Vera-Ellen began dancing at the age of 10, and a few years later became one of the youngest Rockettes. She appeared in several Broadway musicals until she was spotted by film producer Samuel Goldwyn in 1945. She was only 24 years old when Goldwyn cast her opposite Danny Kaye in Wonder Man (1945). She danced with Fred Astaire in Three Little Words ...
White Christmas, On the Town, Three Little Words, Wonder Man, Call Me Madam, Words and Music, The Belle of New York, Let's Be Happy, Happy Go Lovely, Love Happy, The Kid from Brooklyn, Big Leaguer, Three Little Girls in Blue, Carnival in Costa Rica
Star Sign
Aquarius
#
Trademark
1
Her kind smile
2
Her legs
#
Quote
1
[when she was ill in 1977 and interviewed in a tabloid] I'm retired. I stopped when I was ahead. I don't need my work anymore, and I don't need the applause.
2
[on raising eyebrows on Oscar night 1958, wearing a form-fitting gold lame sheath] Why not? It's the way Oscar dresses.
3
I'm a dancer and I can never really get away from my career. On the days when I don't dance at the studio, I have to practice for at least an hour in the evening to keep in shape. Dancing is like breathing -- missing a day doing either is very bad.
4
The six boys who danced with me in this show escorted me to the depot and their farewell wish was to remember me dancing, so right there on the station platform we went into our routine as best we could under the circumstances. Naturally we attracted quite a crowd and we got so involved in our dancing, I almost missed the train but the boys managed to get me on just as the train pulled out.
5
I don't remember if I liked [dancing] because I was good at it, or if I was good at it because I liked it. Maybe a little of both.
6
I was called a bookish child. Mother sent me to a ballet teacher in Cincinnati when I was nine years old. I guess I was an awkward child and the family wanted me to be graceful. When I found out I liked to dance and people seemed to like to watch me, I was determined to go places.
7
Fred Astaire will never say, though he's always asked, which of his dancing ladies was his favorite partner. If you ask me, he preferred the solo turns.
#
Fact
1
She was originally slated to star in Excuse My Dust (1951) with Red Skelton however she had to be replaced as she was in London filming Happy Go Lovely (1951) and would not finish that film in time.
2
Her singing in 'Three Litte Words' was dubbed by Anita Ellis.
3
She was a lifelong Republican and a solid supporter of Ronald Reagan especially.
4
It has been reported that she appeared in "Major Bowes' Amateur Theatre of the Air" in 1935, but that remains unconfirmed.
5
She was a Radio City Rockette but was fired after two weeks because she showed too much individuality on stage.
6
In 1977 a gossip columnist reported that the baby Vera-Ellen lost in the 60s had died from SIDS.
7
Her first Broadway appearance was in "Very Warm for May," co-directed by future MGM filmmaker Vincente Minelli and featuring future MGM co-worker June Allyson in the chorus.
8
Fred Astaire said about her, "She was a real accomplished dancer, that girl. Ballet, tap dancing, anything you wanted to do.
She was known to have the smallest waist in Hollywood from the mid 1940s through the 1960s.
11
On March 3, 1963, she gave birth to a daughter named Victoria Ellen Rothschild, who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome on June 20th of that same year. All of this took place in Los Angeles County.
12
Was once a drum majorette in high school.
13
Went to the same Cincinnati ballroom dance studio as a child as Doris Day. Their parents used to carpool together to the dance studio.
14
Suffered from anorexia for years, which led to premature aging
Documentary performer: "On the Town" 1944, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" 1936 - uncredited
That's Dancing!
1985
Documentary performer: "Thinking of You"
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
1956-1958
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Let's Be Happy
1957
performer: "Let's Be Happy", "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond", "I'm Going to Scotland" - uncredited
White Christmas
1954
"White Christmas", uncredited / performer: "Sisters", "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing", "Snow", "Mandy", "Choreography", "Abraham", "Gee! I Wish I Was Back in the Army" - uncredited
Call Me Madam
1953
performer: "It's a Lovely Day Today", "The Ocarina", "Something To Dance About", "Finale: You're Just In Love/Something to Dance About"
The Belle of New York
1952
performer: "Let a Little Love Come In", "Baby Doll", "Oops", "A Bride's Wedding Day Song Currier and Ives", "Naughty but Nice" - uncredited
Happy Go Lovely
1951
performer: "MacIntosh's Wedding", "One-Two-Three", "Would You - Could You?", "London Town" uncredited
Three Little Words
1950
performer: "Where Did You Get That Girl?", "Mr. and Mrs. Hoofer at Home" uncredited, "Come on, Papa", "Nevertheless", "Thinking of You"
On the Town
1949
performer: "Miss Turnstiles", "A Day in New York", "Main Street" uncredited, "On the Town" uncredited
Love Happy
1949
performer: "Love Happy" 1949, "Willow Weep for Me" 1949
$5 Million
