Robyn Smith Female Jockey 1985

Famed Jockey Robyn Smith recounts her horse racing days on the 1985 television special, "Once A Star," which profiled former professional athletes. She also talks about her marriage to legendary Hollywood actor Fred Astaire. You can watch the full video here:

http://mediaburn.org/Video-Preview.128.0.html?&uid=4146

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Robyn
• Smith
• jockey
• once
• star
• fred
• astaire
• horse
• racing
• feminism
• sexism
• gender
• female
• racetrack

[dannybex]

@cab269 ???



[dannybex]

@cab269 I'm sorry, but that 'slippery slope' argument just doesn't wash, and it avoids answering the question I asked.

Monroe's estate allows her film clips to be used endlessly, as does Garland's and Dean's. What they don't allow (without permission and royalties) is their use in printed or other advertising. Contrast this with Robyn's embarrassing decision to use Astaire's image for a VACUUM cleaner commerical.

Yup, that's the kind of classy act her husband would approve of.

Not.

[cab269]

@dannybex After reading your last line again, I'm willing to bet you are a Democrat?

[cab269]

@dannybex I'll be happy to explain it..because once you start going down that road of allowing a little of this or a little of that, then the next thing you know the Jennie is out of the bottle and there will be some Hollywood type claiming that since she put a little bit out there then that makes it all fair game. I think she is doing the right thing by not allowing ANYTHING to be used and basically saying that if you want to see him then watch the TNT network.

[dannybex]

@cab269 Your'e correct. That is PRECISELY the reason -- he did not want any movies made of his life story, most certainly because no one could do him justice -- after all there was only one Fred Astaire.

But what does that have to do with denying all requests to use short film clips of his work on or at various tributes, like when Ginger Rogers was presented with a Kennedy Center Honor, and Robyn wouldn't allow clips of Astaire to be used during the tv broadcast?

Explain that, sir.

[cab269]

@dannybex Sir, may I suggest you research the reason why she will not allow this. His last wishes were that no portrayals of his life ever take place. He always refused permission for such portrayals, saying, "However much they offer me — and offers come in all the time — I shall not sell." Astaire's will included a clause requesting that no such portrayal ever take place; he commented, "It is there because I have no particular desire to have my life misinterpreted, which it would be."

[dannybex]

Yes, thanks for posting this interview so people can see the woman who basically has destroyed her husband's legacy by greedily preventing, persecuting and suing any company from using ANY film clips of Astaire for the last 24 years.

Fred Astaire's amazing work would've been so much more well known and rediscovered by new generations had she not been so ruthless and litigious.

Thanks a lot Robin.

[FutureJockey35]

Thank you for the interview with former Jockey Robyn Smith...and thank you Ms Smith, for opening that door up a little wider for aspiring riders like myself. :)

-Kayla