Fred Astaire defined elegance on the dance floor. With white tie; tails and a succession of elegant partners - Ginger Rogers; Cyd Charisse; Rita Hayworth; Eleanor Powell; Judy Garland and others - he created an indelible image of the Anglo bon vivant. His origins; though; were far more humble: Born in Omaha; Nebraska; Fred Astaire came from Midwestern stock that partially had its origin in the late nineteenth century Jewish communities of Austria. At first; he played second fiddle in vaudeville to his sister; Adele; however; once he learned how to tap and bought his first Brooks Brothers suit; the game changed. How did he transform himself from a small town Nebraska boy into the most sophisticated man ever to dance across a dance floor? In this comprehensive new book about the life and artistry of Fred Astaire; Peter Levinson looks carefully at the entirety of Astaires career from vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood to television. He explores Astaires relationships with his vivacious dance partners; his friendship with songwriters like George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and his relationship with choreographers like Hermes Pan to discover how Astaire; in effect; created his elegant persona. Astaire put his mark on the Hollywood musical; starting his career at RKO and then moving to MGM. From his long list of films; certain classics like "Swing Time"; "Top Hat"; "Royal Wedding" and "The Bandwagon" revolutionized the presentation of dance on film; but; he also revolutionized the television variety special with the Emmy-Award-Winning "An Evening With Fred Astaire". For Puttin on the Ritz"; veteran Hollywood insider; Peter Levinson interviewed over two hundred people who worked closely with Astaire such as Debbie Reynolds; Dick Van Dyke; Artie Shaw; Bobby Short; Oscar Peterson; Mel Ferrer; Betty Garrett; Joel Grey; Arlene Dahl; Michael Kidd; Betty Comden; Onna White; Margaret Whiting; Andy Williams; and others like Quincy Jones; John Travolta; and John Williams; to provide an intimate window on to his professional as well as his personal life. His new biography of Astaire is a celebration of the great era of sophistication on Broadway and in Hollywood as seen through the life of a man who learned how to put on the Ritz and become Americas premiere song-and-dance-man: Fred Astaire.
#2243131 in eBooks 2015-07-20 2015-07-20File Name: B00Z4M8COU
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A walk down the MidwayBy Andy WoodJoe Nickells latest book; Secrets of the Sideshow is a thoroughly researched tome that is worth the cover price for the pictures alone.The cover effectively uses a banner art style with Frog Boy charmingly gracing the spine. The title is a little misleading; it is not a revelatory guide or masked magician type of book at all. More of a scholarly attempt to document a lost part of American theatre. Mr. Nickells previous works were largely concerned with his role as editor of the Skeptical Enquirer. So deal with the Shroud of Turin; Bigfoot etc. Not having read any of those I cannot comment; but suffice to say that this history of bringing a scientific mind to apparent miracles may have impacted the choice of title. What is apparent is that he has a real love of this subject. He has worked the midway at various fairs as a magician and obviously the carnival world got into his blood. Relying heavily on interviews with carnival legends Ward Hall; Chris Christ and Bobby Reynolds the author details the history of this unique piece of Americana. Bobby Reynolds contributions are fairly ascerbic with a certain bitterness when compared to Ward Halls more agreeable approach. No attempt appears to have been made to edit any of these contributions. There are copious references to other works; Ricky Jay; Daniel Mannix and Al Stencell are quoted liberally and these authors works would make excellent companion reads.As one goes through the book the reader does learn how effects are achieved; the use of gaffs; fakery and general deception are discussed. However; this remains a secondary facet of this work. It is much more of a historical encyclopedia and includes a thorough list of references and detailed index. Overshadowing the mechanical How To aspects of the book are the wonderful characters that one meets within its pages. Poobah the fire eating dwarf; Percilla the monkey girl; Doug Higley phantom of the midway and purveyor of Area 51 artifacts. [Of course they are real]. And numerous other fascinating people who often show more grace and dignity than the so called normal specimens of the human family.The writing style is a mixture of academic investigation and whimsical fan. Despite his natural instincts for scientific rigor the authors joy in the subject and obvious sadness at the demise of the sideshow shine through.It ends on a positive and up to date note with a piece on the sideshow school at Coney Island; one of the last bastions of the traditional arts.I reccomend this book to anyone whoever thought about running away to the circus and I enjoyed reading it tremendously.PS. One small piece of pedantry. On page 214; Joe Nickell decribes the turn of the century magician Chung Ling Soo as an Englishman pretending to be a Chinaman. In his excellent biography of Chung Ling Soo; The Glorious Deception; Jim Steinmeyer details Soos life as an American who often pretended to be an Englishman; or more commonly a Scotsman pretending to be a Chinaman. Which goes to show that even a skeptical investigator can be confounded by a fellow conjurer; from beyond the grave to boot! My sense is that Mr. Nickell would be delighted.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth my timeBy nessa belphoebeWritten by someone who respects the sideshow past and present. Doesnt feel like he is focused on the "oh my God look at that poor person" aspect but on their lives; history and ability to turn what some would think of as a disability into a career. The background and history of the sideshow was very informative.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must have bookBy Sheldon AronowitzIf you love the sideshow (and what normal fun loving person does not?!! :-) then this is a MUST have book!!!Well researched.
