Metropolitan news. (Chicago, Ill.) 1935-19??, 1935-06-11

Blazes" enlarged upon the one man
act, by placing four men behind
each other. The -Four Blazes"
gained fame with this dance in a
movie short with Ellington entitled
"Black and Tan Fantasy
After that picture more dancing
trios and auartets sprang into be-
ing. Rutledge and Williams sprang
into limelight by initiating Rector
and Cooper. They are now in Los
Angeles. They have been seen in
several feature pictures.
The Dice Dance
Bill Robinson created the stair
dance, so the Lucky Senven" trio
struck upon the idea to dance upon
three large blocks, painted to re-
semble dice. The Three Rhythm
Kings, who are featured with Earl
Hines and who appeared in a fill
musical with Eddie Cantor. i'm
proved upon the original idea of
Bill Robinson and cart 9 huge
drum about the country. The
"Three Rhythm Kings" do some
fancy hoofing, with plenty of
stomping on the drum. But they
beat out rhythm. And the public
wants rhythm.
The "Four Blazes have the latest
idea, which they will employ when
they rejoin Duke Ellington. That
Of dancing upon four miniature
pianos. Each tiny piano has four
keys, forming two octaves with the
four pianos. The writer saw them
rehearsing the pianos back stage at
the Regal early this year when
Duke Ellington appeared at the Re-
gal theater. They dance in such
manner hopping on the keys of
their pianos in such a manner that
they play regular song, in ac-
compartment with orchestra. The
team was split when the British
Musicians raised the ban against
American talent, as a counter move
against similar action started by
American Musicians, and Ellington
was unable to tour Europe this
year. Two of the la1s went home
ia Los4Angeles- and will -aoan-h e
seen in movie.
Dancers All
Blanche Galloway was dancer in
the chorus of several shows before
she became a principal. After be-
coming star she would invariably
go into her dance following a cho-
rus or two of song. She later form
ed an orchestra. Cab Galloway
started his theatrical career as a
dancer at the Sunset Cafe. Lucky
Millinder also was a dancer. Clara
Townsend, his wife, was a dancer.
Josephine Baker started her ca
reer as dancer . and is still q
dancer. She got her break when
Ethel Waters became suddenly ill
and could not embark for Paris
with a musical show, featuring
Claude Hopkins orchestra. Josep-
hine Baker stepped into Ethels
place, made the trip to Paris :. and
stayed there. Flo Mills, another
girl who danced her way to fame
as a Flo Ziegfeld and Lew Leslie"
Blackbirds star. She became Anne
rica's Sweetheart. Though she has
passed on, her memory is mourned
throughout the nation.
The theatrical public still re-
member the famous dancing chorus
es of Tho Williams and Walker
show, the Smart Set, Whitman Sis
tiers, Butterbeans and Susie, Pla-
tation Days, How Come, Shuttle A
long" and other hit musical shows.
1t is such choruses that keep manu-
facturers of corn plasters and chi
ropodists doing rushing business.
They are forced to take special
care of their bread winners. The
theatrical performer may not tell
you that his feet give him consider
able trouble . but their feet bark
for mercy during the two and three
shows a day. They know the adj
vantage of keeping their hot pup
pies in perfect order Should some
thing go wrong, they couldn't dance
D.. and it wouldn't be ants :
but corns. bunions and olisters.
Leonard Harper, one of the
greatest producers of today. start
ed his theatrical career as a dane
er. He teamed with his wife for
years before he ever produced a
revue. Sammy Dyer was dancing