Evening star., 1949-11-26
Bi|fRobinson, 71,Dies
After 63-Year Career
AsDance Entertainer
$50
BY the. Associated Press

HSDoIlIC LnlCIIQlIiC1
~ sy III. Associated Pres.
NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-Bill
RAaangles) Robinson-the smil-
ing Negro who had been an
epteTtainer since he was 8-died
last night at II while he slept
under an oxygen tent with a fail
ms heart.
.The great tap dancer had
carried his nickname for almost
40 scars. It's origin was obscure,
but it was said to mean happy
sc,}xcky.
,TSobinson began as q little stable
beyafrom the old Benning race
truck dancing for pennies in
washington beer halls, reached
the top Of his world on Broadway
and in Hollywood and made from
$106o. 900 to $4,000, 900.
nut he was almost broke when
ha&ent to the hospital two weeks
ae6T and his friends were arrang-
tTt benefit when he died.
Danced Until Eyes Failed.
Epbinson never really retired.
Kept on dancing until his eyes
ffHSd him three months ago.
With him when he died was his
second wife Elaine. Also present
wfiS his sister. Mrs. Dorothy
SM8lls, and Marty Forkins, his
nfadager since the early ls0os.
Although he made up to $4,000
q Meek in show business and
$6no0 a week in the movies. cash
neXHr stayed with him very long.
He save lavishly to charity-both
in money and benefit perfor-
mances-and he liked to gamble.
f4eawas also . crackerjack pool
player.
4robably his most famous movie
appearance was In "The Little
CS5onel" in 1888. with Shirley
Tehple-who called him Uncle
B1f from then On.
Robinson will lie in state in
thesAbyssinian Church from 2:3o
pAh. tomorrow. Services will be at
noon Monday. with burial in the
actors section OF the Evergreen
GRetery In Brooklyn.
Never Took = Lesson.
iNphinson never took . lesson in
his life. But his rythmic dancing
was easy. natural and seemingly
eHprtlesS.
with his big. friendly grin he
oAec said that his head just heard
TIT music and told his feet what
to do.
iete was born in Richmond, Va.
o4l.a family that once included
sl&yes. His flrst name was Luther
bdt he preferred Bill.
The story Is told that he gave
his brother Bill sound drubbing.
t0dk his name away from him and
gave him the name OF Percy.
10 Robinson. things were always
"eopesetic." He coined the word
ID Indicate that things were "bet-
tef than OK"
Gave 400 Benefits in. Year.
wherever Robinson a danced,
thire usually was q flight Of stairs
h3hdy. His speciality was to tap
hif way up and down, gracefully
n M AaYOothfyc eIF E-ht!
-Hs got that idea from 4 aadream.
ffs said: -.
II was being made . lord by
the King Of England and he was
ut the head Of . flight
Of stairs. Rather than walk, !
danced 'up to get it."
When other dancers initiated
him, Robinson grinned.
irI like to be initiated" he said.
IF they ever stop initiating me,
I'll be q dead duck"
They never did.
Robinson always stood ready to
aid any one who needed help. He
did as many as 400 benefits a year,
Sometimes six in a single day.
In: May, 1e48, Robinson gath
cred with 400 friends on q Hudson
River excursion boat to celebrate
his 10th birthday. He tilted his
yachtsman's caps lifted his feet
and began setting them down
again In the old. tuneful rythm.
/ Made IL Movies.
The city Of New York gave him
his own Bill Robinson Day in 1916
tp mark his Goth year in show
business.
! After dancing for pennies in
Washington at 8. Robinson got q
6-a-week Job dancing with q
travelling show. From there he
gradually worked his way upward
to Broadway.
He starred In one great Negro
revue after another. He was In
MANY Of the ''Blackbird" reviews
aAd In 1899 he starred in . swing
version Of the Gilbert and Sulli-
vlfi opera, "The Mikado."
He made IA movies in Holly
wood in the l930s. including I'm
Old Kentucky "The Mttlest
Rebel" "One Mile From Heaven"
and "The Little Colonel"
Gen. Kendall Flies Here