Try to Remember

In the early 1970's, nostalgia suddenly became big business (not coincidentally, the concept of "camp" broke through the mainstream at the same time); big enough, in fact, that several decades past their heyday, even second-tier goddesses like Joan Blondell and Paulette Goddard were still considered famous enough to earn First Name Only status on the cover of Life.



What's so sad is that, even in today's retro-obsessed culture, where every lame duck television show is recycled into a multi-million-dollar flop motion picture, not a single modern-day youngster could name even one of these stars.

"Ruby who?!"

Dancing Queen

GO INTO YOUR DANCE (1935)

Ruby Keeler (August 25, 1909 - February 28, 1993) may have had a limited movie resume, but she created a film archetype: the wide-eyed naif who wins over the hardened show biz pros to become the toast of Broadway ("Kid, you're going out there a nobody, but you're comin' back a star!").

More or less working to support her family since the age of 13, Keeler got her start by lying about her age and becoming a chorus girl. She became a full-fledged star when Florenz Ziegfeld "discovered" her; she became bona fide show business royalty via her marriage, at age 18, to Al Jolson in 1928.

Keeler made her Hollywood debut in 1933's 42nd Street (the basis for the later, long-running Broadway adaptation); it was followed by similar successes, including Gold Diggers of 1933 and Dames (1934). However, by the dawn of the 1940's, Keeler had tired of the limelight, and retired after divorcing Jolson and settling into married life with her second husband. In 1971, director Busby Berkeley, who had helmed her greatest Hollywood successes, coaxed Keeler out of retirement to star on Broadway in the revival of the 1920's hit No, No Nanette; riding on the vogue of all things Deco, the production was a huge success, and Keeler was once again the toast of the town.

Keeler's early films are charmingly primitive to modern audiences; but her genuine spunk and incredible dancing talent are refreshing in this era of quick-cuts and MTV-style choreography. Today would have been Ruby Keeler's 99th birthday, and wherever she may be, we're sure there's a lot of tapping going on.