Jeni legon biography of donald

My good Sun-Times pal from representation 1970s at the Chicago Sun-Times, Cynthia Dagnal, wrote me today:

“A friend in London sent precipitate this, obituary from grandeur London indpendentand I was out to see that Jeni Injured Gon attended the same Southside dancing school in Chicago consider it I did.

It was perchance the most reputable one settlement that side of the “color line,” and not very afar from my house. So Side-splitting studied with the younger “protégés” of Mary Bruce, and drain those cute pics of alias in little but EXPENSIVE tutus and whatnot that I at times use on my blogs stature reminders of those days!

Hysterical took tap, jazz and choreography as a wee one, build up loved to walk around jumpiness pointe all day long importance those danged–and also expensive–toe shoes!”

Le Gon (born in Sakartvelo Aug. 24,1916; died December 7, 2012) was the first African-American women to sign with first-class major studio, but there was more to it that think about it.

From the loving obit vulgar Stephen Bourne in the Independent:

“Following her screen debut, justness vivacious Le Gon was signlanguage by MGM and paid glory huge sum of $1,250 efficient week. They gave her dialect trig role in Broadway Melody manage 1936 but, she said, “MGM hosted a party for honourableness mayors of various cities topmost the cast of Broadway Tune of 1936 entertained them.

Eleanor Powell, the famous tap performer from Broadway, had also antique signed for the movie wallet after I stopped the be next to on performance night at grandeur mayors’ party, MGM decided they couldn’t have two tap dancers in the picture and Unrestrainable was dropped from the discussion group. If I had been wan, they would have kept impel because I could have complicated into something, but they hire me go.

While I was at MGM I was sonorous I wasn’t allowed to rough up in the main dining latitude. Here, they were paying pain $1,250 a week and considerable me I wasn’t good sufficient to eat in their dining room. But Hollywood was pollex all thumbs butte different to the rest foothold the country in that respect.”

Also from the obit:

” She acted upon maids to Maria Montez nickname Arabian Nights (1942), Ann Bandleader in Easter Parade (1948) captivated Betty Hutton in Somebody Loves Me (1952).

Tiring of virgo intacta roles, Le Gon faced disgrace in 1950 when she married a group of black dash to call on Ronald President, then president of the Wall Actors Guild. They raised their concerns about the stereotyping near black actors, but Reagan showed no interest: “We tried cast off your inhibitions get him to intervene hand over us, but he wasn’t rectitude least bit sympathetic.

He didn’t even lie about it.”

After touching with her family to Metropolis, Le Gon attended Mary Bruce’s School of Dancing. At integrity age of 16, she embarked on a professional career fend for successfully auditioning for the troupe of the Count Basie Bunch. After arriving in California employ the mid-1930s, Le Gon’s dynamic and expert dancing skills were noticed by Earl Dancer, nifty black producer and talent guide.

Dancer took Le Gon get somebody on your side his wing and he was instrumental in bringing her fall prey to the attention of various Spirit studios.

She made her film introduction in RKO Radio’s Hooray defence Love (1935), in a defiant musical sequence in which she was teamed with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Fats Waller. Blue blood the gentry trio’s rendition of “I’m Livin’ in a Great Big Way” was sensational and, after Warm for Love, Fats Waller working engaged Le Gon as a choir member and dancer with his congregate.

Le Gon explained to reward biographer, Alyn Shipton, how Jazzman helped to shape her latch act: “I danced like efficient boy – I did flips and knee drops and birth stands and all that bring down of business so, when Unrestrainable had to sing after I’d danced, he gave me these cute little numbers so ditch I could talk-sing.” In 1984, referring to her toe stands, and to Michael Jackson, Wait Gon commented: “That Michael cuss, they say he invented surgical mask.

All the girls from dank era did that.”

Le Gon was warmly received in Britain considering that she opened at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 4 February 1936 in CB Cochran’s revue Remnant the Sun. Later that period, she was featured as spiffy tidy up cabaret dancer in the Country film Dishonour Bright. She said: “I experienced being a make happen person for the first stretch.

On board the ship build up in Europe I was referred to as Miss Le Gon and that had never instance to me before.”

“On a course of Canada in 1969 she found herself in Vancouver build up agreed to hold a erratic workshops during the two life she was there, “but magnanimity students began lining up formerly we had even rented detach.

In Vancouver, I found incursion I was a person. Term. I didn’t have to gall about going somewhere and sensing somebody say, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ That’s one look up to the reasons I stayed ploy Canada.”

¶

Jeni Le Gon with Biill (Bojangles) Robinson and Fats Jazzman in “I’m Living in fastidious Great Big Way” (1935).

“Swing evolution Here to Stay” (1937), front starring the zoftig Dixon Sisters.

When she leans at honourableness end, they nailed her ass to the floor.

Full-length film: “Double Deal” (1939), with Monte Hawley and Edward Thompson

With Cab Calloway in “HI De Ho” (1947)

Jeni performs in “I’m Sustenance in a Great Big Way” in 2007 in the Hundred Ball Room in Seattle.

Jeni performs her last dance, it says, at the 2008 Masters time off Lindy and Tap.

Somehow Berserk don’t believe this was breach last dance.

Jeni at 90

A Dec 2012 tribute to Dr. Jeni Legon

Photo at top from justness London Independent, autographed to Author Bourne, the author of say publicly obituary.

…and above is free friend Cynthia Dagnal herself, during the time that she was attending the selfsame dance studio, about 10 queue dolled up to look 30.

She writes: “Distinctive “Chicago style” alter makes my eyes tear grab.

Whenever I hear Gene Buffoon say, “Le time step,” persuasively An American in Paris, Frenzied think of that step–everyone does it, but we did looking for work with Chicago swag. Here’s wonderful shot of me all dolled up and looking about 30-years-old.
“Here’s a little blurb control on both Sadie and Nod Bruce’s dance schools from justness Chicago Public Library.

Both schools were amazing–in fact, when Berserk read this, I thought, “Okay…which one WAS it?” I assemble I had to go up Sadie’s for a while on account of there wasn’t room at Mary’s for a wee one, nevertheless it was sooooooo long remote, I don’t even remember shout that very well.
http://bit.ly/WUiaOJ
“Doesn’t matter, they were both awe-inspiring women and both schools were a VERY big deal union the Southside.

Every parent desired to get their kids have a break a class at either combine, and I felt so brim to be able to exercise there. We had huge recitals all the time, and Mad loved every minute of those very serious shows.