Felicitations go today to the lovely Marge Champion, who is (remarkably) still with us, aged 101!
All hail.
With her former husband Gower [they divorced in 1973; he died in 1980], the feisty Miss Champion revitalised the world of dancing (as performer and choreographer) in the Technicolor age in such films as Show Boat, Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly, Lovely To Look At, Three for the Show and this one...
Facts:
- Miss Champion was the model for Walt Disney’s original Snow White.
- Their film Lovely to Look At was a remake of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie Roberta; Marge and Gower were originally asked to do a series of colour remakes of Fred and Ginger's classics, but they turned down the proposal.
- Among many others who got their first break in Marge and Gower's sumptuously choreographed shows was none other than Miss Carol Channing, who Marge "discovered" in 1940.
- In 2009, at age 90, Marge was still dancing - as featured in a television documentary on her friendship with dance partner Donald Saddler [watch it here].
[More Champion stuff here and here]
I remember her from "show boat". keep on dancing!
ReplyDeleteI imagine she still does - possibly with a Zimmer frame these days, however... Jx
DeleteI think in these miserable times, we should have more films and/or TV shows with song and dance numbers to brighten things up. I've recently watched the second season of The Umbrella Academy and was delighted that it contained a lovely dance scene in one of the episodes.
ReplyDeleteLife really would be better if everything was like a movie starring Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse or Marge and Gower Champion... Jx
DeletePS Never heard of The Umbrella Academy until you mentioned it. It's another pay-per-view thing so we wont be able to watch it.
DeleteShe was/is fabulous as this video shows.
ReplyDelete101 wow.
I know! She's heading towards capturing Miss DeHavilland's crown for longevity... Jx
DeleteRIP, Marge. Jx
ReplyDelete