan Healy The Hollywood Revue of 1929 Joan Crawford
1929
The Love Parade
Lillian Roth and Lupino Lane
Choreographers (First Movie - From Stills) (First Dance - From Stills) (First Movie Filmed) Loie Fuller (Serpentine) In the Style of Loie Fuller Another Serpentine Dance
Modern Dance Pioneers Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn Theodore Kosloff, Ted Shawn The Tango Ernest Belcher Robert Florey, Joseph Santley, Erna Kay Ted Shawn Ernest Belcher, George Cunningham, Sammy Lee, Natacha Natova, Albertina Rasch
Date 1929 1929 1929 1930
Movie or Description Sunnyside Up Tanned Legs A Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic March of Time (unreleased)
Dancers or Description Sharon Lynn and Chorus June Clyde Ziegfeld Dancers Albertina Rasch Dancers
1930 1931 1931 1932
Whoopee! Dance, Fools, Dance Palmy Days Walt Disney's Silly Symphony: "Flowers and Trees" Cartoon
1933 1933
42nd Street Broadway to Hollywood
Ethel Shutta and Chorus Joan Crawford, Chorus Eddie Cantor, Goldwyn Girls Introduces the Three-Strip Technicolor Process (Full Color) - A Dance Scene Ruby Keeler Mickey Rooney
1933 1933
Dancing Lady Footlight Parade
Fred Astaire, Joan Crawford Chorus
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
1934
Dames
1934
Kid Millions
1934
The Gay Divorcee
Ginger Rogers, Chorus Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Chorus Harold Nicholas, Goldwyn Girls Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
1934
1935 1935 1936
Walt Disney's Silly Symphony: Another Technicolor Film, "The Big Bad Wolf" Cartoon Dancing Scene with Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood Becky Sharp Dance Scene in First Feature Film to Use ThreeStrip Technicolor (Full Color) Roberta Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Top Hat Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Born to Dance Eleanor Powell
1936 1936 1936 1936
Modern Times Romeo and Juliet Swing Time The Great Ziegfeld
Charlie Chaplin Norma Shearer Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" Dance Number
1937 1937
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Disney Cartoon Film
1938
Shall We Dance Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Rebecca of Sunnybrook
1938 1938 1939 1939
Tarnished Angel You Can't Take It With You Gone With the Wind Honolulu
1935
Shirley Temple, Bill Bojangles Robinson Ann Miller Ann Miller Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable Eleanor Powell
Choreographers Seymour Felix Pearl Eaton Sammy Lee Albertina Rasch, Sammy Lee Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley Sammy Lee, Albertina Rasch Sammy Lee, Eddie Prinz Busby Berkeley, completed by Larry Ceballos Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley, Ruby Keeler Seymour Felix, George Murphy, Fayard Nicholas Fred Astaire, Dave Gould, Hermes Pan(agiotopoulos)
Russell Lewis (Dance Director) Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan David Gould, Eleanor Powell Charlie Chaplin Agnes de Mille Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan Seymour Felix (Ray Bolger for his own solo work elsewhere in the movie) Astaire, Pan, Harry Losee Marge Champion (Disney teenage dance model) Nick Castle, Bill Robinson, Geneva Sawyer Ann Miller Aida Broadbent Eddie Prinz, Frank Floyd Bobby Connolly, Sammy Lee, Eleanor Powell
Date 1939 1939
Movie or Description The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle The Wizard of Oz
Dancers or Description Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Ray Bolger (Scarecrow)
Choreographers Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan
1940
Broadway Melody of 1940
Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, Chorus of Sailors
1940
Down Argentine Way
1941 1941
A Little Jive is Good for You Babes on Broadway
1941
Hellzapoppin
1941
Lady be Good
1941 1941
Pot o' Gold Sun Valley Serenade
1941 1941 1942
Two-Faced Woman You'll Never Get Rich For Me and My Gal
1942 1942 1942
Footlight Serenade My Gal Sal Orchestra Wives
1942 1942
Ship Ahoy Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942
You Were Never Lovelier
1943 1943
I Dood It Stormy Weather
1943
Thousands Cheer
1944
Cover Girl
1944 1944 1944
Duffy's Tavern Hail the Conquering Hero Pin Up Girl
1945
Duffy's Tavern
Fayard Nicholas, Harold Nicholas (brothers) Martha Tilton, Slate Brothers Judy Garland and Mickey Busby Berkeley Rooney Frankie Manning and Frankie Manning, Richard Whitey's Lindy Hoppers Barstow, Nick Castle, Eddie Prinz Eleanor Powell and Her Dog Busby Berkeley, Berry Buttons Bros, Eleanor Powell Paulette Goddard, Chorus Larry Ceballos Nicholas Brothers Fayard & Fayard Nicholas, Hermes Harold, Dorothy Dandridge Pan, Geneva Sawyer Greta Garbo, Robert Alton Robert Alton Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth Fred Astaire, Robert Alton Gene Kelly, Judy Garland Busby Berkeley, Bobby Connolly, Gene Kelly, George Murphy Betty Grable, Hermes Pan Hermes Pan Rita Hayworth, Hermes Pan Hermes Pan, Val Raset Nicholas Brothers Fayard Nick Castle, Fayard and Harold Nicholas Eleanor Powell Bobby Connolly James Cagney and Chorus Seymour Felix, LeRoy Prinz, John Boyle Fred Astaire and Rita Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan, Hayworth Val Raset, Peggy Carroll Eleanor Powell Bobby Connolly Nicholas Brothers Fayard Nick Castle, Katherine and Harold Dunham, Fanchon, Fayard Nicholas, Bill & Clarence Robinson Gene Kelly Gene Kelly, Don Loper, Eleanor Powell Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen, Seymour Phil Silvers Felix, Gene Kelly, Val Raset Miriam Nelson, Johnny Coy Billy Daniel, Danny Dare Miriam Nelson (uncredited) Miriam Nelson most likely. Betty Grable, then Brothers Condos Brothers, Fanchon, Frank and Harry Condos Gae Foster, Hermes Pan, Alice Sullivan Miriam Nelson and Johnny Billy Daniel, Danny Dare, Coy Miriam Nelson (assistant)
Busby Berkeley, Ray Bolger, Bobby Connolly Fred Astaire, Bobby Connolly, George Murphy, Eleanor Powell, Albertina Rasch Nick Castle, Fayard Nicholas, Geneva Sawyer
Date 1945
Movie or Description Sensations of 1945
Dancers or Description Chorus, Eleanor Powell
1946
Blue Skies
Fred Astaire
1946 1946
Gilda Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1946 1946
Rhythm and Weep (The Three Stooges) Yolanda and the Thief
Rita Hayworth Mickey Rooney and Dorothy Ford Gloria Patrice, Ruth Godfrey, and Nita Bieber Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer
1946
Ziegfeld Follies
Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly
1948
Easter Parade
Ann Miller, Fred Astaire
1949
The Barkleys of Broadway
1949
On the Town
1950 1950
Let's Dance Summer Stock
1950 1951 1951
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady An American in Paris Lullaby of Broadway
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Jules Munshin, Vera-Ellen, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller Fred Astaire: Piano Dance Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, and Chorus June Haver and Gene Nelson Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron Doris Day, Gene Nelson
1951 1952
Royal Wedding April in Paris
1952
Lovely to Look At
1952
Singing in the Rain
1953 1953
The Band Wagon Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
1953
Give a Girl a Break
1953
The Affairs of Dobbie Gillis
1953
Kiss Me Kate
Choreographers Sammy Lee, David Lichine, Charles O'Curran, Eleanor Powell Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan, David Robel Jack Cole Jack Donohue Most likely the three women dancers themselves. Fred Astaire, Eugene Loring Robert Alton, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Eugene Loring, Charles Walters Ann Miller, Fred Astaire, Robert Alton, Nick Castle, Charles Walters Robert Alton, Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller
Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan Gene Kelly, Nick Castle, Charles Walters Gene Nelson, Miriam Nelson, Eddie Prinz Gene Kelly Gene Nelson, Miriam Nelson, Eddie Prinz, LeRoy Prinz, Al White Fred Astaire, Jane Powell Fred Astaire, Nick Castle Doris Day, Ray Bolger Ray Bolger, LeRoy Prinz, Donald Saddler Marge and Gower Gower Champion, Ann Champion Miller, Hermes Pan Gene Kelly, Debbie Stanley Donen and Gene Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Kelly Cyd Charisse Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse Fred Astaire, Michael Kidd Marilyn Monroe, Jane Jack Cole Russell Debbie Reynolds and Bob Gower Champion, Stanley Fosse Donen, Bob Fosse, Bill Foster Bob Fosse, Debbie Bob Fosse, Alex Romero Reynolds, Bobby Van, Barbara Ruick Ann Miller, Tommy Rall, Bob Hermes Pan, Ann Miller, Fosse, Carol Haney, Bobby Bob Fosse
Date
Movie or Description
1954
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
1954 1955
White Christmas Guys and Dolls
1955
It's Always Fair Weather
1955 1956
My Sister Eileen Anything goes
1956
Carousel
1956 1957 1957
Picnic Les Girls Silk Stockings
Dancers or Description Van, Jeanne Coyne Barn Dance Scene Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Marilyn Monroe Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Goldwyn Girls Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Michael Kidd, Cyd Charisse Bob Fosse, Tommy Rall Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor "June is Bustin' Out All Over" Scene Kim Novak, William Holden Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse
Choreographers Michael Kidd Robert Alton for Stage Numbers, Jack Cole working with Marilyn Monroe (uncredited) Robert Alton Michael Kidd Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly Bob Fosse Nick Castle, Maggie Banks (assistant), Ernest Flatt, Roland Petit Rod Alexander, Agnes de Mille Miriam Nelson Jack Cole, Gene Kelly Fred Astaire, Eugene Loring, Hermes Pan
