Throwback Thursday and Ann Miller
Born Johnnie Lucille Ann Collier in Chireno, Texas, Ann
Miller was the daughter of John Alfred Collier, a famous criminal lawyer whose
clients included Bonnie Parker and Baby Face Nelson. Her mother, Clara Birdwell
was part Cherokee.
She began studying dance to build up the muscles in her legs
that had been compromised by rickets, a condition caused by a Vitamin D deficiency.
She was soon dancing for local civic organizations and a few years later was
discovered by Benny Rubin, a talent scout. This led to her first film, "New
Faces of 1937” for RKO.
Although she aspired to have roles like those given to
Ginger Rogers and Eleanor Powell, she received no comparable offers. But she continued to
perform in films that featured such notables as Rudy Vallee and Gene Autry. In
the mid-1940s she was offered a part in “Easter Parade”, probably her most
memorable film. She replaced Cyd Charisse who had broken her leg. From this came more roles in other movies.
By the 1950s and 1960s she moved to television, appearing on
programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and even “Laugh-In”. In 1979 she made a
comeback in the show “Sugar Babies”.
In later years she claimed to have been Queen Hatshepsut of
Egypt in an earlier life.
Ann Miller died of lung cancer in 2004, and would go down in
history as one of America’s greatest tap stars, who, it was said, could produce
500 taps a minute.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #109:
“Ann Miller was a famous American tap dancer and actress.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Let us read,
and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”
― Voltaire
― Voltaire
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