Known as the �Queen City of the Ozarks;� Springfield was founded in 1829 and became the seat of Greene County in 1835. Beginning in 1870; Springfield served as a railroad hub that connected the Ozarks culturally and financially to Kansas City; St. Louis; Chicago; and points along the East Coast. In 1938; Route 66 became part of the city�s history when the legendary highway came through the public square on College Street. Built on land donated by Springfield founder John Polk Campbell; the square continues to be a vital part of the city�s culture and economy. Postcard History Series: Springfield illustrates the community�s growth from downtown businesses to the spread of schools; hospitals; and parks across the city.
#1175967 in eBooks 2014-09-01 2014-09-01File Name: B00Q2UMWZI
Review
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful. A light and wonderful readBy Fast EddyIf you grew up watching Fred Astaire dancing in those early black and white musicals as I did; then this is a book for you to learn about his sister Adele. I had no idea that Fred and Adele Astaire were so enormously popular as a stage act in both London and New York prior to Adeles retirement and Freds film career. She was apparently the anchor in the stage act; much as Grace Allen was for George Burns. The authors liberal use of reviews from the stage era of the Astaires act bring alive what it must have been like to see them in a theater. Fast Eddy1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. CharismaticBy HHKathleen Rileys "The Astaires: Fred Adele" is a reminder that the quintessential pairing was not Fred and Ginger; but Fred and Adele; his sister and greatest partner. Adele Astaire was natural; spontaneous; funny; incredibly talented as a dancer; and generally recognized as the bigger star of the pair. She never made movies; however; leaving the stage in 1931 to marry a British nobleman. Fred went off to Hollywood almost as a desperate measure; while his sister; whose husband turned out to be an alcoholic; suffered a series of stillbirths; denying her the children she longed for. She is now almost forgotten; but if she had stayed on Broadway; she would have probably danced there for several more decades. What a great loss!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A marvelous life of two magic peopleBy Michael T KennedyThis is a wonderful biography of the two people who revolutionized theater and later movie musicals. The author has written the book as a history; chiefly; of the brother and sister during their stage career. Adele retired in 1931 and married the son of the Duke of Devonshire. Her married life was not very happy and she failed to produce a child with multiple miscarriages. Fred carried on but soon began his movie career. Fred married and was very happy until his wife died young of cancer. The history of his later life is abbreviated and I would recommend those interested in more might find some good stories in RJ Wagners biography as they were close for years in Freds later life.
