most people dont know of eleanor powell....they only know of ginger rogers...and its a shame because eleanor has such grace!!! just look at this routine!
@hanstark07 yes!!! you can see her skirt got messed up of her spinning and they never fixed it:DDDD pretty amazing early 20th century entertainment..it was so genuine and real..nowadays its all about money.
@glennt21601 lol, another dreamer about a world that never existed. There was as much garbage back then as there is today. For every movie like this with a few good musical numbers, there were dozens made that weren't worth a quarter. This one isn't much itself without the fine musical performances.
@DrHemlock94022 He may have had the highest earnings and gross audience and theres all sorts of societal reasons that could explain that but he was "Hardly the Finest Drummer by any Stretch of the Imagination". Not Even Close.
@DreamsCumTrue469 _Cats Of Any Color_ by veteran jazz journalist Gene Lees says on p. 206: "Basie[...] later said that Buddy was the best drummer the band ever had." Anyway, as some have known since Roman times, personal taste is personal taste: If Buddy Rich thought the best drum break on any Basie record was by Shadow Wilson, which he did, and supposing you think the best drum break on any Basie record is one by Jo Jones, that makes you and Buddy exactly equally right about... your own taste.
Lol. Description is very accurate, Buddy was the greatest drummer of all time and Eleanor was the best female dancer in the movies, it wasn't even close !
Nice but an exaggerated description. Neither is the best tap dancer nor the best drummer and if you could ask each of them they would both tell you the same.
@mjam93 lol, you shouldn't write nonsense assertions for all the world to see. You only let the world see that you are poorly informed. I studied and played drums and have talked to dozens of Hall of Fame Jazz performers and drummers. NONE of them agree with you. Just be content that he is YOUR personal favorite and leave it at that. He was an outstanding drummer, no question, but calling him the best ever is asinine.
@DreamsCumTrue469 "NONE of them agree with you." Count Basie reportedly said he thought Rich was the best drummer to ever play with the Basie band. Personal taste is personal taste.
@scottjoen key word is Count Basie "reportedly." said. If you remember, there were "reportedly" weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that fooled everybody into a war. 4000 dead Americans later, we now know it was "reportedly" WRONG. Jo Jones was the best drummer to ever play with Basie. get it? got it? Good. Ask 100 Hall of Fame jazz experts and 96 would agree. Rich would not get a vote on that Basie list. Provide the documented source for your Basie quote. I bet you say you cant find it.
I just cant get over the rich complexity of that scene. amazing amazing stuff. i think the smile at the end was a genuine "how the fuck did we manage that"
Ms. Powell is not only one of the greatest dancers in H'wood history, but also saved MGM from bankruptcy twice in the mid 30's with her hit tap dance movies.
@romaytisse I would say that Miss Powell was more akin to Gene Kelly. And I would also say that she was clearly influenced by the Black tap dancers of her day.
wow i think that Red Skelton in their to. He was known as a bumbling idot of a comedian and very funny on his own show for many years was freddie freeloader bum and other funny characters but in real this was a very handsome yung man in this video but nobody thot of him like that when he was being funny
She is indeed amazing. I always thought that, of all of Fred Astaire's partners, she was his best in terms of pure talent and dancing ability. When they got together....PURE HEAVEN!
Every time I watch this clip i am amazed. She was great!!! As good as Astaire, in my opinion. This is a routine even he would have applauded. And the timing between Eleanor and Buddy was right on the money. Bravo!!!
"talent" these days are whores that make sex videos, get a reality show and then saunter around like they're some sort of star. A fine example for young girls to base their decisions on.
She's amazing. She's clean and her timing is great (how can it not be when you tap?) But is she the "best"? Not by a long shot. I read your reasoning behind titling the video as you did, and again while she was very very good, she couldn't be, then or now labeled the BEST tap dancer ever. Sorry. I know this is all opinion-based, and but i think you went a little overboard.
I just watched this for the first time....WOW!!!!!!! she was fantastic!!!! Her timing, she WAS part of the music. She caught and threw drum sticks right in time with the music! How could anyone ever be better then this? "The best" is surely saved for her title.
Love both Eliie and Buddy. Nut one thing I noticed is that Red Skelton, known as a supreme comedian, is actually a very handsome guy, with movie star looks. His face was just so expressive he used it to play all kinds of crazy characters. But I bet he could have made it as a straight dramatic movie star, as well.
What people don't realize is that, this video was done in one take...no edits, redoes, or cuts. Just pure talent! So the title "best" fits this video perfectly!
@TonusAMaximus I used in the title "Best" because this routine paired together the best tap dancer and best drummer in the world. It would be valid to use the same title even if the video showed both Eleanor Powell and Buddy Rich appearing in a tv interview; they would be not dancing, nor drumming, but still The Best out there. Plenty of people commenting simply get carried away and define this routine as the best because of the high level of skills showed.
I made the incorrect assumption that this clip may show evidence to the claim of "best". But as you pointed out you were not saying that at all.
I think I was also wrong in what I said as, on reflection bet is purely subjective. The law supports this view in advertising.
In short yes, I accept what you say, conceded I jumped to conclusions and on reflection, I question my initial statement as it is. This is not to say I don't disagree as well. :)
@TonusAMaximus Heh, heh, you put a huge smile on my face. She really has been the best, the most exquisite and innovative; she choreographed all her dances. You should check on youtube: "Eleanor Powell Western Rope Dance" to see what she learnt to do with ropes, "Born To Dance, Eleanor Powell" to admire a 10 min. long routine of sublime perfection. She did lots, tapped in real Morse code, danced on a gigantic pinball machine dancing like the ball, best tap duo in history with Fred Astaire.... :)
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
@eleanorpowell2007 i might quibble with best 'tap' dancer. she does some wonderful acrobatic dance stuff for sure. as for the nuances of tap,not even close. buddy rich was a great tour de force technician as a drummer,again,very physical and acrobatic. as far as greatest drummer,no, not really. i know we are getting very literal here, but you've got to expect that, if you use the title of greatest on anything. i suspect you wanted people to come and look, and maybe comment, or maybe not so much
Leaving aside the quibble of who's best, to say that Powell doesn't come close to having the nuances of tap is ridiculous considering her innovations with the dance and how highly accomplished her dancing was technically; if you study her repertoire you could she was doing things with dance that no one was at the time. Dance Masters of America called her the World's Greatest Feminine Tap and Rhythm Dancer (there's a lot of good info on her at the International Tap Association)
@EandMetal okay you make sense . i won't argue. i don't pretend to be a tap expert. she was very very good . but then again ,maybe no one in mainstream holywood society was doing this. that does not mean, that it didn't take place somewhere else.
@TonusAMaximus she's good and I'm entertained but i expected to be wowed, as your title somewhat left me confused. I've read your comments, so I get it now, but really, i would encourage you to watch anything of the Nicholas Brothers and see what seriously underrated talents actually deserve the title of BEST in my opinion.
she's good and I'm entertained but i expected to be wowed, as your title somewhat left me confused. I've read your comments, so I get it now, but really, i would encourage you to watch anything of the Nicholas Brothers and see what seriously underrated talents actually deserve the title of BEST in my opinion.
So many of your moves had to be duplicated through computer animation:
1) It took the Tazmanian Devil to spin like you 2) It took the opening credit cartoon of "I Dream of Jeanie" to ALMOST perform your intracate tapping from GWS
3) It took Neo on "Matrix" to ALMOST perform your backbend. WOW, not even computer animation could get it right completely!!! Happy Birthday Ellie. We all love and miss you dearly.
Happy 98th birthday Ellie , whereever you are. Hope you are dancing up a storm in the next world. Wisd you'd stayed here for a few more years. We need you.
This is from a time when we expected entertainers to have actual *talent*. Nowadays, we call the cast of 'Jersey Shore' STARS for doing nothing but debasing themselves on TV while arts programs around the country are cut due to lack of funding. We don't value dancing, and singing, and theater anymore. This video makes me incredibly happy and incredibly sad at the same time.
@Paulol100 That is indeed Buddy Rich. Look at the initals on the drums. Gene Krupa is the name. Buddy was on Johnny Carson about 60 times and was one of his favorites.
not saying she is not nice, her spins are great, but he feet are slow in comparison to the Nicolas Brothers and Sammy and the Sandman as well as others, he back flip is impressive as well, but if you paid attention to her routine is was choreographed and was more dancing than tap dancing, tap dancing you are supposed to carry the beat of the drum as well as percussions while dancing there are spots where she does not do that, and if you compare the routine of the Nicolas Brothers and see
@greyinghawk Most of the time the Nicolas Brothers, Sammy, Sandman, etc were faster with their feet. These were all dynamic style tappers. Ellie however always went for precision, elegance, charisma and grace. Hence the ballet moves. However, if you want to see her do speed, watch her in Matador. Machine gun low tapping with incredible style and super human balance and stamina.
@greyinghawk Fayard Nicholas called her the GREATEST dancer ever male or female. All dances are choreographed. What's your complaint..She was famous for precisely dancing to the beat. Buddy Rich said she had more rhythm
in her feet then he had playing the drums. Male dancers are naturally faster then woman. Hard to believe you would not mention that. Ellie made up for that because she tapped so low to the floor. They called her machine gun Ellie. She did ballet and acrobatic dancing also
She learnt all her moves from John Bubbles & The Harlem Hoofers. `dancing on the street etc. This stuff is show time, lots of skill involved but rehearsed over and over. Ae there any clips out there of her just letting rip/improvising rhythm tap? love to see something if so, as she was pretty special.
@SizzleSuite John Bubbles & Ellie had a special relationship. She danced with him at matinees etc. She'd love to dance with him in the movies. Studio needed to draw from the south to make Money so they were afraid to put them together. Bubbles is regarded as the father of rhythm tap. Though Ellie did not learn all her moves from Bubbles she learned many of them. They shared their knowledge with each other. Fred took lessons from Bubbles to prepare dancing with Ellie. He was not a rhythm tapper.
No wonder she is considered the best tap dancer in the world!!! Amazing, incredible balance, technique, flexibility....she's also a gymnast. Wonderful!!!
Ellie almost never became a tap dancer. She loathed it at first. When she took a 10 lesson course from Jack Donahue she could not get it at first and quit. He called and got her to reconsider. By the 8th lesson she was teaching. He got her to wear 50 lb weights that made her tap very low to the ground, thus the name Machine Gun Ellie. He told her to combine pirourettes( not taught in tap) from her ballet. Not only did she do them she actually tapped while spinning the ONLY tapper ever to do so!
John Bubbles( father of rhythm tap) was a big influence on Ellie and for that matter taught Fred Astaire how to rhythm tap. Bubbles was 2 years older then Fred. Ellie often times danced with Bubbles outside the movies to sell out crowds .Ellie gave Bubbles much credit for introducing his dance moves to her. She thought Bubbles was the best rhythm tapper ever. Watch Buck and Bubbles on You Tube.The 4 minute + segment is quite entertaining. Just looking at Bubbles smile has got to make you happy!
To the many Eleanor Powell fans a posting called Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts is now on You Tube. ( 9 parts) It is the first I have seen it & is very interesting. I am trying to get a Turner interview( Robert Osbourne) whereby all the living dancers at that interview talk about Ellie in the most glowing terms. He also introduced her in the next movie coming up as the greatest dancer ever , then said , If you don't believe me then named many other dancers/entertainers saying the same.
@hajune I'm right now in the process of watching the Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts video - I've watched the first two parts and will definitely watch the rest of it. But I wanted to first say thank you for telling us about this video. It is soooooo interesting! And thanks also for all your comments.
@Susana1027 You are quite welcome. Turner Movies will be showing Rosalie soon. Ellie said it was the most expensive dance ever done and 2000 extras were used. It was shot at night and on 60 acres. There was dew on the drums and she had to become the famous ice skater Sonja Henie to handle them. She pulled it off though in only 1 take. I am pleased that all I have said about her before I saw the Variety Arts interview is accurate. I have done a lot of research and it matches what she said.
@ormcqu All in this movie called her the best. Buddy Rich, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Dorsey & Sinatra. She was the ONLY person doing not only spin moves but super humanly tapped at the same time. Nobody has ever done that. She learned it from ballet. She could bend backward, touch the palm of her hand on the floor, raise her leg peripendicular, was called Machine Gun Ellie for her fast tapping while staying in perfect rhythm,did all her own chorelography and saved the studio from bankruptcy twice.
@ormcqu Your nuts!! Read the comments. Virtually every tapper of her era thought she was the best. They all said she did things nobody else could do! The list of celebrities & dancers calling her the best is VERY VERY LONG. From Tuscanini to Sinatra to Ann Miller to Fayard Nicholas etc. etc. She was culled the greatest feminine tapper EVER at age 16 with LESS then 1 year of lessons, then called the queen of tap at age 21. Fred Astaire in his autobiography said she danced in a class by herself.
First take.
SmappleMcWingers 6 days ago
The Queen of tap meets the King of drums. What an incredible performance...in one take!
leeenfieldsmle 1 week ago
Amazing sequence. She was very trusting in that dive!
WalterLiddy 1 week ago
SuperStarsNStripes
It's Bert Lahr alright, the Cowardly Lion; but the comedian's name is Red SKELTON
Ascreavie1 1 week ago
Is that the Cowardly Lion with Red Buttons?!
SuperStarsNStripes 1 week ago
GOD BLESSED TALENT! THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY .
tonicannon 2 weeks ago
most people dont know of eleanor powell....they only know of ginger rogers...and its a shame because eleanor has such grace!!! just look at this routine!
allthatjazz211 3 weeks ago
Holy shit! Was that done only in one take? Cuz if it was... nothing in my generation seem to be right anymore
hanstark07 3 weeks ago
@hanstark07 yes!!! you can see her skirt got messed up of her spinning and they never fixed it:DDDD pretty amazing early 20th century entertainment..it was so genuine and real..nowadays its all about money.
allthatjazz211 3 weeks ago
When movies were worth going to. Not the crap we have today.
glennt21601 4 weeks ago
@glennt21601 lol, another dreamer about a world that never existed. There was as much garbage back then as there is today. For every movie like this with a few good musical numbers, there were dozens made that weren't worth a quarter. This one isn't much itself without the fine musical performances.
DreamsCumTrue469 2 weeks ago
In my dreams the ultimate perfection would be a performance of Eleanor Powell and Donald O'Connor = HEAVEN
MiyuGoreLivingDead 1 month ago
OMG!! I love this woman so much! Eleanor Powell = THE GODESS of tap!
MiyuGoreLivingDead 1 month ago
This is a stunningly intricate number...Eleanor...Buddy.... are sensational! Thanks for the gorgeous print!
oldgypsytap 1 month ago
And the tall guy is Red Skelton!
mochagelatocreme23 1 month ago
Yes it is the Cowardly Lion! hahahahaha
mochagelatocreme23 1 month ago
Class!!!!
marlonchik 1 month ago in playlist Танец
Gene Krupa was the world's finest drummer for over 8 years, based upon statistics. (Earnings and gross audiences)
DrHemlock94022 1 month ago
@DrHemlock94022 He may have had the highest earnings and gross audience and theres all sorts of societal reasons that could explain that but he was "Hardly the Finest Drummer by any Stretch of the Imagination". Not Even Close.
CHC4669 3 weeks ago
Why the hell don't they do stuff like this no more?
Alstheman37 1 month ago
That guy with the hat, is that Bert Lahr?
Alstheman37 1 month ago
@Alstheman37 yes, it is
Fantomas4616 3 weeks ago in playlist Music Hall - Spectacle
@DreamsCumTrue469 _Cats Of Any Color_ by veteran jazz journalist Gene Lees says on p. 206: "Basie[...] later said that Buddy was the best drummer the band ever had." Anyway, as some have known since Roman times, personal taste is personal taste: If Buddy Rich thought the best drum break on any Basie record was by Shadow Wilson, which he did, and supposing you think the best drum break on any Basie record is one by Jo Jones, that makes you and Buddy exactly equally right about... your own taste.
scottjoen 2 months ago
Cheers Prodnose! Not seen this before, stunning!
noworldorderforme 2 months ago
Stunning! never seen this before... made my day!
MrsRieHartmann 2 months ago
thanks danny
MikeyWatkins100 2 months ago
Wow!!!!!!
jedge34 2 months ago
99 years today since the birth of Eleanor Powell. Thanks Eleanor for all the exhilarating happiness you provided the world with your craft.
eleanorpowell2007 2 months ago 6
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing it! :-)
henry925 2 months ago
Lol. Description is very accurate, Buddy was the greatest drummer of all time and Eleanor was the best female dancer in the movies, it wasn't even close !
heyrubes007 3 months ago
Bert Lahr's pants are too long.
SatchmoSings 3 months ago
shes amazing but she needs to burn that hairdo
roboticstardust 3 months ago
She is brilliant! =)
kashiaroundtheworld 3 months ago
Nice but an exaggerated description. Neither is the best tap dancer nor the best drummer and if you could ask each of them they would both tell you the same.
DreamsCumTrue469 4 months ago
@DreamsCumTrue469 Elenor Powell wasn't the absolute best but, Buddy Rich was and he'd be sure to tell you that without hesitation
fastone56 3 months ago
@DreamsCumTrue469 They might both tell you the same but the fact is they were the best, especially Buddy, as time has clearly shown.
mjam93 3 months ago
@mjam93 lol, you shouldn't write nonsense assertions for all the world to see. You only let the world see that you are poorly informed. I studied and played drums and have talked to dozens of Hall of Fame Jazz performers and drummers. NONE of them agree with you. Just be content that he is YOUR personal favorite and leave it at that. He was an outstanding drummer, no question, but calling him the best ever is asinine.
DreamsCumTrue469 2 months ago
@DreamsCumTrue469 "NONE of them agree with you." Count Basie reportedly said he thought Rich was the best drummer to ever play with the Basie band. Personal taste is personal taste.
scottjoen 2 months ago
@scottjoen key word is Count Basie "reportedly." said. If you remember, there were "reportedly" weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that fooled everybody into a war. 4000 dead Americans later, we now know it was "reportedly" WRONG. Jo Jones was the best drummer to ever play with Basie. get it? got it? Good. Ask 100 Hall of Fame jazz experts and 96 would agree. Rich would not get a vote on that Basie list. Provide the documented source for your Basie quote. I bet you say you cant find it.
DreamsCumTrue469 2 months ago
that routine looks hard to do ...its very good
UrBaNScopeZz1 4 months ago
It's the Cowardly Lion!!!!
libssukk 4 months ago 5
These were the days, raychapa01.
raychapa01 5 months ago
I just cant get over the rich complexity of that scene. amazing amazing stuff. i think the smile at the end was a genuine "how the fuck did we manage that"
HighrockTendales 5 months ago 16
すげー。
kanta3737 5 months ago
"She 'put 'em down like a man', no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself." – Fred Astaire
digitalPublius 5 months ago 2
Wow! That was fabulous!
canajaneh 6 months ago
Ms. Powell is not only one of the greatest dancers in H'wood history, but also saved MGM from bankruptcy twice in the mid 30's with her hit tap dance movies.
windstorm1000 6 months ago
amazing....
penguinjengi99 7 months ago
Eleanor Powell had the clearest taps in the business--I just love these clips!!
CindyOCindy723 7 months ago
@1:24 get it girl with that eye roll... love girls from back then class never dies
musiclives91 7 months ago
E. Powell was fabulous , but not superior to Astaire. Buddy Rich was/is/forever unmatched.
romaytisse 7 months ago
@romaytisse I would say that Miss Powell was more akin to Gene Kelly. And I would also say that she was clearly influenced by the Black tap dancers of her day.
msm2you 3 months ago
The guy in the white suit is the cowardly lion,in the Wizard of Oz..Bert Lahr!
armyrangeractive 7 months ago
Eleanor Powell had incredible athleticism. She was on par, if not superior to Fred Astaire.
SFCMAC57 7 months ago 2
@longlivethe80s*
mrsGingerrogers619 7 months ago
@longlivetge80s
yeah same actor :)
mrsGingerrogers619 7 months ago
those girls were doing some sexy shimmys in that video. oh baby..!
brainsareus 7 months ago
Not bad
GigglesBoingo 8 months ago
wow, what a great routine. and dancer.
tomitstube 8 months ago
Where the fuck is all this talent now-a-days????
PJohnny76 8 months ago
Isnt that the dude that played the lion in The Wizard of Oz?
philldamusic 8 months ago 2
@philldamusic YES; that's him. His name is BERT LAHR!
Peace and love...
ReddzVoice 8 months ago
GRANDE ARTISTA ELEANORA.
zaza00009able 8 months ago
Thoroughly enjoyed that.
TWENTIETHCENTURYBABY 8 months ago
is that the lion from the wizard of oz
longlivethe80s 8 months ago 2
@longlivethe80s yup..burt lahr
brainsareus 8 months ago
Sorry, the nicholas brothers were the greatest. Along with bojanges robinson. IMHO.
jodymayfield 8 months ago
they were all on doctor prescribed SPEED!!!sorry grandma,,,speed kills.
ddirtydave 8 months ago
2:06
"Let me just kick my face."
ohheyyyMEGAN 8 months ago
All in one shoot!
KeepCntrlOfMe 9 months ago
Gosh! For second, the had made me think that she was Carmen Miranda! Nope, it's Eleanor Powell!
weightfeather1 9 months ago
"Ship Ahoy" is probably the best variety movie ever made. (but only by a small margin since so many great ones were made).
hammerogod 9 months ago
Excelente!
Atempoespacio 9 months ago
Aa fellow drummer, I humbly bow to these two for thier rythem magic!
karlmarxx999 9 months ago
Comment removed
joNzee33 9 months ago
Feeds are flying over the floor .. great ...ann sander
Lichtfee004 9 months ago
how long are those skirts??!
leedonaldt 10 months ago
Heeyyyyy that's the lion from Wizard of ozz hahaha
Such a great video
EdgarRazorlip 10 months ago
Is that Red Skelton and Burt, the lion from the wizard of oz?
LollyJK1 10 months ago
It ROCKS! Such creativity!
apaloosa01 10 months ago 2
Wow!
johnnyjackpot 10 months ago
this is perhaps the worst song i've ever heard.
eliaskrell 10 months ago
Saw Buddy 35 years ago when he was still touring.....the question is who is the best drummer in the world now ? Alive....Niel Pert ?
foolycoolly90 10 months ago
wow!!!
melloprod 11 months ago
I always shake my head in disbelief when the routine ends! It's SO amazing!
musicloveBH 11 months ago 2
wow i think that Red Skelton in their to. He was known as a bumbling idot of a comedian and very funny on his own show for many years was freddie freeloader bum and other funny characters but in real this was a very handsome yung man in this video but nobody thot of him like that when he was being funny
biggin105 11 months ago
This is so beautiful, because it is so light hearted and inventive, it makes you grin stupidly:)
josephinewinter 11 months ago
Yup! That's Burt Lahr, the Cowardly Lion.
Sctmpsn 11 months ago 2
She is amazing. Thanks for great organized video.
Tatsiana134 11 months ago
Is that the Lion from the Wizard of Oz?
kaitiy1 11 months ago 2
She is indeed amazing. I always thought that, of all of Fred Astaire's partners, she was his best in terms of pure talent and dancing ability. When they got together....PURE HEAVEN!
luvinx8 11 months ago
Every time I watch this clip i am amazed. She was great!!! As good as Astaire, in my opinion. This is a routine even he would have applauded. And the timing between Eleanor and Buddy was right on the money. Bravo!!!
westphillybob 11 months ago
Wow, you don't see that kind of talent in today's movies!
Now they just want to shock you or blow something up.
ohhhwolfy 1 year ago
Wow.
OldHollywood93 1 year ago
Interesting seeing the Lion dude in something other that the Wiz of Oz.
yantravimana 1 year ago
Red Skelton sings pretty good but Eleanor is fantastic...
MrTigerRuss 1 year ago
Tap dance technique on drums = Heel toe
Alexis368 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Alexis368 ;
""___ I would like to HOLD THIS AGAINST YOU! ___
Have you seen any Dancers as good as him lately!?!?
Look at *TODAY'S* TALENT!
[ Youtube Justin Jackson on Wendy Williams ] OUT OF THIS WORLD !!!
Promise to SH*T yourself! :o:o:o""
MrJayJayJuu 1 year ago
"talent" these days are whores that make sex videos, get a reality show and then saunter around like they're some sort of star. A fine example for young girls to base their decisions on.
TheMerriamLookout 1 year ago
Yea, after watching stuff like this and the nicholas brothers it just reinforces the notion that talent means something else these days..
TheFridgechucker 1 year ago
She's amazing. She's clean and her timing is great (how can it not be when you tap?) But is she the "best"? Not by a long shot. I read your reasoning behind titling the video as you did, and again while she was very very good, she couldn't be, then or now labeled the BEST tap dancer ever. Sorry. I know this is all opinion-based, and but i think you went a little overboard.
kookeekrisp 1 year ago
that's the guy who played the cowerdly lion
terdilynn91 1 year ago
@terdilynn91 I wondered about that.. Thought he seemed familiar.
madinno 1 year ago
@madinno happy to help :)
terdilynn91 1 year ago
WHITE WOMEN OF THE FORMER UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DURING THESE GLORIOUS TIMES=)))))))))))))
Thomlistentoslayer 1 year ago
21 people do not know real dancing
RandomCupcake2010 1 year ago
I just watched this for the first time....WOW!!!!!!! she was fantastic!!!! Her timing, she WAS part of the music. She caught and threw drum sticks right in time with the music! How could anyone ever be better then this? "The best" is surely saved for her title.
naplesjoe47 1 year ago
Love both Eliie and Buddy. Nut one thing I noticed is that Red Skelton, known as a supreme comedian, is actually a very handsome guy, with movie star looks. His face was just so expressive he used it to play all kinds of crazy characters. But I bet he could have made it as a straight dramatic movie star, as well.
44032 1 year ago
What people don't realize is that, this video was done in one take...no edits, redoes, or cuts. Just pure talent! So the title "best" fits this video perfectly!
MrChris0527 1 year ago
I guess I'm only one that recognizes leading man Red Skelton in this video clip. Also the actor who played the Lion in Wizard of Oz near start.
pete49327 1 year ago
@pete49327 I guess so, since it was Bert Lahr who played the Cowardly Lion. But yes, Red Skelton was also in this film.
FacetiousJosh 1 year ago
@pete49327 That would have to be Bert Lahr. The actor who played the cowardly Lion.
FacetiousJosh 1 year ago
I guess I'm only one that recognizes leading man Red Skelton in this video clip.
pete49327 1 year ago
It's good, but undermines the concept of "best".
TonusAMaximus 1 year ago 2
@TonusAMaximus I used in the title "Best" because this routine paired together the best tap dancer and best drummer in the world. It would be valid to use the same title even if the video showed both Eleanor Powell and Buddy Rich appearing in a tv interview; they would be not dancing, nor drumming, but still The Best out there. Plenty of people commenting simply get carried away and define this routine as the best because of the high level of skills showed.
eleanorpowell2007 1 year ago 12
@eleanorpowell2007 Ok, I will pay that.
I made the incorrect assumption that this clip may show evidence to the claim of "best". But as you pointed out you were not saying that at all.
I think I was also wrong in what I said as, on reflection bet is purely subjective. The law supports this view in advertising.
In short yes, I accept what you say, conceded I jumped to conclusions and on reflection, I question my initial statement as it is. This is not to say I don't disagree as well. :)
TonusAMaximus 1 year ago
@eleanorpowell2007 You know what. I went away and watched more Eleanor Powell.
You are right on all level. And thank you, my life is better for seeing her dance.
TonusAMaximus 1 year ago 22
@TonusAMaximus Heh, heh, you put a huge smile on my face. She really has been the best, the most exquisite and innovative; she choreographed all her dances. You should check on youtube: "Eleanor Powell Western Rope Dance" to see what she learnt to do with ropes, "Born To Dance, Eleanor Powell" to admire a 10 min. long routine of sublime perfection. She did lots, tapped in real Morse code, danced on a gigantic pinball machine dancing like the ball, best tap duo in history with Fred Astaire.... :)
eleanorpowell2007 1 year ago 10
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
rrdicks 10 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
rrdicks 10 months ago 2
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@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
rrdicks 10 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007 She and Fred were great together. But the best Tap duo in history??? No way. It’s got to be the Nicholas Brothers. Check out the Stormy Weather dance scene. Then Check out the “Girl from Kalamazoo” scene. It’s all on Youtube. It's not even close.
rrdicks 10 months ago
@rrdicks
I agree on the Nicholas Brothers.
But only by the closest of margins over the Hines Brothers.
And have you ever seen Sammy Davis dancing with his Brothers?
hammerogod 9 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007 I think one of those ladies is my Gramma!
TheGetout01 11 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007 I like them both, but in my book as good as they are neither qualifies as close to best. They are distant 7ths and 8ths.
That said they are quite brilliant and their expertise and mastery of their respective styles is inarguable.
bounce510 11 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007
Just to add, lets all remember that there is no CGI in this which means they actually performed what you see.
whitehouse1958 11 months ago
@eleanorpowell2007 i might quibble with best 'tap' dancer. she does some wonderful acrobatic dance stuff for sure. as for the nuances of tap,not even close. buddy rich was a great tour de force technician as a drummer,again,very physical and acrobatic. as far as greatest drummer,no, not really. i know we are getting very literal here, but you've got to expect that, if you use the title of greatest on anything. i suspect you wanted people to come and look, and maybe comment, or maybe not so much
brainsareus 8 months ago
@brainsareus
Leaving aside the quibble of who's best, to say that Powell doesn't come close to having the nuances of tap is ridiculous considering her innovations with the dance and how highly accomplished her dancing was technically; if you study her repertoire you could she was doing things with dance that no one was at the time. Dance Masters of America called her the World's Greatest Feminine Tap and Rhythm Dancer (there's a lot of good info on her at the International Tap Association)
EandMetal 7 months ago
@EandMetal okay you make sense . i won't argue. i don't pretend to be a tap expert. she was very very good . but then again ,maybe no one in mainstream holywood society was doing this. that does not mean, that it didn't take place somewhere else.
brainsareus 7 months ago
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@TonusAMaximus she's good and I'm entertained but i expected to be wowed, as your title somewhat left me confused. I've read your comments, so I get it now, but really, i would encourage you to watch anything of the Nicholas Brothers and see what seriously underrated talents actually deserve the title of BEST in my opinion.
joNzee33 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
she's good and I'm entertained but i expected to be wowed, as your title somewhat left me confused. I've read your comments, so I get it now, but really, i would encourage you to watch anything of the Nicholas Brothers and see what seriously underrated talents actually deserve the title of BEST in my opinion.
joNzee33 9 months ago
drummer I agree, dancing good but can't hold a candle to the Nicholas Brothers
gydeonn 1 year ago
AMAZING...
sangvaldez 1 year ago
Oh my goodness!!!
ZahraAlquimia 1 year ago
whats the name of this movie
joy15000 1 year ago
@joy15000 The movie is Ship Ahoy.
eleanorpowell2007 1 year ago
@eleanorpowell2007 thanx
joy15000 1 year ago
FABULOUS swim suits!!!
studiobekka 1 year ago
2:42 was so amazing, if you weren't quite sure what you just saw, at 2:46.
jackofsticks 1 year ago
that is the lion from the wizard of oz too....lol
redblue1980 1 year ago
@redblue1980 Yes Burt Lahr. He also bears a strange reasemblance to Sam Kinison.
alpha18412 1 year ago
talk about a lot of work!
TMCstudentblogs 1 year ago
This is MY FAVORITE routine of hers. Ellie,you're amazing!!!!
And those lucky people get to actually stand there and watch her. Go girl go!
Show 'em how it's done!
4MaryAnna 1 year ago
@4MaryAnna Yeah, she sure showed them didn't she!!!
luckdog909 1 year ago
wow!! She just glides!!
sallyos06460 1 year ago
Awesome performance!!
MoReeCio 1 year ago
So many of your moves had to be duplicated through computer animation:
1) It took the Tazmanian Devil to spin like you 2) It took the opening credit cartoon of "I Dream of Jeanie" to ALMOST perform your intracate tapping from GWS
3) It took Neo on "Matrix" to ALMOST perform your backbend. WOW, not even computer animation could get it right completely!!! Happy Birthday Ellie. We all love and miss you dearly.
luckdog909 1 year ago
Happy 98th birthday Ellie , whereever you are. Hope you are dancing up a storm in the next world. Wisd you'd stayed here for a few more years. We need you.
hajune 1 year ago
wow!!!! Eleanor Powell, she is the first lady of dance
tantrick 1 year ago
This is from a time when we expected entertainers to have actual *talent*. Nowadays, we call the cast of 'Jersey Shore' STARS for doing nothing but debasing themselves on TV while arts programs around the country are cut due to lack of funding. We don't value dancing, and singing, and theater anymore. This video makes me incredibly happy and incredibly sad at the same time.
cuchelo1 1 year ago
Holy cats, is this Red Skelton?? hehe
doceigen 1 year ago
My mouth is still hanging open - this is incredible! What talent - thanks so much for posting this gem :)
GeminiNightOwl 1 year ago
What a talented dancer! ^_^
wickedLAcastlover 1 year ago
Thats not Buddy Rich its Gene Crouper (sp)
Buddy Rich came later
Paulol100 1 year ago
@Paulol100 That is indeed Buddy Rich. Look at the initals on the drums. Gene Krupa is the name. Buddy was on Johnny Carson about 60 times and was one of his favorites.
hajune 1 year ago
Please tell me it actually was her that kicked the bass drum so perfectly in time.. =D
She's incredible.
stargazinboi 1 year ago
@stargazinboi Yes.It was her!!!!
luckdog909 1 year ago
she was so awesome the best I have ever seen in tap Thanx for posting
potterabbit 1 year ago
Who is the guy who takes a quick spin with about 3:30?
CarlSchwamberger 1 year ago
WOW WOW WOW!
DaRinNicHa 1 year ago
not saying she is not nice, her spins are great, but he feet are slow in comparison to the Nicolas Brothers and Sammy and the Sandman as well as others, he back flip is impressive as well, but if you paid attention to her routine is was choreographed and was more dancing than tap dancing, tap dancing you are supposed to carry the beat of the drum as well as percussions while dancing there are spots where she does not do that, and if you compare the routine of the Nicolas Brothers and see
greyinghawk 1 year ago
@greyinghawk Most of the time the Nicolas Brothers, Sammy, Sandman, etc were faster with their feet. These were all dynamic style tappers. Ellie however always went for precision, elegance, charisma and grace. Hence the ballet moves. However, if you want to see her do speed, watch her in Matador. Machine gun low tapping with incredible style and super human balance and stamina.
luckdog909 1 year ago
@greyinghawk Fayard Nicholas called her the GREATEST dancer ever male or female. All dances are choreographed. What's your complaint..She was famous for precisely dancing to the beat. Buddy Rich said she had more rhythm
in her feet then he had playing the drums. Male dancers are naturally faster then woman. Hard to believe you would not mention that. Ellie made up for that because she tapped so low to the floor. They called her machine gun Ellie. She did ballet and acrobatic dancing also
hajune 1 year ago
She learnt all her moves from John Bubbles & The Harlem Hoofers. `dancing on the street etc. This stuff is show time, lots of skill involved but rehearsed over and over. Ae there any clips out there of her just letting rip/improvising rhythm tap? love to see something if so, as she was pretty special.
SizzleSuite 1 year ago
@SizzleSuite John Bubbles & Ellie had a special relationship. She danced with him at matinees etc. She'd love to dance with him in the movies. Studio needed to draw from the south to make Money so they were afraid to put them together. Bubbles is regarded as the father of rhythm tap. Though Ellie did not learn all her moves from Bubbles she learned many of them. They shared their knowledge with each other. Fred took lessons from Bubbles to prepare dancing with Ellie. He was not a rhythm tapper.
hajune 1 year ago
No wonder she is considered the best tap dancer in the world!!! Amazing, incredible balance, technique, flexibility....she's also a gymnast. Wonderful!!!
crisgranda 1 year ago
@crisgranda She indeed started very young as a gymnast, learning acrobatic routines of all sorts.
eleanorpowell2007 1 year ago
What an incredible talent ! Perfection does exist.
Profartiste 1 year ago 17
Ellie almost never became a tap dancer. She loathed it at first. When she took a 10 lesson course from Jack Donahue she could not get it at first and quit. He called and got her to reconsider. By the 8th lesson she was teaching. He got her to wear 50 lb weights that made her tap very low to the ground, thus the name Machine Gun Ellie. He told her to combine pirourettes( not taught in tap) from her ballet. Not only did she do them she actually tapped while spinning the ONLY tapper ever to do so!
hajune 1 year ago
John Bubbles( father of rhythm tap) was a big influence on Ellie and for that matter taught Fred Astaire how to rhythm tap. Bubbles was 2 years older then Fred. Ellie often times danced with Bubbles outside the movies to sell out crowds .Ellie gave Bubbles much credit for introducing his dance moves to her. She thought Bubbles was the best rhythm tapper ever. Watch Buck and Bubbles on You Tube.The 4 minute + segment is quite entertaining. Just looking at Bubbles smile has got to make you happy!
hajune 1 year ago
WHOA!
FeLinaDolliex3 1 year ago
@ormcqu If she's not the best, who do you consider to be the best?
luckdog909 1 year ago
Now, thats what they call choreography......love the fella at the beginning
sonnymyles 1 year ago
To the many Eleanor Powell fans a posting called Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts is now on You Tube. ( 9 parts) It is the first I have seen it & is very interesting. I am trying to get a Turner interview( Robert Osbourne) whereby all the living dancers at that interview talk about Ellie in the most glowing terms. He also introduced her in the next movie coming up as the greatest dancer ever , then said , If you don't believe me then named many other dancers/entertainers saying the same.
hajune 1 year ago
@hajune I'm right now in the process of watching the Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts video - I've watched the first two parts and will definitely watch the rest of it. But I wanted to first say thank you for telling us about this video. It is soooooo interesting! And thanks also for all your comments.
Susana1027 1 year ago 9
@Susana1027 You are quite welcome. Turner Movies will be showing Rosalie soon. Ellie said it was the most expensive dance ever done and 2000 extras were used. It was shot at night and on 60 acres. There was dew on the drums and she had to become the famous ice skater Sonja Henie to handle them. She pulled it off though in only 1 take. I am pleased that all I have said about her before I saw the Variety Arts interview is accurate. I have done a lot of research and it matches what she said.
hajune 1 year ago
@ormcqu All in this movie called her the best. Buddy Rich, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Dorsey & Sinatra. She was the ONLY person doing not only spin moves but super humanly tapped at the same time. Nobody has ever done that. She learned it from ballet. She could bend backward, touch the palm of her hand on the floor, raise her leg peripendicular, was called Machine Gun Ellie for her fast tapping while staying in perfect rhythm,did all her own chorelography and saved the studio from bankruptcy twice.
hajune 1 year ago
@ormcqu Your nuts!! Read the comments. Virtually every tapper of her era thought she was the best. They all said she did things nobody else could do! The list of celebrities & dancers calling her the best is VERY VERY LONG. From Tuscanini to Sinatra to Ann Miller to Fayard Nicholas etc. etc. She was culled the greatest feminine tapper EVER at age 16 with LESS then 1 year of lessons, then called the queen of tap at age 21. Fred Astaire in his autobiography said she danced in a class by herself.
hajune 1 year ago