What was more amazing than the split was him reversing the split and standing up. The power in his legs was incredible. I have never seen anyone else do that.
@@daramcneil9623 That was an incredible dance routine. The difference was when the Nicholas Brothers reversed the split to a standing position, they did it quickly with a jump. Ray Bolger got up very slowly which required more muscle strength. It is like the difference in arm strength required between a overhead press and a clean and jerk.
I had the great fortune of working with Mr Bolger on a production of peter and the wolf...I was just a 20 year old musician and I got to sit next to him and talk to him...he was just the most humble and easy going guy you could imagine..love talking about music and making wizard of oz...kindness like his is hard to imagaine...a big celebrity like him and just as normal and nice as your next door neighbor...what a great guy!!!!
We met him at LAX sometime around 1978. He was picking up his own luggage at the carousel, as we were. My mother was with us and saw him. She grabbed our son, who was about 5 at the time, and went over and introduced Ray to our son. Mr. Bolger was very kind and bent down and shook our son’s hand. My mom was so thrilled to meet him. Such a nice man.
Removes any shadow of a doubt that there were camera tricks for the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz". Good Lord that man had strong legs. He was not only a world class dancer, but a world class gymnast!
His talent is and was to this day, not appreciated. God bless him...the world will NEVER forget him as the so loveable "Scarecrow" in the Wizard of Oz"
Well hopefully the Internet might change that. I'm appreciating. I already know that he and other dancer greats make it look effortless and easy, but my own experiences hint to me JUST how much work it might take, as in lots, over MANY years.
I once saw the edited-out clips of his dancing as the Straw Man from the Wizard of Oz. The most difficult and amazing choreography was removed from the final cut of that movie.
@Slim Pickens It's the getting up three times after the splits that's hard. (Bloody near impossible for most people) There are many ways to recover from a split, but I've never seen anyone else do it the way he did. Pure strength and ability.
@Slim Pickens They are amazing but I do think Bolger was better. Looking at the technique the Nicholas Brothers did a front to back split which means the large thigh muscles are what gets you back up. The Bolger split is from side to side, something more common in Martial Arts. (Van Damme did a truck ad using this type of split) So getting up is using the inner thigh muscles which usually aren't very strong. This doesn't change the fact that all are incredibly talented dancers and do moves that would leave in traction if I tried them. And thanks again for the suggestion, that was a fantastic routine with Calloway.
@Slim Pickens Slim, this just popped up in the recommended list. An interesting list. ruclips.net/video/DVlrmXUO4V4/видео.html Nicholas Brothers are in Number 1 spot.
@@JohnJ469 Added to that, Ray got up from his splits much slower, than the Nicholas brothers, and just like with a push up, doing something slower exerts more force on the muscles & thus requires more strength.
I agree! I’m convinced this talent is why he was cast as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, he manages to look like he has no skeleton! Maybe Dick Van Dyke would come close? Did you ever see his [marionette] performance in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
That kind of split is incredibly difficult for a man to do! Their pelvises just aren't made for it. I've loved Ray Bolger ever since I saw TWOO as a kid; the Scarecrow was always my favorite character in the movie.
Ahhhhhh, for the days when I COULD KEEP UP with the Scarecrow's dance antics (you'll see several steps he incorporated into the WIZARD), Make the rounds of the search engines to see his performances in other movies and early TV.
Ray was so good,that when he was hired for a project,the producers would give him carte blanche,..like Astaire and Kelly,his abilities were beyond question.. whatever he would come up with , that's what they were happy to have."Give us four minutes in act3" for instance..the result would be a show stopper.. creativity out of bounds.
AGREED!!! The talent back then was in a class by themselves. You'll be hard pressed to find another Judy, Sammy, Frank, Fred. Yes they were hugely talented but their style was unique and larger than life!
@@lilacgirl9332 They earned their chops in vaudeville, which Jimmy Cagney said was ten times more cutthroat than Hollywood. You had to put it out there onstage with no flaws and dazzle a live audience.
@@scribblerjohn1 Yeah, I've read some stories on just how much of a refining crucible it really was, for many, many entertainers of the day. Seemed to be the de facto boot camp for showbiz, for sure.
He is AMAZING! Go to your living room and try to kick your legs up like that and hope you don't have to go to the hospital. OMG, to get to the floor in splits and back up with no hands, he's spectacular, brutally strong, in great shape! He worked for a LONG time, what gem!! Thank you for the video!!!!
I think the way they do it is by "hopping" their body weight up momentarily taking the weight off their legs so they can retract them. Check out Chuck Berry sometime, same motion only more pronounced. BTW, Mr. Bolger was my favorite in OZ.
Cagney was 5’5”, Kelly was 5’7”, and Astaire was 5’9”. Bolger was 5’10”. Not a giant, but tall enough. Very skinny and really legs. Made those kicks and splits eye-popping.
I am in awe over the sheer masculine power and artistic and comedic majesty of who must be the 20th centuries greatest athletes. I have never witnessed such total command of one's body. I thank God on High for allowing us witness to a most special creature what ever graced this puny planet.
I have always felt inspired watching actual video of Ray Bolger dancing. After I watched the wizard of oz and later on learned that he was a professional dancer I was truly intrigued.
This is why there will always ever be ONE Ray Bolger to play the part of the scarecrow for the Wizard of Oz, he was irreplaceable & such a wonderful talent.
Ray Bolger was the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland. NEED MORE CRED? Fred Astair, Gene Kelly, all wanted to dance like Ray Bolger. He's A HUGE Star, Still is or else you wouldn't be talking about him, still.
@@cappystrano1 - I'm sorry you're not happy with your life. I suggest you try developing a sense of humor. It might help you understand that everyone on the internet is not your enemy.
You know The Wizard of Oz is/was/always will be an iconic movie when 80+ years later you’re watching an unrelated dance scene from one of the movies characters and instantly recognize the moves... what an incredible and timeless piece of artwork... maybe the best film of all time!
I have always loved Him....reminded me so much of my uncle who was a teen when I was 6 years old, those long legs, fun...and could make quarters come out of my ears
Boy I could watch Ray Bolger dance anytime! I was born in 59 but I'm so, so close to my grandparent's generation. Besides, who wouldn't enjoy watching the Scarecrow dance again! Thank you for putting this up!
My father loved Ray Bolger!! I saw him in The Wizard of Oz.. His legs were like rubber I remember. Thank you for this clip, he was truly incredible, strong, & one heck of a dancer.
Incredible!! No CG there. He was the Scarecrow and Hink in "The Wizard of Oz"- The scarecrow was pretty limber. How wonderful to be able to look back 80 years ago and watch this amazing talent. Thank you for sharing.
one of the great things about vaudeville, when you're in front of a crowd you can't just stand there. You have to do something incredible, that most of today's actors don't seem to be aware of. Anyone can repeat a line they read on a page.
Love this!...and it’s all about how you’re built and what you want to learn to master your gifts! Jimmy Cagney was also an extremely talented “loose-style” dancer....his body parts seem to be connected by rubber bands when he dances!!
Watching this in 2021. Thanks for posting this, what a talented man. So glad I watched so many silents and movies from this time. He replaced Buddy Ebsen in Wizard because Ebsen was allergic to the paint, talented men!
An old friend of mine, composer ,George Bassman ,who wrote the underscoring for The Wizard of Oz, introduced me to Ray Bolger. Bolger was suppose to play the part of the Tin Man , but felt that he would be better as the Scarecrow. He asked Buddy Ebsen to trade character roles, which Buddy agreed. Ebsen in dress rehearsal got deathly ill from the silver makeup and had to be replaced in the film by Jack Haley. Ray must have known something. But, actually, his eccentric dancing style was much better suited to playing the scarecrow and Buddy's clogging was more in tune for the Tin Man. Jack Haley came in and did a wonderful job in Buddy's place. Buddy went on to being the legendary Jeb Clampett !
Buddy Epson was supposed to be the tin man and actually was for a week. He was allergic to the silver paint and was hospitalized for a month and almost died. The part was never offered to bolger
@@joeferguson2606 I have read in several sources that Ray Bolger was, indeed, first assigned to play the Tin Man. By his own telling, he went to producer Mervyn LeRoy and practically pleaded for the role of the Scarecrow. So, I believe Carol is correct. Bolger was the first Tin Man. However, I do not know if any photography was completed of him in the role See TCM bio of Bolger below for confirmation www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/18584%7C127645/Ray-Bolger/biography.html
@@dancepiglover Indeed. While I have great respect for Buddy Ebsen's dancing, it sure is clear to most of us that Ray Bolger was born to play the part of the Scarecrow
What makes people so light on their feet ? I mean, watch Gene Kelly dance and although he's absolutley amazing, he doesn't look as light as Ray Bolger does. 👏
Years of training. Watch all these men and you'll recognize ballet training Cagney was especially good at it. Bolger must have spent hours from a very young age. Watch Ebsen and you'll see the control and power these men had.
@@DodiTov I only know one tap number with Buddy Ebsen, dancing with Shirley Temple, is there any other tap numbers he's famous for? Also love The Nicholas Brothers, and Bill Bojangles. Love them all really.
I'm just curious because some people claim to be related to celebrities and they aren't. I believe you it's just some people are liars and delusional. This one girl on another video said that he was her great great grandpa. It's funny because he had no kids. Lol that b*tch was crazy
A legendary Dorchester boy. As a kid, Ray spent countless hours dancing on street corners in Scollay Square, Boston. As a messenger he practiced routines by using the winding marble staircases in office buildings in Boston's Back Bay and Financial District.... One of a kind!
What an AMAZING mover this guy was! Looking at him playing the Scarecrow - you'd be forgiven for thinking he really WAS made of straw - and Jack Haley was made of metal!
![Baby Kia - GLOVES & DRACS (BLACK AF1s) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajm8LeB0qQk/mqdefault.jpg)
What was more amazing than the split was him reversing the split and standing up. The power in his legs was incredible. I have never seen anyone else do that.
The Nicholas Brother. Look at the routine they do in Stormy Weather. Fred Astaire said it was the greatest dance routine ever filmed. He’s right!
@@daramcneil9623 That was an incredible dance routine. The difference was when the Nicholas Brothers reversed the split to a standing position, they did it quickly with a jump. Ray Bolger got up very slowly which required more muscle strength. It is like the difference in arm strength required between a overhead press and a clean and jerk.
The strength that it took to get up from those splits!
U ain't lying. He did make the best scarecrow out of every Wizard of Oz movie ever made.
The only time I've seen comparable talent and skill is with the Nicholas Brothers.
hell yeah!
@@georgeb.wolffsohn30 Love them!!!!!
@@georgeb.wolffsohn30 Absolutely! Alternating splits down a staircase! Yikes!
I had the great fortune of working with Mr Bolger on a production of peter and the wolf...I was just a 20 year old musician and I got to sit next to him and talk to him...he was just the most humble and easy going guy you could imagine..love talking about music and making wizard of oz...kindness like his is hard to imagaine...a big celebrity like him and just as normal and nice as your next door neighbor...what a great guy!!!!
We met him at LAX sometime around 1978. He was picking up his own luggage at the carousel, as we were. My mother was with us and saw him. She grabbed our son, who was about 5 at the time, and went over and introduced Ray to our son. Mr. Bolger was very kind and bent down and shook our son’s hand. My mom was so thrilled to meet him. Such a nice man.
@joeenglert Joe Englert I watched your videos on your RUclips channel, you play wonderfully, God bless you! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@@verazes thank you very much and God Bless you
He could slip on ice and make it look graceful . The man sure knew his center of balance at all times.
Removes any shadow of a doubt that there were camera tricks for the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz". Good Lord that man had strong legs. He was not only a world class dancer, but a world class gymnast!
Yup, it’s 2am and I’m watching 80 year old dance clips.
lol!!
Same here. Watch the guided meditation vids. They'll help you sleep
Ha! Me every night....
Me too. 😂😂😂
5 am when I'm watching lol 🤷♂️
my favorite tap dancer from back then. You can see that he used many of these moves in his role as the Scarecrow.
Yes, they’re evident.
I was just thinking the same thing.
I was wondering if that was the same guy.
As a Friend of Dorothy.
@@hoodagooboy5981 Oh, it's him - I recognize the same dance moves that he used as the Scarecrow.
His talent is and was to this day, not appreciated. God bless him...the world will NEVER forget him as the so loveable "Scarecrow" in the Wizard of Oz"
Well hopefully the Internet might change that. I'm appreciating. I already know that he and other dancer greats make it look effortless and easy, but my own experiences hint to me JUST how much work it might take, as in lots, over MANY years.
Human beings rarely ever genuinely appreciate anything until they lose it or no longer have it!
I once saw the edited-out clips of his dancing as the Straw Man from the Wizard of Oz. The most difficult and amazing choreography was removed from the final cut of that movie.
Yes, as I was watching this video I was wondering why he didn't get more time to showcase his talent in "Wzard . . ."
Just the shear amount of strength plus limber energy for this routine is off the charts. Anyone in dance today doing this? Nope.
@Slim Pickens It's the getting up three times after the splits that's hard. (Bloody near impossible for most people) There are many ways to recover from a split, but I've never seen anyone else do it the way he did. Pure strength and ability.
@Slim Pickens Thanks, I'll look it up.
@Slim Pickens They are amazing but I do think Bolger was better. Looking at the technique the Nicholas Brothers did a front to back split which means the large thigh muscles are what gets you back up. The Bolger split is from side to side, something more common in Martial Arts. (Van Damme did a truck ad using this type of split) So getting up is using the inner thigh muscles which usually aren't very strong.
This doesn't change the fact that all are incredibly talented dancers and do moves that would leave in traction if I tried them. And thanks again for the suggestion, that was a fantastic routine with Calloway.
@Slim Pickens Slim, this just popped up in the recommended list. An interesting list. ruclips.net/video/DVlrmXUO4V4/видео.html
Nicholas Brothers are in Number 1 spot.
@@JohnJ469 Added to that, Ray got up from his splits much slower, than the Nicholas brothers, and just like with a push up, doing something slower exerts more force on the muscles & thus requires more strength.
I'm pretty certain that this has never been repeated by anyone, ever. Absolutely astounding display of talent and strength.
So this is where Van Dam learnbthat split!!!
Only one that I can think of comes close. Donald O'Connor.
I agree! I’m convinced this talent is why he was cast as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, he manages to look like he has no skeleton! Maybe Dick Van Dyke would come close? Did you ever see his [marionette] performance in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
Rocco Sophie Go to a circus.
That kind of split is incredibly difficult for a man to do! Their pelvises just aren't made for it. I've loved Ray Bolger ever since I saw TWOO as a kid; the Scarecrow was always my favorite character in the movie.
Yeah, talk about hip strength...
Agreed
My hips were breaking just watching him do that!
Ahhhhhh, for the days when I COULD KEEP UP with the Scarecrow's dance antics (you'll see several steps he incorporated into the WIZARD),
Make the rounds of the search engines to see his performances in other movies and early TV.
@@nealbradleigh5069 want to play ball, scarecrow?
A totally underrated and mostly forgotten incredible dancer.
📻🙂
Not forgotten as The Scarecrow!
Oh we’ll never forget Ray, especially since Wizard of Oz will never be forgotten :)
@@Grandmaster_Dragonborn one of the greats! Like Astaire and Kelly!
@@nhmooytis7058 Oh he was better than Kelly I tell you. In fact, I’d say Ray is probably the most underrated ever. Straight up :)
@@Grandmaster_Dragonborn still ❤️ Gene n Fred though!
Ray was so good,that when he was hired for a project,the producers would give him carte blanche,..like Astaire and Kelly,his abilities were beyond question.. whatever he would come up with , that's what they were happy to have."Give us four minutes in act3" for instance..the result would be a show stopper.. creativity out of bounds.
Ray Bolger was in a class all by himself. Nobody could have pulled off playing the Scarecrow the way he did.
AGREED!!! The talent back then was in a class by themselves. You'll be hard pressed to find another Judy, Sammy, Frank, Fred. Yes they were hugely talented but their style was unique and larger than life!
@@lilacgirl9332 They earned their chops in vaudeville, which Jimmy Cagney said was ten times more cutthroat than Hollywood. You had to put it out there onstage with no flaws and dazzle a live audience.
I dunno, Michael Jackson did an amazing job as the scarecrow in the Wiz!
@@scribblerjohn1 Very, very true!! They sure did!
@@scribblerjohn1 Yeah, I've read some stories on just how much of a refining crucible it really was, for many, many entertainers of the day. Seemed to be the de facto boot camp for showbiz, for sure.
He is AMAZING! Go to your living room and try to kick your legs up like that and hope you don't have to go to the hospital. OMG, to get to the floor in splits and back up with no hands, he's spectacular, brutally strong, in great shape! He worked for a LONG time, what gem!! Thank you for the video!!!!
I cant hardly stand up without 2 excedrin.
Elle Kay Pretty standard ability for dancers.
Not only was that an incredible split but he made the whole routine into a fabulous pantomime which is yet another form of dance and body control.
Ray Bolger a great dancer all the way back from his Broadway days...before Hollywood!! Great to see this clip!!
Did you mean, Vaudeville Days?
@@beforgiven9055 nope..... broadway
Ray Bolger was from Dorchester Ma. and was a friend of my mother’s.
Didn't he play the Scarecrow in the Wizard of OZ. What a talent. The old actors were amazing.
The Wizard of Oz aired yesterday on TCM
Yes he was an amazing artist
Amazing and no CGI or special MJ gadgets just pure talent
I had no idea how good he was. Thanks so much for posting this.
Great to see Ray Bolger in dances besides the Scarecrow. i can see here how perfect, more than perfect, he was for that part.
One of the biggest artists in my youth. Thank you Scare Crow!
Can You Imagine The Strength That It Would Take To Pull Yourself Back Up From The Splits Like That??? WOW!
I think the way they do it is by "hopping" their body weight up momentarily taking the weight off their legs so they can retract them. Check out Chuck Berry sometime, same motion only more pronounced. BTW, Mr. Bolger was my favorite in OZ.
Chuck Berry WTF
The only other person I've seen do it is Prince.
Ray really was one of a kind! He had moves Astaire, Kelly and even James Cagney couldn't imitate!
Agreed. Only ballet dancers have this level of flexibility.
Possibly the Nicholas Brothers.
@@bradstephan7886
Definitely the Nicholas Brothers could perform these moves effortlessly!
Cagney was 5’5”, Kelly was 5’7”, and Astaire was 5’9”. Bolger was 5’10”. Not a giant, but tall enough. Very skinny and really legs. Made those kicks and splits eye-popping.
Scarecrow, I'll miss you most of all...
Wow! I knew him from Oz and now i wanted to see his dancing cause it was Phoenix inspiración in the Joker's movie.Bolger's was so talented!!!!.
Wow what leg muscles he had and control over them. Very impressive and entertaining. Great job Ray.
Great talent!! Underated too...I love Ray Bolger.
I am in awe over the sheer masculine power and artistic and comedic majesty of who must be the 20th centuries greatest athletes. I have never witnessed such total command of one's body. I thank God on High for allowing us witness to a most special creature what ever graced this puny planet.
It's amazing that someone can be so entertaining with his body alone
I have always felt inspired watching actual video of Ray Bolger dancing. After I watched the wizard of oz and later on learned that he was a professional dancer I was truly intrigued.
This is why there will always ever be ONE Ray Bolger to play the part of the scarecrow for the Wizard of Oz, he was irreplaceable & such a wonderful talent.
Ray Bolger does not get the credit he deserves.
Ray Bolger was the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland. NEED MORE CRED? Fred Astair, Gene Kelly, all wanted to dance like Ray Bolger. He's A HUGE Star, Still is or else you wouldn't be talking about him, still.
@@cappystrano1 - you’re replying to a two year old comment. Get timely....😎
@@RSVPini You think time matters on YT? You're obviously new.
@@cappystrano1 - I'm sorry you're not happy with your life. I suggest you try developing a sense of humor. It might help you understand that everyone on the internet is not your enemy.
don't be a dullard, he was a well known and admired star well into his eighties
One of the very few who could be a scarecrow.
For those who don't know, the Scarecrow in the 30's Wizard Of Oz .
Also watch the Nicholas Brothers for amazing dance moves. They take your breath away.
They could rise from the splits too.
He was so limber and flexible as the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, too...amazing man!
Amazing dancer!
He made the best actor for the straw man in Wizard of Oz. He as so limber and could do all the movements of a Straw Man!
Strawmen didn't move though.
@@dme1016 , apparently you haven't seen "Jeepers Creepers 2"!
@@missmaam792 Hell no...or #1 either.
@@dme1016 , tee hee . . . 😲🌽🌾🌾🌾
@residue junkie what does that mean?
Ray Bolger was very limber and a talented dancer.
Cindy Carlson Duh.
The Original Rubber Band Man.
And a very coward as a lion.
@@updownstate You mean Scarecrow. Brains were his issue lol
@@updownstate
Bert Lahr was the lion.
This guy must have had very strong legs. He could dance.
Strong? That's an understatement. That guy must have been ape strong LMAO!
Everyone loved him. Even Dorothy’s favorite.
His legs were amazing and strong and so bendy. Wow! 😵
He didn't have legs like Arnold Schwarzenegger. It must have been something besides muscles.
@@donwhitt9899 Arnold’s too bulky! Have to have tall beanstalks, be taut and streamline like a bow string or something like that. 🏹 💕
You know The Wizard of Oz is/was/always will be an iconic movie when 80+ years later you’re watching an unrelated dance scene from one of the movies characters and instantly recognize the moves... what an incredible and timeless piece of artwork... maybe the best film of all time!
My legs would feel like jello after this, Kudos to Ray haha those leg lifts ha my god.
Would have strained the abs, too.
@@maggiegarber246 I know, he had such talent and was so skilled
That guy had to have been solid muscle to pull those stunts off like that. He's practically a floor gymnast!
Wow, just WOW, Mr. Bolger...!!!
I have always loved Him....reminded me so much of my uncle who was a teen when I was 6 years old, those long legs, fun...and could make quarters come out of my ears
A top caliber athlete... youth is so fleeting, ...if I only knew back then!
Recognized his dancing in an instant.
Talk about talent. Not to mention the strength it takes to do what he does.. Hollywood hasn't had any real talent since the early 70's.
Didn't know this about Ray Bolger. Thank you for this video!
Boy I could watch Ray Bolger dance anytime! I was born in 59 but I'm so, so close to my grandparent's generation. Besides, who wouldn't enjoy watching the Scarecrow dance again!
Thank you for putting this up!
Now I understand why he was chosen to play the scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz. 👌
- " No problem walking on an icy ground... It's when you throw salt that I fall ! " (M. Octopus !)
My father loved Ray Bolger!! I saw him in The Wizard of Oz.. His legs were like rubber I remember. Thank you for this clip, he was truly incredible, strong, & one heck of a dancer.
This is a first for me. Amazing. Loved him on the Wizard of Oz. Still my favorite movie.
Impeccable strength & control. Bravo!!!
Incredible!! No CG there. He was the Scarecrow and Hink in "The Wizard of Oz"- The scarecrow was pretty limber. How wonderful to be able to look back 80 years ago and watch this amazing talent. Thank you for sharing.
hes so damn handsome pinch his cheeks kiss his smile
one of the great things about vaudeville, when you're in front of a crowd you can't just stand there. You have to do something incredible, that most of today's actors don't seem to be aware of. Anyone can repeat a line they read on a page.
Love this!...and it’s all about how you’re built and what you want to learn to master your gifts!
Jimmy Cagney was also an extremely talented “loose-style” dancer....his body parts seem to be connected by rubber bands when he dances!!
Love this man since I was a kid such an underrated actor and Dancer they should be a ray Bolger day every year
Donald O'Connor too
Great video!!!!
Ray Bolger was incredible.
Thank you.
First time I’ve ever seen Ray Bolger. Spectacular!
Jumping Jehosaphat! That was AMAZING! My first time to see that bit of video and quite impressive it is. What a talented man.
He did some of those moves as the scarecrow on The Wizard of Oz! He was awesome!!
Watching this in 2021. Thanks for posting this, what a talented man. So glad I watched so many silents and movies from this time. He replaced Buddy Ebsen in Wizard because Ebsen was allergic to the paint, talented men!
You mixing Ray Bolger up with Jack Haley. Jack played the Tin Man, Ray played the Scarecrow.
2024 here. What a remarkable entertainer Ray was. Wow. Very fit, for sure! Thank y ou.
An old friend of mine, composer ,George Bassman ,who wrote the underscoring for The Wizard of Oz, introduced me to Ray Bolger.
Bolger was suppose to play the part of the Tin Man , but felt that he would be better as the Scarecrow. He asked Buddy Ebsen to trade character roles, which Buddy agreed.
Ebsen in dress rehearsal got deathly ill from the silver makeup and had to be replaced in the film by Jack Haley. Ray must have known something.
But, actually, his eccentric dancing style was much better suited to playing the scarecrow and Buddy's clogging was more in tune for the Tin Man.
Jack Haley came in and did a wonderful job in Buddy's place.
Buddy went on to being the legendary Jeb Clampett !
Buddy Epson was supposed to be the tin man and actually was for a week.
He was allergic to the silver paint and was hospitalized for a month and almost died.
The part was never offered to bolger
Carol Bradshaw now thats cool
@@joeferguson2606 I have read in several sources that Ray Bolger was, indeed, first assigned to play the Tin Man. By his own telling, he went to producer Mervyn LeRoy and practically pleaded for the role of the Scarecrow. So, I believe Carol is correct. Bolger was the first Tin Man. However, I do not know if any photography was completed of him in the role
See TCM bio of Bolger below for confirmation
www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/18584%7C127645/Ray-Bolger/biography.html
What were they thinking to put that body in the stiffest costume in the whole movie?
@@dancepiglover Indeed. While I have great respect for Buddy Ebsen's dancing, it sure is clear to most of us that Ray Bolger was born to play the part of the Scarecrow
A glimpse into a different world. Wonderful.
I cried when he passed. I felt like my childhood was gone.
What a clip! Wow!
He moves like he's on strings. Amazing.
I loved it, I giggled! Like a wind-up toy come to life!! 🕺🏼✨😘
His control while he was doing splits was amazing!
This was why he was so great as the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz! He didn't need any camera tricks to do these splits.
He was a true Dance legend!!! If it wasn't for his role as the scarecrow, you wouldn't know who he was! Thank you Mr.Bolger RIP!
What makes people so light on their feet ? I mean, watch Gene Kelly dance and although he's absolutley amazing, he doesn't look as light as Ray Bolger does. 👏
Years of training. Watch all these men and you'll recognize ballet training Cagney was especially good at it. Bolger must have spent hours from a very young age. Watch Ebsen and you'll see the control and power these men had.
@@DodiTov I only know one tap number with Buddy Ebsen, dancing with Shirley Temple, is there any other tap numbers he's famous for? Also love The Nicholas Brothers, and Bill Bojangles. Love them all really.
@@@tammie1078 Oh he was a hoofer! Google his name and you'll see a ton of movies he danced in. Amazing dancer.
@@DodiTov Hmhm I guess I'll have to look deeper for them, thank you.
@@@tammie1078 A lot of them are on RUclips because they're public domain now. Search your title and enjoy.
Quien llego a aca por phoenix.
Se inspiro en este bailarin.
Watching people dancing is the best feeling. ✨💝
His legs had to have been SO strong. Amazing!
Ray Bolger is my great, great uncle ☺️❤️
kennedy mitchell How?
+Brittany R. he's my great great uncle
kennedy mitchell From his wife's side or his side?
I'm just curious because some people claim to be related to celebrities and they aren't. I believe you it's just some people are liars and delusional. This one girl on another video said that he was her great great grandpa. It's funny because he had no kids. Lol that b*tch was crazy
Ray Bolger is my uncle's nice father sisters landscapers daughter's friend's father
A legendary Dorchester boy. As a kid, Ray spent countless hours dancing on street corners in Scollay Square, Boston. As a messenger he practiced routines by using the winding marble staircases in office buildings in Boston's Back Bay and Financial District.... One of a kind!
The strength is astounding, good muscle control
WOW!! Thanks for posting vintage video clips :)
If Donald O'Connor was not available Gene Kelly should have gotten Ray Bolger for Singing in the Rain. And I am the biggest DOC fan.
I agree because I see so much Don's style in Ray and his comic ideas, much is his own but some I can't help but see Don.
@@tammie1078 Donald likely took a great deal of inspiration from Ray, which obviously made him a master :)
His legs seem to be disjointed from his torso! Amazing to watch 🤣💕
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TALENT!
BORN IN 1904,MADE HIM 38 YOHERE. DIED 1987.
WISH FOOTAGE WERE BRIGHTER.
Masterpiece! 👌
A amazing man. Loved him in the Wizard of Oz and he was even on the Partridge Family. A once in a lifetime man
Quite the dancer for a scare crow!!! ♥
💙🔥💙 Pure Awesomeness.
What an AMAZING mover this guy was! Looking at him playing the Scarecrow - you'd be forgiven for thinking he really WAS made of straw - and Jack Haley was made of metal!
Great video. I never realized that this man was so very talented! ❤
Great job, Ray. And I hope your happy where ever you are.
Few knew how amazing Ray was!
everybody knew
He’s great in the great Ziegfeld, too! 😉
That is how Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, was able to make all those contortionist moves in the movie.
I remember seeing some of those moves that the Scarecrow did in Wizard of Oz!!!!!
He was amazing! So talented!
Fantastic! Ray had a good singing and speaking voice too.
Clearly no one commenting on this has ever seen the phenomenal nicholas brothers...they run rings around this guy as talented as he his!!!
There not really the same deal though. Nicholas brothers were real deal tap dancers. This guy was almost a physical comedy dancer.