You have amassed some great photos of Ellie here, Basilnelson. In years gone by you might see one of her thirties films airing on BBC2, but these days her films are very rarely shown anwhere on the UKTV network. This is a great pity because her sublime tap-dancing talent deserves to be appreciated by by todays youngsters, many of whom will probably never have heard of her. If You-Tube serves no better purpose it preserves for posterity to enjoy the greatest female tap-dancer who ever lived!.
@hotwok19 Thank you and I agree with you. Some of her dancing routines were staggering to watch and I would love to include some of them in future video editions (that is if there are no copyright problems!). She wasn't a bad singer either but her tap-dancing had to be seen to be believed. BAZ
@basilnelson. "Staggering" is an overused word, but NOT where Eleanor Powell is concerned. She did many staggering dance routines but i well remember seeing her tap-dancing duet with Fred Astaire in "Broadway Melody of 1940" for the first time in a compilation narrated by Frank Sinatra. I was blown away & Frank said, "You know, you can wait around a long time but you will never see the likes of this again". FRANK WAS SPOT ON!!!.
I first saw her in 'Born to Dance' just after I found girls to be interesting...the way she danced was utterly bewitching, especially when viewed from behind! I almost dropped my teeth...thus began my admiration for her. Later I recognized her absolute mastery of the dance and the amazing chemistry she had with Fred Astaire culminating with the Begin the Beguine sequence...then that crumb Harry James had to interfere!!!
basilnelson: "I can't believe my ears" Thank you so much. I spent 20 days listening to all Clayderman's traks and I couldn't find it. Thanks a lot again.
Here is a PARTIAL list of those that thought Ellie was the best tap dancer ever. Fred Astaire ,Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra, Donald O'Connor, Ann Miller, Red Skelton,Cyd Charise, Busey Berkeley, Louis Meyer, Arturo Tosconini, The Nicholas Brothers, The Berry Brothers and Buddy Rich. She was so good that the studio built a grandstand for her and her ONLY so that when she danced they let the workers watch. She got the first 2:40 with Fred in the famous Begin the Beguinne number. It gos on and on.
Composer Arturo Tosconini said this of Ellie .3 things I will hold all my life. The beauty of a sunset, the granduer of the Grand Canyon and Eleanor Powell dancing.
Fred Astaire - She put em down like a man, no ticky ticky stuff with Ellie.She danced in a class by herself man or woman
F Nicholas- Ellie did things nobody else could do. She offered to teach me pirorettes that she moved forward with amazing speed. I did not want the public to know how much better she was then the rest of us.
To FAfan06 and hajune: Please stop fighting. Did you enjoy the dance? If yes, let's watch it again and enjoy life. She has the best legs and moves I've seen in a long time. She puts on a great show.
fafan06 Not even Fred Astaire agrees with you. He admitted she was better then he. There are a host of others who say the same. Watch the end of each of these movies when both are doing forward moving pirouttes . Ellie in Honolulu at the end does 16 pirouttes in 10 1/2 seconds ,while changing leads and in heels. Wow! Fred in Putting on the Ritz does 12 in 12 seconds. Easy to see the difference. Why do you suppose Ellie got the first 2:40 to herself in the Begin the Beguine dance?
@hajune hay june its not a pirouttes contest its utiliyzing all the dance moves in the most appealing. manner. to limit dancing to a pirouttes contest is like looking at heavyweight boxing as a knock out contest. george foreman ko'd both frazier and norton but a lighter hitting ali knocked out foreman so you have to look at the sum of their dancing talents not just knock outs like pirouttes. if i tried i could imitate and do michael jackson moves an do them just as well except the moonwalk.
Somehow I've missed this lovely tribute! Thanks so much - I really enjoyed the music selections and the pictures. I agree with hajune in hoping that YouTube will allow more people to discover Ellie's incredible dance legacy. Of course, her accomplishments weren't limited to dance. Everything I've learned about her only makes me appreciate her more.
Well done!! You do a great job. It does not go unappreciated . Elly was the greatest dancer ever male or female according to none other than Fred Astaire himself. " She put em down like a man. No ricky ticky stiff with Elly. She danced in a CLAAS BY HERSELF man or women."
That sentiment was shared by almost the whole dancing world in her era. Nobody gets less acclaim and had more ability then Eleanor Powell. Hopefully You Tube will help close that gap.Thanks Eleanor Powell for your gift to us.
Thank you for your nice comments and I am glad you enjoyed the video. Elly was indeed the greatest dancer with the fastest feet, nobody could equal her speed. She is a proud addition to my 'Movie Legends' series.
What a beautiful dancer with show stopping legs, she was another gifted lady with that chorus line glamour as well.This period was ideal for tap dancers, even until the late
1950,s. Eleanor Powell made her mark and it still sticks on the silver screen.
I absolutely love your tribute videos, and have been waiting patiently for you to get around to the Queen of Taps. She really was a knockout wasn't she?
You have amassed some great photos of Ellie here, Basilnelson. In years gone by you might see one of her thirties films airing on BBC2, but these days her films are very rarely shown anwhere on the UKTV network. This is a great pity because her sublime tap-dancing talent deserves to be appreciated by by todays youngsters, many of whom will probably never have heard of her. If You-Tube serves no better purpose it preserves for posterity to enjoy the greatest female tap-dancer who ever lived!.
hotwok19 1 year ago
@hotwok19 Thank you and I agree with you. Some of her dancing routines were staggering to watch and I would love to include some of them in future video editions (that is if there are no copyright problems!). She wasn't a bad singer either but her tap-dancing had to be seen to be believed. BAZ
basilnelson 1 year ago
@basilnelson. "Staggering" is an overused word, but NOT where Eleanor Powell is concerned. She did many staggering dance routines but i well remember seeing her tap-dancing duet with Fred Astaire in "Broadway Melody of 1940" for the first time in a compilation narrated by Frank Sinatra. I was blown away & Frank said, "You know, you can wait around a long time but you will never see the likes of this again". FRANK WAS SPOT ON!!!.
hotwok19 1 year ago
Dear Pals,
Got another question for you. A'body know the name of the last music in the video? I think is playing by R. Clayderman
Thanks a lot
eligusi 1 year ago
Another question to the pals on line. Does anybody know the name of the last song on the video? I think is playing by R Clyderman. Thanks a lot
eligusi 1 year ago
I first saw her in 'Born to Dance' just after I found girls to be interesting...the way she danced was utterly bewitching, especially when viewed from behind! I almost dropped my teeth...thus began my admiration for her. Later I recognized her absolute mastery of the dance and the amazing chemistry she had with Fred Astaire culminating with the Begin the Beguine sequence...then that crumb Harry James had to interfere!!!
pontecanis 1 year ago
basilnelson: "I can't believe my ears" Thank you so much. I spent 20 days listening to all Clayderman's traks and I couldn't find it. Thanks a lot again.
eligusi 1 year ago
Does a'body know who plays the piano in the video and also the tittle of the two songs? Thanks
eligusi 1 year ago
@eligusi French pianist Richard Clayderman is the artist and the title of the piece is 'Walzertraume Medley' (but no individual titles are given).
basilnelson 1 year ago
Here is a PARTIAL list of those that thought Ellie was the best tap dancer ever. Fred Astaire ,Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra, Donald O'Connor, Ann Miller, Red Skelton,Cyd Charise, Busey Berkeley, Louis Meyer, Arturo Tosconini, The Nicholas Brothers, The Berry Brothers and Buddy Rich. She was so good that the studio built a grandstand for her and her ONLY so that when she danced they let the workers watch. She got the first 2:40 with Fred in the famous Begin the Beguinne number. It gos on and on.
hajune 2 years ago
Composer Arturo Tosconini said this of Ellie .3 things I will hold all my life. The beauty of a sunset, the granduer of the Grand Canyon and Eleanor Powell dancing.
Fred Astaire - She put em down like a man, no ticky ticky stuff with Ellie.She danced in a class by herself man or woman
F Nicholas- Ellie did things nobody else could do. She offered to teach me pirorettes that she moved forward with amazing speed. I did not want the public to know how much better she was then the rest of us.
hajune 2 years ago
To FAfan06 and hajune: Please stop fighting. Did you enjoy the dance? If yes, let's watch it again and enjoy life. She has the best legs and moves I've seen in a long time. She puts on a great show.
tly1977 2 years ago
loving the Tribute but i still can't agree with you as the best tap dancer ever as Fred Astaire holds that spot. :)
FAfan06 2 years ago
fafan06 Not even Fred Astaire agrees with you. He admitted she was better then he. There are a host of others who say the same. Watch the end of each of these movies when both are doing forward moving pirouttes . Ellie in Honolulu at the end does 16 pirouttes in 10 1/2 seconds ,while changing leads and in heels. Wow! Fred in Putting on the Ritz does 12 in 12 seconds. Easy to see the difference. Why do you suppose Ellie got the first 2:40 to herself in the Begin the Beguine dance?
hajune 2 years ago
@hajune hay june its not a pirouttes contest its utiliyzing all the dance moves in the most appealing. manner. to limit dancing to a pirouttes contest is like looking at heavyweight boxing as a knock out contest. george foreman ko'd both frazier and norton but a lighter hitting ali knocked out foreman so you have to look at the sum of their dancing talents not just knock outs like pirouttes. if i tried i could imitate and do michael jackson moves an do them just as well except the moonwalk.
jeryd2003 1 year ago
Somehow I've missed this lovely tribute! Thanks so much - I really enjoyed the music selections and the pictures. I agree with hajune in hoping that YouTube will allow more people to discover Ellie's incredible dance legacy. Of course, her accomplishments weren't limited to dance. Everything I've learned about her only makes me appreciate her more.
netwitt1 2 years ago
Well done!! You do a great job. It does not go unappreciated . Elly was the greatest dancer ever male or female according to none other than Fred Astaire himself. " She put em down like a man. No ricky ticky stiff with Elly. She danced in a CLAAS BY HERSELF man or women."
That sentiment was shared by almost the whole dancing world in her era. Nobody gets less acclaim and had more ability then Eleanor Powell. Hopefully You Tube will help close that gap.Thanks Eleanor Powell for your gift to us.
hajune 3 years ago
Thank you for your nice comments and I am glad you enjoyed the video. Elly was indeed the greatest dancer with the fastest feet, nobody could equal her speed. She is a proud addition to my 'Movie Legends' series.
basilnelson 3 years ago
What a beautiful dancer with show stopping legs, she was another gifted lady with that chorus line glamour as well.This period was ideal for tap dancers, even until the late
1950,s. Eleanor Powell made her mark and it still sticks on the silver screen.
Pierre
globehunter2 3 years ago
Thanks BAZ, you know I have been waiting for Miss Powell and you did not disappoint!
Chris
niceguy63073 3 years ago
This lady was the best tapper ever!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE her old movies!!
Thanks for sharing.
LMorgan1234 3 years ago
Oops. Sorry. If at first you don't succeed... Seem to have accomplished it on the third try.
JudithIN410 3 years ago
Lovely! But I wish I could save it to my computer. Apparently that function has been blocked. ??
JudithIN410 3 years ago
I absolutely love your tribute videos, and have been waiting patiently for you to get around to the Queen of Taps. She really was a knockout wasn't she?
canoga1958 3 years ago
Wow! she is a stunning beauty.
Spiritree41 3 years ago