Every Thursday now we will have a special feature entitled Today a Star Was Born, where we highlight people who made and make a difference in their craft and/or pioneered a path for others to follow. Here is today’s birthday honoree for May 10th:
Fred Astaire was born in 1899 the son of an Austrian immigrant, but rose to the top in America in the arena of show business, in vaudeville and on Broadway, and but most memorably in film.
Some fun facts about Fred Astaire are listed here, along with many more at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000001/bio :
The evaluation of Astaire’s first screen test: “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Balding. Can dance a little.”
Astaire disguised his very large hands by curling his middle two fingers while dancing.
He was voted the 19th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
His legs were insured for one million dollars.
Inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002 (inaugural class).
Check this new feature out every Thursday!
Li’el
The Staccato Beat Magazine 