I read a very interesting thing about Ruby Keeler after She had retired from movies circa 1938 She married a real estate man. Her children never knew She was in all those musicals of the 30's. It was only when the movies were revived and She appeared on Broadway in the revival of NoNo Nannette that they learned about Her background in movies.
DONT READ THIS Cause It Really Works. YOU WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. HOWEVER IF YOU DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO AT LEAST 3 VIDEOS YOU WILL DIE WITHIN 2 DAYS. NOW UV STARTED READIN DIS DUNT STOP THIS IS SO SCARY. SEND THIS OVER TO 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSHES NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS. THIS IS SO SCARY Reply to this Comment
omg, it was absolutely delight! i love Ruby Keeler and wish i could see more movies of her, but unfortunately it is difficult for me to get a hold of them, but i do cherish her! So talented, but retired so early!
Yes, she has (the since Italian Renaissance) ideal artist's quality of sprezzatura -- making the difficult seem easy. And she exudes a natural joy in her dance. And balances her oft youthfully strong clodhopping (interestingly, varyingly) with delicately graceful moves.
I love Ruby Keeler! How can you not fall in love with her? It's true she wasn't a great actress or singer by far, but she was a dancer. People need to stop saying awful comments about this woman. Some people might think that her dancing was average, but in the 30's it was incredible. Like most things, dancing also evolved. Most dancers back then wouldn't be regarded as great today as they were back then.
Granted, Ms. Keeler had a certain wide-eyed innocent charm, but her dancing was amateurish at best compared to the truly great female movie dancers of the '30s like Eleanor Powell and Ginger Rogers. And frankly, I never found Ruby's personality that appealing either.
If she "wasn't a great actress," her artlessness worked as if she was (or better than) a great actress. Like her contemporary great Bway stage actress Laurette Taylor, she was "a natural." And paradoxically, artlessness is the effect all great artists strive for, in imitating reality.
Come on, all you Ruby Keeler fans -- let's be realistic about this woman's very limited talents. She couldn't act, she sang off key, and she danced like a spastic cow wearing lead boots. Maybe that's why she was so popular -- young girls would watch her up on the big screen and think, "If SHE can be a star, why not me?"
she didn't dance like a spastic cow and maybe she was an average singer at best and her acting would never win an acaademy award she was a dancer and highly underated
She was a good dancer (Irish style tap dancing, versus the usual American style) and had loads of charm. No, she couldn't sing, but her acting is every bit as good as anyone else's from that period. Movies at that time were meant to be entertaining and light-hearted, so very little heavy emotion was involved. She was cute as a button and engaging on-screen... and she could shake a leg!
Well put. But (tho she was Irish American), her "Irish" tap dancing was not the traditional jig, nor today's Riverdance style -- rigid upper body, arms still and vertically at side, militaristic leg and foot patterns. Ruby's style (e.g., in "42nd St." finale) was more Dutch clog (fitting for ex- New Amsterdam), happily clutzy little wooden shoe dance -- carefree, whimsical, mostly rhythmic yet romantically individually expressive, freely flung arms and wayward leg moves.
The film was delightfully lighthearted when not Depression tragic: an epitome of 1930s musical films, fusion fantasy escapism and gritty socioeconomic realism. Busby Berkeley extravaganzas were an emblem of humanity cooperating for optimal social happiness.
Last year I took up tap dancing after watching Annie Miller in 'Kiss Me Kate' and Ruby in '42nd Street'. I'm nowhere near even close to even being good but I enjoy it. AND! I can tap dance on pointe shoes now!
I just adore Ruby Keeler, and I think more 24 year-olds would if this material were more available or if Ms. Keeler and all the stars of the 30s were given more recognition. The Busby Berkeley films especially are the bee's knees! Lovely, classy, and snappy. Thanks so much for this! And RMSAquitania, please let me know where the scrapbook goes if you ever lend it to an exhibit.
i agree with you man, especially about how people in their 20s would be more interested about this kind of amazing material, and this comes from a 23 year old... but it` also true that the same way we got interested and found this, everyone can... God bless YouTube and temperance for putting up this great tribute
an amazing talented woman that never got the legendary status that she deserves. She shined all by herself and not only because she was Al Jolson`s wife at the time. I absolutely agree with mic33george Keeler was THE main star in the 30s
She had it all, amazing talent and she was such a beautiful woman! Thank you very much for putting this video!!
Natermaid: Unfortunately, if I put up the entire Shanghai Lil routine I'll get a copyright violation warning & they'll yank it off (putting up the whole routine is much less "fair use" than an excerpt). Read the comments, for instance, of hidecolman when she/he tried described posting the entire "My Forgotten Man" clip: /watch?v=7exGhWpb6Zk
(and check out his/her clip from "The Greeks Had a Word for Them" while you're there -- it's fun)
I just got "The Busby Berkeley Collection" for my birthday this year and have fallen in love with Ruby Keeler. My mother and I have firmly agreed, she was absolutely adorable and I've just made a lovely purchase on eBay with the acquisition of a major fan's scrapbook from the 1930s with loads of these images inside. Thank you for a long overdue tribute to a wonderfully talented, and under-recognised star whose talent shined in her own right, even as Mrs. Al Jolson!
It's something that could go to a film archive museum and I'd be happy to loan it and other paraphernalia I may have to one. I'd be keen to trace the story behind it and find out who might have put it together.
The James Cagney clip was fantastic. Although she's cute, she doesn't measure up to him in the dance department.
298625 1 year ago
Should wasn't much of a singer, but she could dance well. Marginal acting ability...but very cute, anyway.
Kramnosnits 1 year ago
ONLINE now I'll leave you begging for more!!!
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cutensexigirlie71 3 years ago
I read a very interesting thing about Ruby Keeler after She had retired from movies circa 1938 She married a real estate man. Her children never knew She was in all those musicals of the 30's. It was only when the movies were revived and She appeared on Broadway in the revival of NoNo Nannette that they learned about Her background in movies.
Georgewos 3 years ago 3
Seems off camera, she was as modest (sweet and unassuming) as her onscreen characters.
JudgeJulieLit 2 years ago
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DONT READ THIS Cause It Really Works. YOU WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. HOWEVER IF YOU DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO AT LEAST 3 VIDEOS YOU WILL DIE WITHIN 2 DAYS. NOW UV STARTED READIN DIS DUNT STOP THIS IS SO SCARY. SEND THIS OVER TO 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSHES NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS. THIS IS SO SCARY Reply to this Comment
OniOfDeath 3 years ago
omg, it was absolutely delight! i love Ruby Keeler and wish i could see more movies of her, but unfortunately it is difficult for me to get a hold of them, but i do cherish her! So talented, but retired so early!
moonlightorchid99 3 years ago 2
thank you for this! i can watch ruby sing and dance all day every day. i love her so much and she is cute as a button. :)
I have ruby fever!
tigergogoradio 3 years ago 3
americas sweetheart,rubys still the best!!!!!!
charliedontsurf70 4 years ago 3
She was born in Halfax, Canada
apekkapoika 4 years ago
Terrific selection!
slobomotion 4 years ago
Very cool that dance scene with Cagney, she had style and ease of movement, very nice. Thanks doc dc
SiggyMe 4 years ago 2
Yes, she has (the since Italian Renaissance) ideal artist's quality of sprezzatura -- making the difficult seem easy. And she exudes a natural joy in her dance. And balances her oft youthfully strong clodhopping (interestingly, varyingly) with delicately graceful moves.
JudgeJulieLit 2 years ago
and she was married to the Great Al Jolson ! tooo
leeinvegas 4 years ago
someone please upload the whole ORIGINAL Shanghai Lil scene for me please!
starrbeatlesqueen 4 years ago
Shanghai Lil! Yes, that's my favorite. Overall, I think its the best number.
shanghaibenny2 4 years ago
It used to be up on youtube...think it was taken down. ...(damned corporate nazis) =P
InterOutbound 4 years ago
yeah, i remember that. ={
starrbeatlesqueen 4 years ago
Ruby & Dick Powell were a terrific team!! I just LOVE their movies together!!!
DreamingOfBaba 4 years ago
Me too, and boy could he sing!!!! Not a looker but the girls at the time seemed to fancy him.
ScotCanLiz 4 years ago
I love Ruby Keeler! How can you not fall in love with her? It's true she wasn't a great actress or singer by far, but she was a dancer. People need to stop saying awful comments about this woman. Some people might think that her dancing was average, but in the 30's it was incredible. Like most things, dancing also evolved. Most dancers back then wouldn't be regarded as great today as they were back then.
vmarie84 4 years ago 2
Granted, Ms. Keeler had a certain wide-eyed innocent charm, but her dancing was amateurish at best compared to the truly great female movie dancers of the '30s like Eleanor Powell and Ginger Rogers. And frankly, I never found Ruby's personality that appealing either.
Well, as they say, that's what makes horse races.
scotpens 4 years ago
If she "wasn't a great actress," her artlessness worked as if she was (or better than) a great actress. Like her contemporary great Bway stage actress Laurette Taylor, she was "a natural." And paradoxically, artlessness is the effect all great artists strive for, in imitating reality.
JudgeJulieLit 2 years ago
Come on, all you Ruby Keeler fans -- let's be realistic about this woman's very limited talents. She couldn't act, she sang off key, and she danced like a spastic cow wearing lead boots. Maybe that's why she was so popular -- young girls would watch her up on the big screen and think, "If SHE can be a star, why not me?"
scotpens 4 years ago
she didn't dance like a spastic cow and maybe she was an average singer at best and her acting would never win an acaademy award she was a dancer and highly underated
nortowns 4 years ago 3
She was a good dancer (Irish style tap dancing, versus the usual American style) and had loads of charm. No, she couldn't sing, but her acting is every bit as good as anyone else's from that period. Movies at that time were meant to be entertaining and light-hearted, so very little heavy emotion was involved. She was cute as a button and engaging on-screen... and she could shake a leg!
ScotCanLiz 4 years ago 6
Well put. But (tho she was Irish American), her "Irish" tap dancing was not the traditional jig, nor today's Riverdance style -- rigid upper body, arms still and vertically at side, militaristic leg and foot patterns. Ruby's style (e.g., in "42nd St." finale) was more Dutch clog (fitting for ex- New Amsterdam), happily clutzy little wooden shoe dance -- carefree, whimsical, mostly rhythmic yet romantically individually expressive, freely flung arms and wayward leg moves.
JudgeJulieLit 2 years ago
The film was delightfully lighthearted when not Depression tragic: an epitome of 1930s musical films, fusion fantasy escapism and gritty socioeconomic realism. Busby Berkeley extravaganzas were an emblem of humanity cooperating for optimal social happiness.
JudgeJulieLit 2 years ago
thats my great aunt. :)
rameychix 4 years ago
@rameychix Great genes!
JudgeJulieLit 1 year ago
brilliant. thanks so very much!
hairycatdaddy 4 years ago
Wonderful...a lovely tribute to a beautiful, talented star and a sensational lady. You'll never be forgotten, Miss Keeler!
busby1959 4 years ago
Last year I took up tap dancing after watching Annie Miller in 'Kiss Me Kate' and Ruby in '42nd Street'. I'm nowhere near even close to even being good but I enjoy it. AND! I can tap dance on pointe shoes now!
LadyEmmaHamilton 4 years ago 2
I just adore Ruby Keeler, and I think more 24 year-olds would if this material were more available or if Ms. Keeler and all the stars of the 30s were given more recognition. The Busby Berkeley films especially are the bee's knees! Lovely, classy, and snappy. Thanks so much for this! And RMSAquitania, please let me know where the scrapbook goes if you ever lend it to an exhibit.
ScotCanLiz 4 years ago 2
i agree with you man, especially about how people in their 20s would be more interested about this kind of amazing material, and this comes from a 23 year old... but it` also true that the same way we got interested and found this, everyone can... God bless YouTube and temperance for putting up this great tribute
CactusG26 4 years ago 3
WOW! Finally someone made a tribute to our wonderful Ruby Keeler.
juanieboy12 4 years ago 2
an amazing talented woman that never got the legendary status that she deserves. She shined all by herself and not only because she was Al Jolson`s wife at the time. I absolutely agree with mic33george Keeler was THE main star in the 30s
She had it all, amazing talent and she was such a beautiful woman! Thank you very much for putting this video!!
CactusG26 4 years ago 3
Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I truly appreciate it.
Please check back on Aug 30 -- I'm currently putting together a Joan Blondell tribute montage to be released on her birthday.
temperance 4 years ago
Any chance you could put the whole Shanghai Lil routine up? Please?
natmermaid 4 years ago
Natermaid: Unfortunately, if I put up the entire Shanghai Lil routine I'll get a copyright violation warning & they'll yank it off (putting up the whole routine is much less "fair use" than an excerpt). Read the comments, for instance, of hidecolman when she/he tried described posting the entire "My Forgotten Man" clip: /watch?v=7exGhWpb6Zk
(and check out his/her clip from "The Greeks Had a Word for Them" while you're there -- it's fun)
temperance 4 years ago
@temperance please take this down. It's no fun watching a video without sound.
starrbeatlesqueen 1 year ago
Excellently made tribute, thank you for this!
kspm01 4 years ago
I just got "The Busby Berkeley Collection" for my birthday this year and have fallen in love with Ruby Keeler. My mother and I have firmly agreed, she was absolutely adorable and I've just made a lovely purchase on eBay with the acquisition of a major fan's scrapbook from the 1930s with loads of these images inside. Thank you for a long overdue tribute to a wonderfully talented, and under-recognised star whose talent shined in her own right, even as Mrs. Al Jolson!
RMSAquitania 4 years ago
Thank you so much for you nice comments and for taking the time to watch the tribute.
RSMAquitania: I agree that Ruby is underrecognized (& I'm jealous about your eBay acquisition!)
temperance 4 years ago
It's something that could go to a film archive museum and I'd be happy to loan it and other paraphernalia I may have to one. I'd be keen to trace the story behind it and find out who might have put it together.
RMSAquitania 4 years ago
She was THE 30s star in my books,and i have loved her for years since seeing "Gold diggers of 1933" age 9.GREAT to see this tribute to her!
mic33george 4 years ago