Thursday Thirteen #25
I adore Fred Astaire. I’ve seen lots of his films. I even have a picture of him at my desk. (Yes, I honestly do.) In was inevitable that I would eventually do a Thursday Thirteen all about him. So, here it is.
What is your favorite Fred Film? I’m quite partial to Broadway Melody of 1940, actually.
13 Facts About Fred:
1. Fred Astaire was born “Frederick Austerlitz II.”
2. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 10 May 1899.
3. Fred began dancing professionally in 1905 with his sister Adele in Vaudeville. (He had originally begun taking dancing lessons at the same time as his sister to save the price of a babysitter.)
4. In 1930, Fred first met a young lady named Ginger Rogers in New York. They went out on a couple of dates, but that was all. (Fred’s autobiography Steps in Time and Ginger’s autobiography Ginger: My Story each tell a slightly different version of this story.)
5. Astaire married Phyllis Baker Potter on 12 July 1933. They had two children (Fred Jr. and Ava) and remained married until her death in 1954. Phyllis also had a son named Peter from a previous marriage.
6. The first movie to feature Fred and Ginger together was a pre-code film by the name of Flying Down to Rio. This is also the last film that my grandfather ever recommended to me. Take a look at the trailer here.
7. Fred has appeared a couple of times in the Zippy comic strip.
8. Fred was a horse racing enthusiast for most of his life. Perhaps it’s not too surprising then that his second wife, Robyn Smith, was a former jockey. They married on 24 June 1980.
9. According to the IMDB, Fred’s only Academy Award was an honorary one given “For his unique artistry and his contributions to the technique of musical pictures.”
10. Fred’s first sound film (there is some question about whether he did a part in a silent or not) was a small part in Joan Crawford’s Dancing Lady, which he did while he was waiting for Flying Down to Rio to start.
11. Among his many talents, Fred also played the accordion.
12. At the AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony in 1981, Mikhail Baryshnikov said of Fred: “Dancers hate Fred Astaire. He gives us complexes because he is too perfect.”
13. The actual quote, according to Fred, that was uttered after his screen test was: “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Also dances.”
Sources:
Astaire: The Man, The Dancer by Bob Thomas
The Biography Resource Center Database
I love learning these little factoids about different subjects in Thursday Thirteen!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Fred Astaire film, isn’t that embarrassing? Did he write a book? I”d read that, I think, being more of a novel person than a movie one. đ
I have not seen many movies with Fred, but my favorite is the classic Singing in the Rain (at least I hope Fred was in this one ;o)
Enjoy your Thursday!
That was Gene Kelly. He is also a very talented dancer. Fred Astaire once said that his favorite dance partner was Gene Kelly.
He made dancing look effortless, didn’t he? But how many practice hours does it take to get to “effortless”?
Great T-13! I loved learning more about Fred Astaire.
You do know your Fred! Great list for the week!
Hubbys having a give away at his blog at http://www.valtool.blogspot.com
Hope you will visit us both!
What’s amazing is what people think of these stars before they become famous. Thanks for the trivia!
Happy TT!
I saw Top Hat on the big screen at the Stanford Theatre. As a result, saw scads of feathers falling off Ginger Rogers’ dress. Amazing what you miss on the small screen.
Cool list of facts about Fred! I am sending a link to my Grandfather as he is a big fan.
Di, then you’ll have to come here every week, yes? đ
bellezza, as far as I know all he ever wrote was his autobiography which ended in like 1954 or so.
Ivanhoe, nope. That was Gene Kelly. It was a fab film, though.
kay, from the sound of things those rehearsal hours were numerous.
Carol, thanks for stopping by!
Amy, well…I adore him, so there you are.
Peter Plum, I know! I’ll bet the fellow was a bit chagrined later.
OSG, that dress was mentione din both stars’ autobiographies as I recall.
Tricia, thanks! My gradfather liked Fred, too.
That was wonderful thank you! Happy T13!
Interesting 13. Mine is Eat, Drink and be Merry – 13 Last Words, Excerpt: Judaism instructs us to enjoy the simple gifts that God gives in the present world. Eat, drink and be merry. Enjoy this life, on this Earth, in this time. I have collected for your enjoyment the last words of some of our more famous fellow human beings involving food or drink before they died.
Fred Astaire… another passion we have in common. đ
I know I say this every week – but I always learn so much from you. Thanks for sharing these facts about Fred. What a cool guy. I admire anyone who is willing to make their life – a life.
Oh, I hate the new update too! It’s really slow and stupid. I wish I hadn’t had to (Technorati) do it.
I didn’t know a single one of these facts. Really, my movie knowledge is pathetic.
an All-girl 80s band?? do tell!
I love it. Fred was my guy. I used to watch him all the time when I could catch old movies on cable. Alas, no more cable. Thanks for this.
I LOVE FRED!! he and ginger are my heroes!
California Traveler, glad you liked it. đ
Bernie, thanks for stopping by. I’ll be sure to check out your TT.
Sarah, so…Doctor Who, Books, Fred, Cyd Charisse, and Fifth Element, so far. Obviously, great minds think alike. đ
Claudia, I saw a show that ran two different versions of the same scene together and Fred was spot on. It was amazing. I’m glad you enjoy my TTs.
Susan, I’m sure that I can help you with that. đ
Sandy, don’t you wish that they had films with such good dancers still?
she, have you read their autobiographies? So interesting!
I don’t think I’ver ever seen a whole FA movie either, but I have seen pieces! I wish I could dance! LOL!
Happy TT!
So, im doing a project on fred astaire! Any interesing facts or ideas?
Well, Kendall, only the 13 you find above.
ballroom dancing is pretty cool. XD it brings life into me.
Also I have to say it was sade to see him in Finian’s ranibow not that he wasent still a good actor and dancer.But he was older and there was a scene where it looked like he was crying.It just made me sade because it mad me think of his death. I mean no disrespect I loveeeee Him he is one of the best singer/actor/dancer that has ever lived.
p.s. Love his modesty and cheerfulness;]
my older sister Ashley is crazy over fred astaire but im not a really big fan of him;]
p.s.Jesus saves
Yes its me ashley using another name still a Fred astaire fan Jesus saves.I waiched clips from roberta fred has a wonderful sense of humor
Also a big Jimmy stuat and Clark gable fan
not many facts quite useless, a pooie!!
13……………really those are plenty of facts
Ive always loved fred and ginger and there films since l first saw them when young girl no longer young love even more. Maybe want my childhood back. Not a fan of Robyn his second wife tho, dont think she was good for him, but what do l know.