Delores E. Topliff
Born
Frederick Austerlitz, in Omaha, Nebraska (1899). Fred Astaire started dancing
when he was four. By age six, he formed an act with his sister, Adele, which
became a popular in vaudeville. When she retired, Astaire made a screen
test. The movie executive wrote, "Can't act, can't sing. Balding. Can
dance a little." But Astaire appeared in Dancing Lady (1933),
starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and the Three Stooges. He's famous for movies he made with dancing partner Ginger Rogers: classics like The
Gay Divorcée (1934), Top
Hat (1935), and Swing Time (1936).
He said: "The higher up
you go, the more mistakes you are allowed. Right at the top, if you make enough
of them, it's considered to be your style." He worked hard and became
famous. Sticktoitivity, otherwise known as hard work, is essential to fame.
Next let’s
look at the Three Stooges. When I was 17, I was asked to make arrangements for our
high school's graduation banquet. I went to Vancouver, Washington's best hotel and pushed the elevator button. When the elevator
opened, I encountered the Three Stooges, who were appearing there nightly that
week. At around 4 p.m., they were coming up from the basement cocktail lounge,
and got off on the second floor, while I rode to the business office on the third. In our brief time
together, I did not think to request their autograph. Instead I noticed that they looked old, sad, tired--not funny. When we
reached their floor, the elevator door opened, closed again, and they were gone. That was one
of my earliest encounters with fame. I’m not sure it changed me, except to make
me wish that if I ever accomplished fame, it would be the kind I could be proud of.
What about
you? Share an interesting or funny encounter you've had with the famous or infamous. Or offer your definition of fame. Tell us what you most wish to be famous
for.
Final
assignment? Have a great week!
The closest I've come to someone famous is probably when I had my picture taken in front of the first house Elvis bought for his parents. It was in a normal neighborhood except for the string of cars that was always present with people craning their necks to see if they could catch a glimpse of him. If I ever make the news, I hope it's for something good, not bad...like a mug shot. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love watching Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby in The Holiday Inn, and in other movies. :) I thought he was an amazing dancer.
ReplyDeleteMy closest brush with fame would be when I was about 13 and had my picture taken with Phillip McKeon (heart throb in that day) when I walked to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. :)
If I am ever famous I hope it's for something good—like helping someone or for how I've treated others.
Great post, Dee!
When I was about fourteen, my mom took a bunch of us girls to Six Flags in St. Louis and we spotted a limo next to us, so naturally we rolled our windows down and waved like crazy until the tinted windows rolled down and waving back with the cutest grin ever was Bruce Willis! We had no idea who was behind the windows. So I like to say I took a ride with him. I mean we were in cars, going the same speed and waving to each other, right? lol
ReplyDeleteI appreciate these good entries. Fun. The day will come soon when wannabees will want to have their pictures taken w/ you!
ReplyDeleteI had my picture taken with Jerry Jenkins once. Does that count?
ReplyDelete