Ruby Keeler: Willow Weep for Me

A tribute to Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell's dancing partner in the Busby Berkeley musicals of the 1930s and the wife of singer/actor Al Jolson.

I don't own the music or photos.
No copyright fringe intended.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ruby
• Keeler
• tribute

[2reeler]

Thanks for this lovely post showing Ruby all through her carreer! Im thrilled I got to meet her at her last public stage event and get a picture with her. What a delightful talented and gracious star she was! She said filming the giant typewriter number gave her more charlie horses than a football team! This is a great tribute!

[4262009AP]

@2reeler Not necessarily; you see the studios back then sometimes would raise the birthyears for women and child actors to make them appear younger. Also it depends on birth records; for example, Joan Crawford's year of birth is a big mystery too. Some say 1904, others 1905 (date supported by the S.S. Death Index), and she always claimed to have been born in 1908. I guess it all depends on what information is found.

[busby1959]

What a lovely tribute to a great talent, a beautiful woman and a real classy lady (remember them?) - thanks!

[4262009AP]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I remember classy ladies well. I can see one anytime on TCM or on my DVDs. I tell you, there truly is no talent in Hollywood today. All the good stars are dead and buried in obscurity. I wish they were still here and making movies that are appealing!

[MissBetteDavisFan09]

Today is Ruby Keeler's 100th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Ms. Keeler!

[erniemanguy]

Ruby's Irish style of tap dancing is very misunderstood today. Many people think she was stiff as a board while tap dancing. This was the style at that time. She was very capable of modern tap dancing which she showed in movies like Shanghai Lil.. She was an enormous talent, as was her one time husband Al Jolson. As a professional musician and entertainer, I leaned so much from watching the musicals from the early days of film. Thank god we have those old films. Not much talent around anymore.

[298625]

Well, Dreamscumtrue - I can't agree with you about Jolson. You're correct, he learned a lot from observing other performers and stole shamelessly, but to my mind, he was and remains the world's greatest entertainer. Ruby would have remained in the chorus line had she not been Mrs. Jolson. But, despite her lack of talent, she had a certain irresistible charm onscreen.

[DreamsCumTrue469]

@298625 Amen. You took the words right outta my mouth. She was a marginal performer at best. And, together with her husband Al Jolson, who mimicked better original performers for a living, these guys made millions from marginal talent. These were the good old days.

[honeybee7700]

fantastic

[298625]

She's adorable, but when she spoke of her questionable talent on the introductory quote, she was right.

[TuberOnTheLoose]

@MissBetteDavisFan09 Today is also her birthday. The funny thing is she said she was 18 when she married Al Jolson.  If that is true she would have to have been born in 1910, making today her 100th birthday. You don't suppose she might have fibbed about her age, do you?

[sebasj1978]

Thanks for posting this beautiful tribute to the dear Ruby! She's one of the most adorable stars ever. I'm such a huge fan of hers. I do love her so much!