Eleanor was 40 when she performed this routine. She was a star in the true sense of the word. The camera loved her. She had that smile that mesmerised you.
She said at the time she hoped this guest shot would lead to her own TV series, but she was diverted into creating and presenting 'The Faith of Our Children'. Her next appearance on the tube IIRC was on Ed Sullivan in 1961, when she was beginning her comeback in cabaret.
Eleanor Powell was the equal of Astaire and Kelly, and this live TV appearance showed off her precision and elegance. She trained in ballet as well as tap, so many viewers who are looking only at her feet miss the full artistry. I was privileged to know her, and brought her up to UCSB in 1975 to speak to a class after a viewing of Melody of 40. She spoke...and then stepped out from behind the podium to demonstrate a couple of steps. Pure class all the way.
+James Scott Bell How wonderful! (She made a special trip to Santa Barbara to talk to your class?) She was a lovely person, wasn't she? I discovered Eleanor Powell by accident a couple of months ago (on "Ship's Ahoy" -- the pool scene with Buddy Rich is still my favorite number of hers), and I've been scouring RUclips for performances of her ever since. I looked for a biography of her, and it's incredible to me that nobody has written one yet. Her only child has promised the world a proper website for her, but he seems to me mostly focused on his father, Glenn Ford, who outlived Powell by many years. Eleantor Powell was an incredible talent -- she was gorgeous and a good actress, too! -- and it seems that she is finally getting her due... or she will have, once somebody writes a (proper) book about her!
You are lucky to have known her, was she as nice a person as I imagine she would be? This is one of my favorites...ruclips.net/video/MOOKAVwcuEQ/видео.html
@@ShirleyDeeDesigns AC Lyles, the veteran producer, said when Ellie died that she had been the most popular woman at MGM during her time under contract there. She had none of the airs and graces of Garbo, Crawford et al. Louis B Mayer, who thought his stars should behave like divinities, reproved her for eating with the extras and crew in the commissary instead of sitting at the VIP table.
Who are the haters who gave this breathtaking clip "thumbs down"? JEALOUS! This is a standard setter for all time, when talent EARNED their applause in sweat equity.
I know at least one of the haters who gave this clip a thumbs down...that was Ann Miller. Ann Miller was always being compared to Eleanor Powell and I guess Miss Miller had had enough of that.
@@jackanthony976 Ann said that her mom took her to see 'BM of 36' when she was 13. At the end Mother said 'That is the best tap dancer in the world.' Ann burst into tears, ran up the aisle and hid in the ladies' restroom. The rest of her life was spent alternately idolizing Ellie, imitating her and trying to outdo her on speed.
@@jackanthony976 How can you know that? It doesn't tell who voted thumbs down. Anne Miller died in 2004. This wasn't even posted till 2012, 8 years later!
She was brilliant, and I can't see any less talent or technical ability in this clip than in her youth. Personally, I always thought that 200-watt smile of hers in the old movies added a lot of very singular appeal, and although she smiled beautifully for TV, it wasn't quite as overwhelming as in years gone by. That's the main difference I see. Her looks had matured. Her dancing remained youthful and impressive.
It is surprising how often in her earlier pictures such as 'Rosalie' she is frowning and pursing her lips: often a bit spiky and rarely acting the sweet little ingenue. I think she did it so the contrast of that million-watt smile was greater. Off-screen she was one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood among co-workers at all levels.
Watching this clip again, I think it's impossible to compare Powell's "movie smile" with this "TV smile" -- the photography of Danny Thomas' show is about 5% of the quality as any film she was ever in. There are *no close-ups* and shadows are falling on her face in this very grainy reproduction. I'm grateful that this clip wasn't discarded (as much of early TV was), but you must admit that the quality of film to 1952 TV is like comparing an Ansel Adams photo with one taken on a 2000s-era flip phone.
Eleanor Powell was always my favourite female dancer of the era. She was easily able to keep up with Fred Astaire and had a tangible vivacity about her that was thoroughly infectious. :-)
Welcome to the fan club, besides many other wonderful dance films featuring Powell, catch "Born To Dance" simply thrilling! And, the very amazing finish of "Broadway Melody of 1940" with Fred Astaire. Best of the best...outstanding!
Me too! If it was not for a doco by Gregory Hines who mentioned her as the best I probably may never have had the joy of watching her. Thank the universe!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. But you have to see her in the movies. So natural. She looked like a real person having fun. No heavy make up etc. She even learned to spin a rope an lasso and did that while dancing too.
Eleanor Powell appeared in this TV-show as good as in her beginning career 💐 to me, she always will remain as the best dancing star ever 🌟 with the most beautiful smile 😄 I thank You very much for sharing this amazing video 🌺 Mark
Begin the Beguine with Fred is the apogee of American tap. Heaven. Fred said she was the only other partner he was a little intimidated by. That is a compliment.
I'm 70, yes I"ve heard her name mentioned a few times, never seen any of her movies, but this lady is off the charts. Nobody, Fred, Sammy, Kelly or The Nicholas Brothers!!!!! Wow
This show didn't do her justice!!! - She had her son 7 years before this was recorded which possibly had an effect on her body but she was still an awesome dancer aged 40!!
*Tony, I see that the MACHINE, PUT an Accidental. in your Sentence!!!* *I Suffer that Myself* *I have to Keep Going back & Fixing it!!!* *NO!!! I do NOT Hit the Period Key!* *I Think that this Machine Glitch, did it to you!*
She doesn't have the spring in her step that she had in the 30s, but when you see how long she keeps going, her endurance is amazing. And when she does those spins at the end, there are not many dancers a lot younger that can do that. They say that on a woman, 'the legs are the last to go.' Well, in her case, nothing had 'gone' yet. Great clip.
Same was true of Ann Miller, who never retired- her husbands were, though;-). In her 60s Ann's legs were like a twenty-something's. Dancing is the best exercise.
I remember watching the Danny Thomas show as a kid, and then his daughter is show years later. There commitment to St Jude’s Hospital for children reminds us what qualities a true leader has, vision, dedication, and generosity.....for others.
The great, brilliant, and multi-talented Eleanor Powell, the Queen of Tap! She would have been wonderful playing key roles in later musicals such as "Damn Yankees" and "Chicago" as Roxie Hart in the 1970's. I believe Chita Rivera played Vera Kelly in "Chicago" on Broadway around the age of 60. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) used to feature Eleanor Powell film festivals in the early '90's and were rare events!
Ellie was offered the lead in 'No, No, Nanette' years after her second retirement in 1964; but she passed it on to Ruby Keeler, who got raves for her comeback.
I loved her in "Lady Be Good" especially the dance with the dog and the Boogie Woogie scene ! The dog dance is on U tube but not the Boogie Woogie Scene.
Fayard Nicholas called her a musician that is high praise from a fellow tap dancer. She also learned from Bubbles and Mr. Bill Robinson She had the respect of the greats.
She was so fit! At that age those spins were so AMAZING! They were really good when she was younger. In the true sense of the word she was UNIQUE! There never will be another like her. I only wish I could have been around@ the time. That lady EARNED her merits. 👏 PJS.
The "problem" Eleanor Powell had was she was too good,, no one (man or woman) could do what she did which was dance her ass off, and a excellent singer and actress also,,
Loved seeing for the first time. In some ways, the classic, over the top MGM numbers almost make you feel they're some sort of cartoon, that humans can't possibly move like that. This is like watching Powell just having fun with solid tap and a wood floor. No need to worry about spinning 300 times, then have 50 guys throw you back and forth, and landing on a cannon shooting fireworks. Just the shoes, and experimenting with sounds and rhythm. And then, the required endless spinning at the end, just to let you know she hasn't lost that either. And the powerful fists slammed on her hips with the last pose, to show she's strong as ever.
Yes- at heart she remained a live attraction despite all the stunts and Hollywood craftsmanship of her films. She preferred having an audience. MGM put stands around the sound stage so people could watch her rehearse. Had Mayer refused Powell's contractual demands in 1935 and not paid off Lee Shubert, she would probably have succeeded Adele Astaire and Marilyn Miller as the queen of stage musicals. Her occasional comebacks were for live audiences. Already in 1948, four years after quitting pictures, she had done a concert tour which grossed $150,000, about $5m in today's money. Her return in cabaret in the early Sixties was SRO in Vegas and New York when she was 50. Ellie could always electrify spectators at the drop of a foot, as well as when she jumped ropes or hoofed with a dog or horse.
“Variety” reported Shubert turned down MGM’s offer to buy out Powell’s contract for “At Home Abroad,” which premiered in September 1935. As you are aware, Powell withdrew from the show in late January 1936 when she was briefly hospitalized for exhaustion and ordered to rest. There was a dust up in the press when a reporter claimed she left the show because of feuds with Ethel Waters and Bea Lillie. Powell asked for the article to be retracted and sent telegrams to both women to apologize. She gave an interview to correct the misapprehension, saying she had left the show because she had been battling a severe foot infection that began when she lost four toe nails during the filming of the “Lucky Star” number in “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Her foot had swollen so much that some nights she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to put on her tap shoe. Her doctor told her she was in danger of developing a permanent heart murmur if she didn’t take time off. She was replaced in the show by Mitzi Mayfair but the show closed on Broadway on March 6. The show went on tour after closing on Broadway. Was Powell contracted as part of the touring company and is that the contract MGM bought out?
@@partycentralsales Eleanor certainly made a full recovery if she was able to do 'Swingin' the Jinx Away' by fall '36. I wonder if her collapse was brought on by the shock of meeting her father after believing him dead since she was a kid.
@@esmeephillips5888 While meeting her father was certainly a shock, her collapse was brought on by exhaustion. Production on Broadway Melody of 1936 had run overtime and they were working 15-16 hour days for weeks to try to complete everything so she could go to NY to honor her contract. The Shuberts were so upset by her delays that when she finally arrived (two weeks late - and the opening date had already been postponed because MGM hadn't released her), they didn't even give her a day to rest. She went immediately into a 14-hour rehearsal. Never having recovered from that, in early October she added a weekly radio show to her plate, in addition to the occasional personal appearance to promote the film that premiered the day before At Home Abroad opened. She definitely burned the candle at both ends. That, coupled with another foot infection, finally sent her over the edge in January 1936. She was supposed to return to MGM to start work on Born to Dance as early as March, but she wasn't well enough. Fortunately for all (including us!), she made a full recovery. I am the co-author (with Paula Broussard) of the Eleanor Powell biography coming out next year. One thing that has struck us during our time researching and writing this book is Ellie's relentless dedication to the perfection of her art, with all the lost toenails and physical exhaustion that entailed! She never did anything halfway. It's no wonder she was the absolute best.
@@eleanorpowellborntodance So glad to hear from you and to know the bio is on its way. I have a hunch that tap began to decline in the Forties partly bc postwar America wanted to fade down the 'machine gun', V for Victory kind of booster routine, making musicals more about melodic prettiness in Technicolor. You can associate that with women going back into the home and with the increasing crossover of classical into the hit parade, plugged by movies such as 'Fantasia' and 'Humoresque'. The corresponding trend in dance was away from stark jazz syncopation towards balletic modes, and the increasing participation of classically trained men such as Salinger and Previn at MGM facilitated it. 'An American in Paris' is the poiht of no return, with a finale whose orchestration de-jazzes Gershwin and casts his tone poem- intended to evoke Paris in the 1920s- back into the Belle Epoque. The painterly backdrops seem closer to Offenbach's and Bizet's era than those of Antheil and Les Six. Kelly of course was a would-be ballet man who had to tap, but whose novelty solos- his best work IMO- seem to owe more to the comic turns aging danseurs such as Helpmann would adopt. Another argument is simply that tapping had attained such heights of refinement and skill in 'Begin the Beguine' and 'Fascinating Rhythm' that it had nowhere to go but down. Vera-Ellen was the only star to emerge after BM40 who made tap a big part of her repertoire, and Cyd and Leslie Caron never did. Newer performers might have felt that Astaire and Powell were insuperable. Maybe they rather than Agnes de Mille killed tap- unintentionally. It is noteworthy too that when black performers began to revive tap as a stage attraction, they deliberately reverted to a far heavier and noisier 'street' style. Hines, Glover etc were looking back before the delicacy of Robinson and Sublett, recreating how they imagined challenge dance-offs might have been on the levees with the testosterone overflowing. Hunching, stomping and staring at your feet are a far cry from Fred and Ellie!
Not only was she a force to be reckoned with on the dance floor but she was a champion of civil rights. Something I just recently learned. She would insist on the hiring of Black people on her productions. She was friends with Bill Robinson when they were hired as dancers during the early part of her career, going into the back door entrances with him. After a dance when she was offered a glass of water, she would say "I'm sure Mr. Robinson would like a glass of water as well." Later, when she had her TV show, 'The Faith of our Children' she had children of all races included. She was contacted by a famous religious leader who said he was 'concerned about the number of colored children on her show.' She said she would make sure to address that on the upcoming episode. And when it aired, ALL the children were Black on that episode. I have found it interesting to see the number of Old Hollywood actors who did what they could to advance equality.
Early TV can't hope to stand up against her work on film (purely because the latter was much more technically advanced, less blurry, better lit, etc.). But she herself is still amazing.
Yes, I just wrote a comment to that extent above, in response to someone claiming that her smile had lost its luster. With television in its infancy, it could in no way compare!
+Star buono Fred himself said she was better than he was. In fact he said she intimidated him. That's certainly not taking anything away from Fred, it's just that she was that good. She was 40 years old when she did this dance. How many women have legs like that at 40?
That band … it seemed so syrupy, nothing in comparison with those movie bands. She is a new discovery for me, too. Lord, what she did in the movies, like Ship Ahoy. Incomprehensible.
That clip from Ship Ahoy is just incredible! I must have watched it 40 times by now. I just found a new clip that is "brighter" than the one I've watched before: ruclips.net/video/eTN5pMghddo/видео.html
With all due respect to some others here, I suggest you guys miss the point. Eleanor, even in 1952, could out dance anyone out there at that time. The fact that all other dancers from the 30s and 40s were not even contemplating appearing on tv should give you a clue. America, much to our dismay, had moved on from the fabulous movies and dancers of the last decade, and now looked to the "new stuff". Such was the roll of tv in our lives. Full props to Danny Thomas, and one or two others who knew where it was at.. but in the end.. it was really the ignorance of the American public, that sank her career.
Not true. Ann Miller could tap faster than Powell, and could spin and tap at the same time. Show me a clip where Powell spin while tapping as fast as Miller and I'll shut up. :) Not saying Powell wasn't AMAZING -- she was, especially in her numbers with Astaire -- just disagree that she could as you say 'out dance anyone out there at that time'.
GABRIEL ANTINOUS Well, we'll have to respectfully agree to disagree. I still contend that Miller could do what Powell couldn't, and yet of course agree that Powell was an amazing dancer, esp w/Astaire. :)
GABRIEL ANTINOUS Millions of talented singers and dancers never get the attention they deserve, not to detract from Astaire and Kelley, Powell and Miller, but they hogged the stage. The Nicholas Brothers for instance, incredible.
Dennis Sheridan I suppose that's why they called TV "the small screen". I mean, maybe TV wasn't the right medium for this sort of beautiful talent. Blurry videotape, crappy sets, slow and sloppy camerawork. Maybe there's a reason why you didn't see those stars from the decades before take this challenge, because they were bigger than the technology. They were made for "the big screen", for the perfection of motion pictures. God bless Danny Thomas for giving Miss Powell her due, and I hope her being in the living rooms of a few million people got them off their duffs and back in the theatres. The sad truth I'm trying to say is, television wasn't in their league, not in 1952 at least.
Flag Coco Maybe not in 1952, but Miller and others did fine on television later in the decade, and Fred Astaire won 9 Emmys for his first appearance in 1958.
This was the only one as a dancer until the early 1960s. I suspect she was put off by the low technical standards and production values of early television compared with Golden Age MGM, where she had all she wanted. Instead, she produced and presented 'Faith of Our Children'.
Great! Thanks for posting. Now if you could just find and share her appearances on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" (11 June 1961), Perry Como's show (26 Dec 1962 & 20 Feb 1963). and The Bell Telephone Hour (17 Dec 1963), her many ardent fans would be very happy.
Unquestionably one of the two greatest tap dancers of all time -along with Nicholas- she was a very good compliment to astaire as they had that same effortless above the waist style, but she could tap feeds azz off as he openly admitted. OConnor and Kelly could approach her timing, Cadence and tap dynamics, but they simply had to invoke their upper body to control it. Vera Ellen was the GAOT as far as female athletic female dancing, easily Kelleys peer, and so versatile- she could tap, ballroom and leap- nobody had that versatility.
![Sean Rii, Karyon, Sharzkii - Taungule [My Love] (Official Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJoMuypbSzQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Eleanor was 40 when she performed this routine. She was a star in the true sense of the word. The camera loved her. She had that smile that mesmerised you.
*40 + 67 = 107 now!!! Hey Kirk Doug is StiLL Alive at 103!!!!*
Forty is YOUNG. Not sure what your point is.
40 wasn't young for a female dancer when this routine was filmed. She was great!
Eleanor Powell was the best female dancer, period!
Fantastic muscle control!! Best dancer that ever lived!!
I think Eleanor Powell was one of best dancers ever! And damn, what a set of legs, what a beauty 💯
Noel Gutierrez legs and the way she swayed her hips made her look so good, truly one of a kind:-)
She was 40 here. When she retired in 1950 had been dancing professionally on Broadway and Hollywood for over 20 years! Love her!!!
She said at the time she hoped this guest shot would lead to her own TV series, but she was diverted into creating and presenting 'The Faith of Our Children'. Her next appearance on the tube IIRC was on Ed Sullivan in 1961, when she was beginning her comeback in cabaret.
She is not only technically brilliant she is so expressive
Yes, another word I'd use is virtuoso.
She was wonderful! One of the greatest dancers ever.
Eleanor Powell was the equal of Astaire and Kelly, and this live TV appearance showed off her precision and elegance. She trained in ballet as well as tap, so many viewers who are looking only at her feet miss the full artistry. I was privileged to know her, and brought her up to UCSB in 1975 to speak to a class after a viewing of Melody of 40. She spoke...and then stepped out from behind the podium to demonstrate a couple of steps. Pure class all the way.
+James Scott Bell How wonderful! (She made a special trip to Santa Barbara to talk to your class?) She was a lovely person, wasn't she? I discovered Eleanor Powell by accident a couple of months ago (on "Ship's Ahoy" -- the pool scene with Buddy Rich is still my favorite number of hers), and I've been scouring RUclips for performances of her ever since.
I looked for a biography of her, and it's incredible to me that nobody has written one yet. Her only child has promised the world a proper website for her, but he seems to me mostly focused on his father, Glenn Ford, who outlived Powell by many years.
Eleantor Powell was an incredible talent -- she was gorgeous and a good actress, too! -- and it seems that she is finally getting her due... or she will have, once somebody writes a (proper) book about her!
America is not the country it was . It’s too bad .The Peak was the 1940’s . It’s been down hill since in terms of real talent . Oh well.
You are lucky to have known her, was she as nice a person as I imagine she would be? This is one of my favorites...ruclips.net/video/MOOKAVwcuEQ/видео.html
@@ShirleyDeeDesigns AC Lyles, the veteran producer, said when Ellie died that she had been the most popular woman at MGM during her time under contract there. She had none of the airs and graces of Garbo, Crawford et al. Louis B Mayer, who thought his stars should behave like divinities, reproved her for eating with the extras and crew in the commissary instead of sitting at the VIP table.
to make comparisons isn't fair to any of those dancers mentioned. She had no equal.
Who are the haters who gave this breathtaking clip "thumbs down"? JEALOUS! This is a standard setter for all time, when talent EARNED their applause in sweat equity.
I know at least one of the haters who gave this clip a thumbs down...that was Ann Miller. Ann Miller was always being compared to Eleanor Powell and I guess Miss Miller had had enough of that.
@@jackanthony976 Ann said that her mom took her to see 'BM of 36' when she was 13. At the end Mother said 'That is the best tap dancer in the world.' Ann burst into tears, ran up the aisle and hid in the ladies' restroom. The rest of her life was spent alternately idolizing Ellie, imitating her and trying to outdo her on speed.
@@jackanthony976 How can you know that? It doesn't tell who voted thumbs down. Anne Miller died in 2004. This wasn't even posted till 2012, 8 years later!
Well said!!!
People who twerk
She looks like she is thoroughly enjoying herself which is what makes her so much fun to watch.
She was brilliant, and I can't see any less talent or technical ability in this clip than in her youth. Personally, I always thought that 200-watt smile of hers in the old movies added a lot of very singular appeal, and although she smiled beautifully for TV, it wasn't quite as overwhelming as in years gone by. That's the main difference I see. Her looks had matured. Her dancing remained youthful and impressive.
It is surprising how often in her earlier pictures such as 'Rosalie' she is frowning and pursing her lips: often a bit spiky and rarely acting the sweet little ingenue. I think she did it so the contrast of that million-watt smile was greater. Off-screen she was one of the most beloved stars in Hollywood among co-workers at all levels.
Watching this clip again, I think it's impossible to compare Powell's "movie smile" with this "TV smile" -- the photography of Danny Thomas' show is about 5% of the quality as any film she was ever in. There are *no close-ups* and shadows are falling on her face in this very grainy reproduction.
I'm grateful that this clip wasn't discarded (as much of early TV was), but you must admit that the quality of film to 1952 TV is like comparing an Ansel Adams photo with one taken on a 2000s-era flip phone.
I can't stop watching this terrific Eleanor , we'll never see the likes of her again.
*Lynda Carter, Barbara Eden, Mary Ann, Rita HatWorth, Kath Hepburn*
Fact!
Eleanor Powell was always my favourite female dancer of the era. She was easily able to keep up with Fred Astaire and had a tangible vivacity about her that was thoroughly infectious. :-)
Here I am at 68 years old and it's only in the last 6 months that I've discovered Eleanor Powell. My God, what a talent! The absolute best!
Welcome to the fan club, besides many other wonderful dance films featuring Powell, catch "Born To Dance" simply thrilling! And, the very amazing finish of "Broadway Melody of 1940" with Fred Astaire. Best of the best...outstanding!
*BOB* I am Voter #13. I only NOW Discovered Miz PoweLL!
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I only Discovered, Mary Ann WeLLs, 2-years ago & I ReaLLy Love her!!!
When it comes to discovery, RUclips is a whole new ball game! The world is like showing its universal side now.
Me too! If it was not for a doco by Gregory Hines who mentioned her as the best I probably may never have had the joy of watching her. Thank the universe!!!!!!!!!!
to me and to the best of tap she is the best. born to dance 1936 movie , no living human as of yet show the range of this angle in that film
Isn't it great to be able to see talent like hers on you tube! I could watch that beautiful lady dance all night. Has to be the best dancer ever.
I agree. But you have to see her in the movies. So natural. She looked like a real person having fun. No heavy make up etc. She even learned to spin a rope an lasso and did that while dancing too.
Eleanor Powell appeared in this TV-show as good as in her beginning career 💐 to me, she always will remain as the best dancing star ever 🌟 with the most beautiful smile 😄 I thank You very much for sharing this amazing video 🌺
Mark
She was an excellent dancer and the band behind her was awesome too.
One of the greats........she was such a talented tapper....clean and precise.
She was one of kind! Simply amazing!!!
oh man... she had the unique gift of making dance a story... you didn't need an explanation. You just "got" it.
OMG was there ever such a long-stemmed rose as Ellie Powell? The standard to which all would be compared.
The lady made tap dancing look easy . The Nicholas brothers said Eleanor was the best tapper they ever saw
Powerful performance! Just another day in the office for her!!❤
Who could imagine themselves 30 years from now being as amazing as Eleanor Powell?
Begin the Beguine with Fred is the apogee of American tap. Heaven. Fred said she was the only other partner he was a little intimidated by. That is a compliment.
The "other" one was Cyd Charisse. totally different from Eleanor, Both terrific in their own genre.
I love both Fred AND Eleanor. The Nicholas Brothers, however, are the apogee of
American tap, as Astaire HIMSELF would have told anyone who asked.
poetcomic1 That Begin the Beguine performance with Fred and ELEANOR is here on RUclips and blows me away each time I watch it. 👍
I'm 70, yes I"ve heard her name mentioned a few times, never seen any of her movies, but this lady is off the charts. Nobody, Fred, Sammy, Kelly or The Nicholas Brothers!!!!! Wow
Get it girl! She still had moves in 1952!
The greatest tap dancer of all time, a super athlete by any definition, is Eleanor Powell.
This show didn't do her justice!!! - She had her son 7 years before this was recorded which possibly had an effect on her body but she was still an awesome dancer aged 40!!
what a sweetheart. her smile beams like a gift from God.
And she was indeed a religious woman, did you realize?!
Again , all I can say is WOW.Great performance
*Tony, I see that the MACHINE, PUT an Accidental. in your Sentence!!!*
*I Suffer that Myself*
*I have to Keep Going back & Fixing it!!!*
*NO!!! I do NOT Hit the Period Key!*
*I Think that this Machine Glitch, did it to you!*
She doesn't have the spring in her step that she had in the 30s, but when you see how long she keeps going, her endurance is amazing. And when she does those spins at the end, there are not many dancers a lot younger that can do that. They say that on a woman, 'the legs are the last to go.' Well, in her case, nothing had 'gone' yet. Great clip.
Same was true of Ann Miller, who never retired- her husbands were, though;-). In her 60s Ann's legs were like a twenty-something's. Dancing is the best exercise.
I remember watching the Danny Thomas show as a kid, and then his daughter is show years later. There commitment to St Jude’s Hospital for children reminds us what qualities a true leader has, vision, dedication, and generosity.....for others.
Fred Astaire said the Elanor Powell was the only dancer that intimidated him because she was that good.
Hot DAMN!!!!!! That was some finish. I'd give her a raucous standing ovation!!!
The best Tap Dancer woman of the History!
Love this lady so talented.
She was incredible!
Magic and power...
The absolute best . Sad she retired early she would have been know as the best if not the greatest. What a beautiful women she was. RIP sweetheart.
The great, brilliant, and multi-talented Eleanor Powell, the Queen of Tap! She would have been wonderful playing key roles in later musicals such as "Damn Yankees" and "Chicago" as Roxie Hart in the 1970's. I believe Chita Rivera played Vera Kelly in "Chicago" on Broadway around the age of 60. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) used to feature Eleanor Powell film festivals in the early '90's and were rare events!
Ellie was offered the lead in 'No, No, Nanette' years after her second retirement in 1964; but she passed it on to Ruby Keeler, who got raves for her comeback.
I loved her in "Lady Be Good" especially the dance with the dog and the Boogie Woogie scene ! The dog dance is on U tube but not the Boogie Woogie Scene.
'Fascinating Rhythm' is on YT, including the behind-the-scenes record of how it was done.
Fayard Nicholas called her a musician that is high praise from a fellow tap dancer. She also learned from Bubbles and Mr. Bill Robinson
She had the respect of the greats.
40 spins. The Queen of Tap.
Eleanor Powell was a World Champ both and tap and ballet
What a trouper! That infectious smile - and perfect dancing form! Brilliant.
Superb! Always loved her! thanks for sharing!!!
Born to dance! Is amazing!
One of the best shows on TV - Danny Thomas
DANG! Go, girl!
She was before my time, much respect.
Miss Ellie was the Queen of tap and Fred was the king of other type of dancing
I can't imagine there were black people who could dance, right? Not our thing.
She is always as is a GREAT PERFORMER...........Love her
She was so fit! At that age those spins were so AMAZING! They were really good when she was younger. In the true sense of the word she was UNIQUE! There never will be another like her. I only wish I could have been around@ the time. That lady EARNED her merits. 👏 PJS.
She was the best for her time , No doubt about it .
The "problem" Eleanor Powell had was she was too good,, no one (man or woman) could do what she did which was dance her ass off, and a excellent singer and actress also,,
When entertainment had taste skills and talent.
The older I get, the more I miss the Good Old Days...
Divine !!!!
AWESOME!!!!
Thanks for posting.
Love this woman❤️
Loved seeing for the first time. In some ways, the classic, over the top MGM numbers almost make you feel they're some sort of cartoon, that humans can't possibly move like that. This is like watching Powell just having fun with solid tap and a wood floor. No need to worry about spinning 300 times, then have 50 guys throw you back and forth, and landing on a cannon shooting fireworks. Just the shoes, and experimenting with sounds and rhythm. And then, the required endless spinning at the end, just to let you know she hasn't lost that either. And the powerful fists slammed on her hips with the last pose, to show she's strong as ever.
Yes- at heart she remained a live attraction despite all the stunts and Hollywood craftsmanship of her films. She preferred having an audience. MGM put stands around the sound stage so people could watch her rehearse.
Had Mayer refused Powell's contractual demands in 1935 and not paid off Lee Shubert, she would probably have succeeded Adele Astaire and Marilyn Miller as the queen of stage musicals. Her occasional comebacks were for live audiences. Already in 1948, four years after quitting pictures, she had done a concert tour which grossed $150,000, about $5m in today's money. Her return in cabaret in the early Sixties was SRO in Vegas and New York when she was 50. Ellie could always electrify spectators at the drop of a foot, as well as when she jumped ropes or hoofed with a dog or horse.
“Variety” reported Shubert turned down MGM’s offer to buy out Powell’s contract for “At Home Abroad,” which premiered in September 1935. As you are aware, Powell withdrew from the show in late January 1936 when she was briefly hospitalized for exhaustion and ordered to rest. There was a dust up in the press when a reporter claimed she left the show because of feuds with Ethel Waters and Bea Lillie. Powell asked for the article to be retracted and sent telegrams to both women to apologize. She gave an interview to correct the misapprehension, saying she had left the show because she had been battling a severe foot infection that began when she lost four toe nails during the filming of the “Lucky Star” number in “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Her foot had swollen so much that some nights she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to put on her tap shoe. Her doctor told her she was in danger of developing a permanent heart murmur if she didn’t take time off. She was replaced in the show by Mitzi Mayfair but the show closed on Broadway on March 6.
The show went on tour after closing on Broadway. Was Powell contracted as part of the touring company and is that the contract MGM bought out?
@@partycentralsales Eleanor certainly made a full recovery if she was able to do 'Swingin' the Jinx Away' by fall '36.
I wonder if her collapse was brought on by the shock of meeting her father after believing him dead since she was a kid.
@@esmeephillips5888 While meeting her father was certainly a shock, her collapse was brought on by exhaustion. Production on Broadway Melody of 1936 had run overtime and they were working 15-16 hour days for weeks to try to complete everything so she could go to NY to honor her contract. The Shuberts were so upset by her delays that when she finally arrived (two weeks late - and the opening date had already been postponed because MGM hadn't released her), they didn't even give her a day to rest. She went immediately into a 14-hour rehearsal. Never having recovered from that, in early October she added a weekly radio show to her plate, in addition to the occasional personal appearance to promote the film that premiered the day before At Home Abroad opened. She definitely burned the candle at both ends. That, coupled with another foot infection, finally sent her over the edge in January 1936. She was supposed to return to MGM to start work on Born to Dance as early as March, but she wasn't well enough. Fortunately for all (including us!), she made a full recovery.
I am the co-author (with Paula Broussard) of the Eleanor Powell biography coming out next year. One thing that has struck us during our time researching and writing this book is Ellie's relentless dedication to the perfection of her art, with all the lost toenails and physical exhaustion that entailed! She never did anything halfway. It's no wonder she was the absolute best.
@@eleanorpowellborntodance So glad to hear from you and to know the bio is on its way.
I have a hunch that tap began to decline in the Forties partly bc postwar America wanted to fade down the 'machine gun', V for Victory kind of booster routine, making musicals more about melodic prettiness in Technicolor. You can associate that with women going back into the home and with the increasing crossover of classical into the hit parade, plugged by movies such as 'Fantasia' and 'Humoresque'. The corresponding trend in dance was away from stark jazz syncopation towards balletic modes, and the increasing participation of classically trained men such as Salinger and Previn at MGM facilitated it.
'An American in Paris' is the poiht of no return, with a finale whose orchestration de-jazzes Gershwin and casts his tone poem- intended to evoke Paris in the 1920s- back into the Belle Epoque. The painterly backdrops seem closer to Offenbach's and Bizet's era than those of Antheil and Les Six. Kelly of course was a would-be ballet man who had to tap, but whose novelty solos- his best work IMO- seem to owe more to the comic turns aging danseurs such as Helpmann would adopt.
Another argument is simply that tapping had attained such heights of refinement and skill in 'Begin the Beguine' and 'Fascinating Rhythm' that it had nowhere to go but down. Vera-Ellen was the only star to emerge after BM40 who made tap a big part of her repertoire, and Cyd and Leslie Caron never did. Newer performers might have felt that Astaire and Powell were insuperable. Maybe they rather than Agnes de Mille killed tap- unintentionally.
It is noteworthy too that when black performers began to revive tap as a stage attraction, they deliberately reverted to a far heavier and noisier 'street' style. Hines, Glover etc were looking back before the delicacy of Robinson and Sublett, recreating how they imagined challenge dance-offs might have been on the levees with the testosterone overflowing. Hunching, stomping and staring at your feet are a far cry from Fred and Ellie!
Not only was she a force to be reckoned with on the dance floor but she was a champion of civil rights. Something I just recently learned. She would insist on the hiring of Black people on her productions. She was friends with Bill Robinson when they were hired as dancers during the early part of her career, going into the back door entrances with him. After a dance when she was offered a glass of water, she would say "I'm sure Mr. Robinson would like a glass of water as well." Later, when she had her TV show, 'The Faith of our Children' she had children of all races included. She was contacted by a famous religious leader who said he was 'concerned about the number of colored children on her show.' She said she would make sure to address that on the upcoming episode. And when it aired, ALL the children were Black on that episode. I have found it interesting to see the number of Old Hollywood actors who did what they could to advance equality.
Wow, what a wonderful story!!!
I recognize that you are following her videos with this same comment_ KeepOn KeepinOn, my friend!
WOW This chic can dance.
Early TV can't hope to stand up against her work on film (purely because the latter was much more technically advanced, less blurry, better lit, etc.).
But she herself is still amazing.
Yes, I just wrote a comment to that extent above, in response to someone claiming that her smile had lost its luster. With television in its infancy, it could in no way compare!
The greatest female dancer ever.
Beautiful woman, sick chops.
The best !!!
in her prime she was the best, as good as Fred, if not better
+William Willberforce Eleanor Powell was as good as Fred , NO ONE can get any better than Fred Astaire !!!!!!
+Star buono
She was.
+Star buono Sorry Star, there were other people just as good if not better than Astaire in my opinion. You forget the Nicholas Brothers as well.
+Star buono Fred himself said she was better than he was. In fact he said she intimidated him. That's certainly not taking anything away from Fred, it's just that she was that good. She was 40 years old when she did this dance. How many women have legs like that at 40?
+Dusty Grady Ya think Fred would have been as good wearing heels and dancing backwards?
WOW INCREDIBLE FANTASTIC DANCING I LOVE IT
Wonderful Dancer and Fabulous Legs. Wow !
*Trump Raised Money for VETS but Kept the Money!!!!*
*Vets StiLL Masturbate themselves to Trump! Vets are TruLy Scum!*
Simply the best, she was Anne Millers mentor
wow she was gorgeous, before my time , but much respect.
Just superlative, mesmerizing!
That band … it seemed so syrupy, nothing in comparison with those movie bands. She is a new discovery for me, too. Lord, what she did in the movies, like Ship Ahoy. Incomprehensible.
That clip from Ship Ahoy is just incredible! I must have watched it 40 times by now. I just found a new clip that is "brighter" than the one I've watched before: ruclips.net/video/eTN5pMghddo/видео.html
One of the best.....
Eleanor is about 40 - fantastic!!!!!
I love Eleanor Powell.
She basically did two routines from her last two MGM films.
With all due respect to some others here, I suggest you guys miss the point. Eleanor, even in 1952, could out dance anyone out there at that time. The fact that all other dancers from the 30s and 40s were not even contemplating appearing on tv should give you a clue. America, much to our dismay, had moved on from the fabulous movies and dancers of the last decade, and now looked to the "new stuff". Such was the roll of tv in our lives. Full props to Danny Thomas, and one or two others who knew where it was at.. but in the end.. it was really the ignorance of the American public, that sank her career.
Not true. Ann Miller could tap faster than Powell, and could spin and tap at the same time. Show me a clip where Powell spin while tapping as fast as Miller and I'll shut up. :)
Not saying Powell wasn't AMAZING -- she was, especially in her numbers with Astaire -- just disagree that she could as you say 'out dance anyone out there at that time'.
GABRIEL ANTINOUS Well, we'll have to respectfully agree to disagree. I still contend that Miller could do what Powell couldn't, and yet of course agree that Powell was an amazing dancer, esp w/Astaire. :)
GABRIEL ANTINOUS Millions of talented singers and dancers never get the attention they deserve, not to detract from Astaire and Kelley, Powell and Miller, but they hogged the stage. The Nicholas Brothers for instance, incredible.
Dennis Sheridan I suppose that's why they called TV "the small screen". I mean, maybe TV wasn't the right medium for this sort of beautiful talent. Blurry videotape, crappy sets, slow and sloppy camerawork. Maybe there's a reason why you didn't see those stars from the decades before take this challenge, because they were bigger than the technology. They were made for "the big screen", for the perfection of motion pictures. God bless Danny Thomas for giving Miss Powell her due, and I hope her being in the living rooms of a few million people got them off their duffs and back in the theatres. The sad truth I'm trying to say is, television wasn't in their league, not in 1952 at least.
Flag Coco Maybe not in 1952, but Miller and others did fine on television later in the decade, and Fred Astaire won 9 Emmys for his first appearance in 1958.
I love the hip accent at 2:40
Incredible dancer! Now that is entertainment!
Simply the Best ❤❤❤
What a great Tap Dancer is Eleanor Powell. Her Feet Tap faster than you could tap your fingers 🙂👍
Many years ago i saw a Tap dancer in a real live show "Wintergarten" in Germany.
It is differnt to see and hear tap dancing in real.
Those are the legs of a legend
She was fantastic! Sad that tap was going out of 'style' at this time.
Ellanore ! The great. Loved her!
Wow, what a find!
Miss eleanor was the best !!!
Father time does not let us do what we could, long ago
That lady could move she was beautiful and so talented
Thank you, Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, for bringing her back!
I wasn't aware, until now, that she did make t.v. appearances.
This was the only one as a dancer until the early 1960s. I suspect she was put off by the low technical standards and production values of early television compared with Golden Age MGM, where she had all she wanted. Instead, she produced and presented 'Faith of Our Children'.
Great! Thanks for posting. Now if you could just find and share her appearances on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" (11 June 1961), Perry Como's show (26 Dec 1962 & 20 Feb 1963). and The Bell Telephone Hour (17 Dec 1963), her many ardent fans would be very happy.
Unquestionably one of the two greatest tap dancers of all time -along with Nicholas- she was a very good compliment to astaire as they had that same effortless above the waist style, but she could tap feeds azz off as he openly admitted. OConnor and Kelly could approach her timing, Cadence and tap dynamics, but they simply had to invoke their upper body to control it. Vera Ellen was the GAOT as far as female athletic female dancing, easily Kelleys peer, and so versatile- she could tap, ballroom and leap- nobody had that versatility.
GREAT!
Miss Dance herself👍💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
She’d forty in this clip; looks good!
A genius
unsurpassed.