Thread Number: 716
P.O.D. on Eleanor Powell
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Post# 7102   1/2/2007 at 17:53 (6,322 days old) by sukething ()        

Film stardom
She was well-received in her first starring role in 1935's Broadway Melody of 1936 (in which she was supported by Jack Benny and Frances Langford), and delighted 1930s audiences with her endless energy and enthusiasm, not to mention her stunning dancing. According to dancer Ann Miller, quoted in the "making-of" documentary about That's Entertainment! III, MGM was headed for bankruptcy in the late 1930s, but the films of Eleanor Powell, particularly Broadway Melody of 1936 were so popular they made the company profitable again. Miller also credits Powell for inspiring her own dancing career, which would eventually lead her to become an MGM musical star a decade later.


Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dance to "Begin the Beguine" in Broadway Melody of 1940.Powell would go on to star opposite many of the decade's top leading men such as Jimmy Stewart, Robert Taylor, Fred Astaire, George Murphy, Nelson Eddy, and Robert Young. Films she made during the height of her career in the mid-to-late 1930s co-starred these men and others and included Born to Dance (1936), Rosalie (1937), Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), Honolulu (1939), and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940). All of these movies featured her amazing solo tapping, although her increasingly huge production numbers began to attract criticism. Her characters also often sang, but Powell's singing voice was usually (but not always) overdubbed (this would also happen to one of Powell's successors, Cyd Charisse). Broadway Melody of 1940, in which Powell starred opposite Fred Astaire, featured an acclaimed musical score by Cole Porter. Together, Astaire and Powell danced to Porter's "Begin The Beguine", which is considered by many to be one of the greatest tap sequences in film history. According to accounts of the making of this film, including a documentary included on the DVD release, Astaire was somewhat intimidated by Powell, who was considered at the time the only female dancer capable of out-dancing Astaire. In his autobiography Steps in Time, Astaire remarked: "She 'put 'em down like a man', no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself."


Sorry...the picture of her and Fred Astaire did not make it in if Charlie W could help me then you would see that she danced with him>

Eleanor Powell was a famous actress who like Eletrolux, yes it might have been nice if people who didnt know who Ms. Powell is, now you do. The source I found off the internet is that she passed in 1982.

I think it is cool who ever has this canceled check that is awsome. Yes it is written in ball point pen.


David


Post# 7119 , Reply# 1   1/2/2007 at 21:29 (6,322 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
Charles - Help Me Out Here

compactelectra's profile picture
I think that we may have had this conversation the first time this POD came up. Which branch do you think she bought this from? It was probably the one in Westwood or (and I can never remember the street (Highland or 3rd(??) - I visited it many times when I worked at Cal Fed at 5670 Wilshire Blvd.)) The purchase was probably bags, but I am thinking that it may have been some additional items as well, I can't remember the pricing on the big package of bags. Being a resident of LA for 21 years, this one really gets me going. Love it. Thanks for the submission Charles, for those who appreciate it, it is fab!!

Fred


Post# 7123 , Reply# 2   1/2/2007 at 21:59 (6,322 days old) by air-waycharlie (USA)        
David.......

air-waycharlie's profile picture
Yes, I remember that picture well and Eleanor and I never danced better.

Unfortunately, due to the youth of so many of our members and posters, they do not know of our Hollywood history. Shame, shame........and turn in your cards if you do not remember Eleanor Powell.

Get out there and start googling youngsters! You must know your Hollywood and film history if you are going to be good vacuum collectors. Just ask Ida. Everytime we get together with the "waxworks" and the young folks to watch a film, more are enlightened.

I would love to have that check in my hot little hands. True Hollywood history combined with vacuum history.....WOW!

Thanks for your bio on Eleanor and stay tuned for future educating of the next generation.

Helen


Post# 7130 , Reply# 3   1/2/2007 at 22:52 (6,322 days old) by scott55405 ()        

Fred, I bet the Lux person came to her home and she bought them from him there.


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