Fun Trivia : Astaire, Fred

Structure Sub-topic of: Celebrities A-B Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Special Topics Astaire: The Light Fantastic

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Astaire, Fred

Fred Astaire, when he had his arms outstretched when he was dancing, would bend his two middle fingers towards his palm. Why did he do this?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


He thought his hands were too big so tried to disguise it in this way..



Alongside the non-dancing Joan Fontaine, what famous comedy duo were Fred Astaire's co-stars in the 1937 movie 'A Damsel in Distress'?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


George Burns and Gracie Allen. Based on a short story by P G Wodehouse, 'A Damsel in Distress' is often overlooked as it is weakened by Fred's not having a real dancing partner - Joan Fontaine is pretty, and a decent actress, but is just danced 'around' by Fred in one number. Nevertheless, with a great score by the Gershwins, and great comic relief from Burns and Allen, it is really worth a look - Burns and Allen are pretty nifty dancers too!



How many musicals did Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers make together?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


10. Fred and Ginger made 9 movies with RKO in the 1930s, but were reunited 10 years later, in 1949, for MGM's 'The Barkleys of Broadway'.



Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were the top two tap dancing movie stars of the golden age of Hollywood, but they only appeared together in one movie - not counting "That's Entertainment" (1974). What was it?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


Ziegfeld Follies. Fred and Gene performed one number in this MGM showcase from 1946, "The Babbit and the Bromide", a kind of nonsense song about these two guys who keep bumping into each other over the years, including once they arrive in heaven.



Who was Fred Astaire's choreographer for most of his career?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


Hermes Pan . Pan stood in for Ginger Rogers when he and Fred worked through routines before rehearsing with Ginger herself.



In the video for Lionel Ritchie's song "Dancing on the Ceiling", he uses a technique that Fred Astaire employed in which movie?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


Royal Wedding. The technique made it look as though Fred was dancing around a room, not horizontally but vertically, so it appeared he was dancing up the walls and then upside down, on the ceiling. In fact (of course!), Fred remained on the 'floor', while the room turned - with the camera fixed to the turning set to create the effect. If you watch the number ("You're all the world to me") carefully, you will see Fred balancing between each wall at the point when he has to move to the next surface.



Who was Fred Astaire's first screen dancing partner?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


Joan Crawford. The Joan Crawford vehicle 'Dancing Lady", made in 1933, was Fred's screen debut.



What was the first style of dance Fred Astaire learnt?

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire


Ballet. Fred was taken along to his sister's ballet classes and although he wasn't particularly interested at first, his perfectionist streak meant that he ended up even more accomplished than her.