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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1936)
Tap Dane 11 II A II. II Uder Man. Ideal . omDanion uecian ii Eleanor Powell Has No Time For Dates, Doesn't Like Company Of Young Men J mr mmmmmm, W 142xhA ""V. & ' ;j-JJt'' ?Sm5S June Stewart and Eleanor Powell V V jul C' take a stroll between scenes of their ! al. sj Ci Jhtf L-ifi new film, "Born To Dance." Others Jmmmm V r-'tlVV. - 1 2" iftlL in the cast are Virginia Bruce, Buddy jX'Mf Ebsen "nd Un MetkeL fc'SK' A Y V ' V r f P jr '' v 1 P ( P 7 1 i ( 1 ( j T . Miss Powell, the 1 I l :mu-'Jfr world's finest feminine . II 1 ) , jfT tap dancer, will wear II V jT, out fifty pair of danc- XI . Jj V I tng shoes in the max- j"- I Jr ng of her latest X r motion picture. rr f Eleanor Powell figures out some new routines for her latest musical picture, "Born To Dance" by having mental figures of herself go through the motions. I'M free, white and 21. I can cook. I can sew. I'm agreeable, I hope. My face and figure are average. I have my own income. And yet I have never married. ' I have never been engaged. A g'ance at the list of tappers in America shows that I am one of the few who have never said the sacred vows. Fred Astaire, Ruby Heel er, Ray Bolger, Bill Robinson, Charles Collins and Ginger Rogers have all been married, and with the exception of the latter, they are still married. But I remain bottoms In marYiage, even though I'd like to be married. I've been too busy for love, and before that I was too bashful. The first 12 years of my life, I was too bash ful to even glance at a boy. My mother decided to send me to dancing school in Springfield, Mass., when 1 was six years old, so I could lose that bashfulness, and be able to meet people, knowing that it would be a very lonesome life for me without male companionship. So, frightened to death, I took my dancing ahoea to the school and under the tutelage of Ralph MrKeman, learned my first "heel and toe" steps. Days, weeka and months passed, and I lost my bashfulness, but I also lost my interest in other people. That must have been the turn ing point in my life when I decided that I loved dancing more than almost anything else in the world. BACK in school, the other girls .were going to partiea with their boy friends, but I was at McKernan's school wearing out shoe leather. Even when I was 12, my daily schedule was overflowing, I helped with the housework In the morning, making beds, putting up lunch and generally aiding mother. At school I was busy with my lessons and sports. After school came three hours of danc ing, then home to help with dinner and later to my room to study. Boys called at my home, but I was just too busy to accept their attentions. At 13, I went to Atlantic City to visit my grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Torrey, and it waa there that I met my first fellow. But the romance only lasted three days, for one day a producer, Gus rjjdwards, noticed me dsncing on the sand. He finally talked mother Into allowing me to make a nightly dancing appearance at the Rits Cafe. And thus ended my first romance, even before It actually got started. All summer, I practised on the beach and danced at the club during the night Returning to Springfield for school I still couldn't find time for boys. For the next two summers, I returned to At lantic City to dance at the cafe. Then I finished high school. The big question In the mind of the Powell family waa my fu ture. Should I go to college or go to New York and take up a dancing career In earnest T Danc ing won, so at the age of 16, mother and I started off to New York. No datea in New York during the first months, for I was too busy trying to see producers in order to get a Job. And I couldn't accept In vitations because I didn't have enough money to keep a full wardrobe. IN fact, mother and I were living on such a alim budget that we had to cut down on our food in order to take out $20 so that I could take 10 tap lessons. Finally I waa given a principal role in the Al SOUK musical, "Follow Thru". Now I had enough just enough, money to buy the clothes I would need for social life in New York. But now that the clothes were in sight, I was too busy to find time to use them. This still seems to hold true. When I re turned from New York recently, I brought a lot of new clothes, but I have been so busy working In "Born to Dance," that I haven't taken them out of the closet Then I went on the road. Living out of a suitcase, making one-night stands, always on the go, I found it impossible to make the kind of social contacts that I would enjoy. Back to New York again I passed most of my waking hours in front of the footlights and In rehearsal halls. I appeared In "Fine and Dandy," with Joe Cook; Ziegfeld's "Hot-Cha's "The Varieties", as the lesd opposite Bert Lahr and Harry Richman; in George White's "Scan dals" and In "Crasy Quilt" By thia time. I was in love with dancing and nothing else. Men had stopped trying to get "dates" with me because the answer was always the same; "I've got to practise new routine tonight" Then I came to Hollywood to appear In the motion picture version of the "Scandals" for Fox. This was just small part, but it was my first motion picture and I wal ao busy get ting used to camera technique that I didnt even get a chance to visit the beaches, much less to go to any of the Hollywood night spots in the company of the men of the film city. IMMEDIATELY after I finished this role, I was tested by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. They liked my work so I was given the leading role in "Broadway Melody of 1936." Acting and singing as well as dancing made it imperative that I almost live at the studio. Again I had no time for social life. Returning to New York to fulfill my con tract to do a leading role In the stage musical, "At Home Abroad," I must have surprised my friends by having "dates." 1 was seen here end there with the orchestra leader, Abe Lyman. For me to have a data was almost the same as an nouncing that I was engaged, at least that's the way the papers felt about it But both Abe and I agree that It was just a friendship that had been going on for many years. Back to Hollywood I came to play in the musical extravaganta, "Born to Dance." Still unmarried, still unengaged. . Then my name began to be linked with, James Stewart, who ia also in the new musical. We had a few dancing dates, but we are just friends. I will scon be bark In New York, and for the first time in my life It will be for a vacation. I'm wondering what will happen. Now that I have signed with M-G-M. have my home in Qeverly Hills and am moving my grand- Swinging Into the spectacular fi nale routine for the "Swinging The Jinx Away" number in the musical "Born To Dance." Miss Powell starred in several broad way musical shows before going to Hollywood. parents to the Pacific Coast, I have been think ing about marriage. I FEEL that a career and marriage can be mixed if the couple have the correct person alities for such a combination. But I think it's better if msrriage is made the only and most important career of the woman. I've decided one thing, and that is age. 1 want to marry an older man. I enjoy their company more because years seem to have made them more considerate than the younger men. If I were to marry a young man and continue with my screen career, I'm not sure that it would work out successfully. Young men are not inclined to realise that a woman can be just as tired at night from her work as a man from his. During the few "datea" I've had, I've found that older men were better company. They seem to realize more clearly that there is more to life than always being on the "go." I really have never tried to avoid love or get ting engaged, but It seems that I have been too busy. , I could set a million rules as to when, where, whom and why I will marry, but I think I'm wise enough to let my heart rule my head. Only time . will reveal the outcome. Five Star Critic Appends Powell Story By Linda Lane 'HE. World's Greatest Feminine Tap Danc- it by winning the championship award of the Dancing Masters of America. Bill Robinson won the male award. Miss Powell first came to Hollywood to ap pear in a small dancing role. She was prepar ing to return to Broadway when she was offered a screen test for a dancing bit in M-G-M's "Broadway Melody of 1936." Until then, no leading woman had been chos en. Many screen tests had been made, but final decision had not been made. Louis B. Mayer, the studio head, was viewing the many screen testa when a new face and figure leaped upon the screen. Mayer asked her Identity. He was told she was Eleanor Powell whose only screen experi ence had been one small dancing part "That is our leading woman!" Mayer ex claimed. Miss Powell was called In. Mayer advised how to improve her make-up, how to change her hairdress. He instructed the building of sets to fit her personality, how to photograph her and gown her and Eleanor Powell emerged a full-fleilged star overnight She has always been a great lover of sports. Her favorite was horseback riding, but her mother realized that this was too risky for her talented daughter, so Eleanor took up awim ming and has become a champion, having won several medals in races. ELEANOR is a very jany, modern dance queen on the stage but at home ahe'a the opposite. She likes to make hook rugs and work in her garden. After rehearsing definite routines all day, sl finishes by doing a half hour of her "favor te steps for her own amusement. She is tire less, having been known to make many a veter an piano accompanist cry "quit." Joan Crawford is her favorite personality. And like the noted actress she nsmes gardenias as her favorite flower. Blue is her favorite color. She could eat roast beef and ice cream every day of the year, she says. She sleeps eight hours but sdmite that she needs ten because of the energy she uses during the day. Lovea to read. Her favorite modern authoi ia Louis Bromfield, and Noel Coward gets thst sward in the modern playwright class. Enjoys reading about Henry.the Eighth, and likea Mc Clelland Barclay's drawings. She doesn't smoke or drink. Believes In good luck pieces and carries a solid gold elephant Eleanor won't have to do her Up dancing routines at home by herself any more, for the other day she purchased a German ahepherd police dog that can actually do a Up dance. Eleven months old. the dog waa being trained for show purposes when the star visited his ken nels, not to buy a dog, but to get some equip ment Seeing the police dog, she could not resist buying it after It did a Up dance to music Eleanor ia going to have canine Up shoes ov . '. " cl,CK,ng can be heard - , - " fl er friends call "Sweleanor." her
