...the closest pic I could find of an 'EarlyTeenGinger'...she is actually sixteen here...note the feathers...ah, it's always about the feathers, isn't it, Miss Rogers?
Of course, this is THE 'watershed' moment (whatever THAT means) in our fair lady's life, as it would propel her to...well, a gig on the vaudeville circuit, which eventually landed her a gig in a Broadway play, which landed her a screen test, which...well, y'all know the rest...but back to the genesis...
From GINGER: My Story, here's how she described her first 'round' of the competition, at her home area of Fort Worth: "My name was called (onto the stage) and the neighborhood applauded wildly, recognizing one of their own. I walked to the center of the stage and stood for a moment. I loved the feeling of being "on." The music started and then the contagious Charleston triggered my toes. The Charleston wasn't difficult; anybody who could lift one foot off the floor could learn to dance it. The music had an exciting and compelling beat, and once you'd started, you never wanted to stop."
She waxed the folks in this 'preliminary round' and went on to the State Finals in Dallas. AND, here's how that contest went down: "The contest narrowed to myself and a boy from Dallas. The fact that Dallas and Fort Worth were rivals in everything only added to the excitement. The two finalists came forward. My heart was pounding hard. I danced the Charleston with all my heart. Then the boy from Dallas danced. Henry Santrey (the contest 'MC', no doubt) held his hand over each of us to determine the winner by the applause. It was a draw. We each had to dance again."
...and, of course, we know the conclusion of this story is, Ginger WON!
SO, the point IS, Ginger had that 'performance bug' in her bones... and it was her destiny, right? For if it wasn't, what would we have to talk about here on Gingerology? :-)
Well, y'all have seen these before, more than likely, but, just in case, and for the newer Gingerologists, here are honestly the only two known video clips of Ginger actually doing the Charleston; the first clip is 'cut' footage from her wickedawesome film, Roxie Hart...not sure why this didn't make it - would probably have been the 'opening scene', where we would have first met Ms. Hart... weird they cut it... and, the second clip is from 'The Lucy Show', which has Ginger, along with Lucille Ball and Lucie Arnaz, doing the Char on that groovy 70's shag... classic stuff which is timeless and a joy to watch...
...it's just weird that her and Fred never did the Charleston...but honestly, I guess the Charleston is really a 'solo' type dance, anyway, right? Or at least one where you have to literally stay 'at arm's length' from your partner, lest you whomp them in the head with your flailing arms...
Anyway, there's some neat info out there on the web regarding this event, in addition to the 'full story' in Ginger's bio... and I know GF11 has been to the Hotel in Dallas where Ginger sealed the deal... well, shoot, just check it out here, y'all:
GF11 - Gingery Trip to Dallas-Fort Worth
...now y'all have a great big ol' Gingery weekend, now, y'hear?
Hu (still pondering the Roberta review...the 'skeleton' of the post is set...just need caps and story...)
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Haha awesome you put a link to my post! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat trip was awesome, and even though the Baker Hotel wasn't there, it was awesome to know it was in the spot and also see the other gingery places!
I also love that deleted scene from Roxie Hart. and that Lucy episode. It just shows that years later after she won, she could still dance it!
Well at least it's Friday, had an easy day since we got off early at 11. Now it's the weekend, and NO homework to do! :D
Have a awesome and gingery Friday.
Awesome post! It is great to see all the details brought together like you did.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion (zero facts here) of why the Charleston number was cut from "Roxie Hart" is because Ginger did it too well. Roxie in the movie is written as an attention hound without any real talent, just those photogenic KNEES of hers. Dancing a killer Charleston, like Ginger did, would have been a ticket to a contract in any agent's book and the story writers wouldn't have been able to make fun of Roxie as a talentless, "newspaper" celebrity. All that said, I'm VERY glad that the dance is still around on film because it is a stellar performance by Ginger and too good to stay on the cutting room floor.
...not a bad theory, 'e'! Actually, this scene has her dancing in the 'beady' dress, and...the opening scene where she climbs in thru the fire escape, she has the shorts and frilly top on... In fact, I'm not really sure where the 'beady dress' shows up in the film...I've seen other pics of her in it, tho... anyway, My theory (yeah THAT'S worth quite a bit...) is that, the Charleston purt near HAS to be performed in a dress...well, unless you're a dude, then the dress is optional...OK... well, after she cuts the rug at work (if I remember, she was just coming home after a night out on the town), she gets into the 'struggle' (i'e', billy goat maneuver) with the news paper reporter...which of course would have been a bit difficult in the 'beady dress'... so they shot that scene with her in shorts and frilly top... but when they went back, they figured out - hey, she is dancing here in one thing, and shows up here in a completely different outfit1 Now, as a performer, no big deal, you change into street clothes, right? but...I'm thinking she was just a 'freelance flapper' (pretty funky term there, heh heh), thus would have the same garb on in each scene...thus, they cut the dance scene for continuity...
DeleteOK - well next time I'll go into a bit more detail in my theories...sorry for the abbreviated version :-]
KIg, 'e'!!!
Hu
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I was thinking the same thing because you never see that 'beady dress' anywhere else. But after reading your theory, I got another idea. In the Charleston scene, Roxie is surrounded by a cheering crowd and there is a guy at the edge of the circle around her holding a large trophy. So what if that is a fantasy sequence? Roxie could be imagining just how famous she was going to be if she just signed over the non-existent fine print. They could have wanted to flash to Roxie's mind's eye when the agent and newspaper man were talking her into saying that she 'dun it'. If that were the case, however, they had no reason at all to cut the scene. So it is a nice idea but it leaves more questions as to what happened in the editing room.
DeleteI love the term 'freelance flapper'! Now I just have to figure out a way to squeeze that onto my resume, haha. And IMO, a guy should only dance the Charleston in the 'beady dress' if he has the legs for it ;)
Keep the theories coming no matter the character length :D
And as always, KIG!
hmmm... pretty valid 'theory' regarding the dream sequence... I just always thought Roxie kinda had an 'uneventful' introduction in the movie... well, not a 'proper' introduction, anyway...DEFINITELY 'eventful', tho! But it's still one of my t-total faves, as it was for Ginger...think I read somewhere this MAY have been her FAV non-GandF movie, save for Kitty, of course...
DeleteWill keep it on the Gingery side this week, for sure...I need to start bringing Roberta into the home stretch....but dang, it seems like the weekends are busier than weekdays... ...and of course the holidays are pending, so... excuses abound, I reckon...
KIG, 'e'!
Hu
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...well, heck - you did such a great job documenting everything, I couldn't add anything to it...so a link was in order!!!
ReplyDeleteI actually ran across a 'message board' for the City of Fort Worth - when googling the Charleston contest for Ginger - and there were some folks who mentioned Ginger's old FW house, but that it looked abandoned, and this was back in 2006-7...so was obviously torn down for whatever is there now...
I would like to check out the area, tho...kinda like Bellefontaine Street in KC, just a vacant lot, but...it was still cool to visit the area where Ginger romped around as a young'un!
...and, I REALLY thought there were a few photos of Ginger when she won the contest, but...guess not. There probably wasn't as much 'documentation' back then, as compared to now, or heck, even 30 years ago... cameras were a pretty 'rare' thing in the 1920s...
Great to hear you have a long weekend coming up...have fun! And, KIG, of course!
Hu
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I think I know which message board you're talking about. I know long time ago I ran across it. It was around 05-06. I remember someone mentioning there was a estate sale, and I think lucky ducks! Even though it was an estate sale of someone else, they still got to walk inside the house... But unfortunately the house in no longer around.
DeleteYa I know I wish there photos from when she won the Charleston contest. Really if you wanted to find at least some info saying congrats or something, is to check out the newspaper from that time....which would be difficult.
And I will have a fun and gingery weekend, hope you do too!
I hope you're not meaning to say Hu that you can't do the charleston ;)
ReplyDeleteIt can be done as a partnered dance, the musical 'The Boyfriend' features it as one although its much easier as a solo number!