 | Early Years: Samuel (Sammy) Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem, New York on December 8, 1925. His father, Sammy Davis, Sr, and mother, Elvera Sanchez, were both vaudeville dancers. Sammy was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. Sammy Davis, Sr. took custody of his son and took him along on tour. Sammy learned how to dance from his father and his uncle, Will Mastin. At the age of four, Sammy joined his father and uncle in an act, "Will Mastin's Gang, featuring Little Sammy." Later the three became known as the "Will Mastin Trio." |
Racial Prejudice:
Sammy served in the United States Army during World War II, but was confronted by strong racial prejudice. This racial prejudice continued throughout his career, but he learned that being in the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. He once said, "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking."
After his years in the army, Sammy started to achieve success with his career as an entertainer. In 1959, he became a member of the "Rat Pack" led by Frank Sinatra, and included performers such as Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.
Success:
Sammy's career took off in the mid 1950s. He appeared on Broadway in 1956 in Mr. Wonderful, a big success. He also made appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. He then starred in two dramas of Anna Lucasta (1958) and A Man Called Adam (1966). He appeared again on Broadway 1964 in Golden Boy. In 1972 Davis made a No. 1 hit on the Top 40 charts with "Candy Man." Sammy also enjoyed television and occasionally landed television roles, including appearances on the hit series, "All in the Family."
Car Accident:
Sammy almost died in a car accident in 1954 in California. He was returning to Las Angeles from a trip to Las Vegas. He lost his left eye in the accident, forcing him to wear an eye patch for several months. He was later fitted for a glass eye, which he wore for the rest of his life.
While in the hospital after the accident, a friend shared with him the similarities between the Jewish and black cultures. Davis converted to Judaism after reading Paul Johnson's "A History of the Jews" while in the hospital.
Later Life and Death:
Sammy performed well into the 1980s, but his health declined due to heavy drinking and drug use. He performed in two films with Dean Martin and also in the movie "Tap" with Gregory Hines. He then traveled on tour with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Sammy was diagnosed with throat cancer but refused to have surgery, which could have saved his life. Davis told doctors that he would rather keep his voice than have a part of his throat removed. He died in 1990.
Martha Graham (1894-1991):
Sammy served in the United States Army during World War II, but was confronted by strong racial prejudice. This racial prejudice continued throughout his career, but he learned that being in the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. He once said, "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking."
After his years in the army, Sammy started to achieve success with his career as an entertainer. In 1959, he became a member of the "Rat Pack" led by Frank Sinatra, and included performers such as Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.
Success:
Sammy's career took off in the mid 1950s. He appeared on Broadway in 1956 in Mr. Wonderful, a big success. He also made appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. He then starred in two dramas of Anna Lucasta (1958) and A Man Called Adam (1966). He appeared again on Broadway 1964 in Golden Boy. In 1972 Davis made a No. 1 hit on the Top 40 charts with "Candy Man." Sammy also enjoyed television and occasionally landed television roles, including appearances on the hit series, "All in the Family."
Car Accident:
Sammy almost died in a car accident in 1954 in California. He was returning to Las Angeles from a trip to Las Vegas. He lost his left eye in the accident, forcing him to wear an eye patch for several months. He was later fitted for a glass eye, which he wore for the rest of his life.
While in the hospital after the accident, a friend shared with him the similarities between the Jewish and black cultures. Davis converted to Judaism after reading Paul Johnson's "A History of the Jews" while in the hospital.
Later Life and Death:
Sammy performed well into the 1980s, but his health declined due to heavy drinking and drug use. He performed in two films with Dean Martin and also in the movie "Tap" with Gregory Hines. He then traveled on tour with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Sammy was diagnosed with throat cancer but refused to have surgery, which could have saved his life. Davis told doctors that he would rather keep his voice than have a part of his throat removed. He died in 1990.
Martha Graham (1894-1991):
 | Early Years: Martha Graham was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1894. Her father, George Graham, was a doctor of nervous disorders, known today as psychiatry. Her mother, Jane Beers, was a descendant of Myles Standish. Being a doctor's family, the Grahams had a high standard of living, with the children under the supervision of a live-in maid. The social status of the Graham family increased Martha's exposure to the arts, but being the oldest daughter of a strict Presbyterian doctor would be detrimental. As Martha matured, she was strongly discouraged from pursuing a career in the performing arts. |
A Revelation:
When Martha was sixteen years old, she begged her father to take her to a dance performance in Los Angeles, which he did. Her father presented a bouquet of flowers to her outside of the theater, as told by Martha in her autobiography. The dance performance made such an impression on her that she decided to devote her life to dance, much to the dismay of her parents. She was told that a career in the arts was simply not suited for the daughter of a prominent Presbyterian physician. However, something Martha had seen on that stage had been a revelation to her; she was determined.
Destiny Found :
Martha enrolled at Denishawn School, a dance school and performing troupe. At age 22, extremely late for an aspiring dancer, Martha had found her destiny. She was told, however, that she was far too old to begin dancing and that her body was not properly build for it. But Martha persevered, proving to be a quick learner. She worked very hard, paying much attention to detail, to train her body.
Martha danced with Denishawn for seven years, then moved to New York City. She launched her own company in 1929. Nothing stood in the way of her mission: to "chart the graph of the heart" through movement.
A New Language:
Through her choreography, Martha began to push the art of dance to new limits. Her early dances were not well-received by audiences, as they were confused by what they were seeing on stage. Her performances were powerful and modern, and were often based on strong, precise movements and pelvic contractions. Martha believed that by incorporating spastic movements and falls, she could express emotional and spiritual themes. Her choreography overflowed with beauty and emotion. Martha was establishing a new language of dance, one that would change everything that came after it.
A True Pioneer:
Still dancing in the late 1960s, Martha often turned to alcohol to cope with her despair at her declining body. Her performances began to include more acting than dancing, relying on the movement of the dancers around her. Martha's love of dance was so strong that she refused to leave the stage, even though critics insisted she was past her prime. However, when the critics became too loud, she left the stage. Despite her age, she kept dancing throughout the 60s. In 1969, Martha finally announced her retirement from the stage. Although she couldn't perform, she continued to teach until her death in 1991, at age 96.
The Martha Graham Dance Company:
Founded by Martha in 1926, the Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest, most celebrated modern dance company in the world. It presents the classic Graham repertory and new choreography in New York and on tour, featuring many of today's most talented dance artists.
Fred Astaire (1899-1987):
When Martha was sixteen years old, she begged her father to take her to a dance performance in Los Angeles, which he did. Her father presented a bouquet of flowers to her outside of the theater, as told by Martha in her autobiography. The dance performance made such an impression on her that she decided to devote her life to dance, much to the dismay of her parents. She was told that a career in the arts was simply not suited for the daughter of a prominent Presbyterian physician. However, something Martha had seen on that stage had been a revelation to her; she was determined.
Destiny Found :
Martha enrolled at Denishawn School, a dance school and performing troupe. At age 22, extremely late for an aspiring dancer, Martha had found her destiny. She was told, however, that she was far too old to begin dancing and that her body was not properly build for it. But Martha persevered, proving to be a quick learner. She worked very hard, paying much attention to detail, to train her body.
Martha danced with Denishawn for seven years, then moved to New York City. She launched her own company in 1929. Nothing stood in the way of her mission: to "chart the graph of the heart" through movement.
A New Language:
Through her choreography, Martha began to push the art of dance to new limits. Her early dances were not well-received by audiences, as they were confused by what they were seeing on stage. Her performances were powerful and modern, and were often based on strong, precise movements and pelvic contractions. Martha believed that by incorporating spastic movements and falls, she could express emotional and spiritual themes. Her choreography overflowed with beauty and emotion. Martha was establishing a new language of dance, one that would change everything that came after it.
A True Pioneer:
Still dancing in the late 1960s, Martha often turned to alcohol to cope with her despair at her declining body. Her performances began to include more acting than dancing, relying on the movement of the dancers around her. Martha's love of dance was so strong that she refused to leave the stage, even though critics insisted she was past her prime. However, when the critics became too loud, she left the stage. Despite her age, she kept dancing throughout the 60s. In 1969, Martha finally announced her retirement from the stage. Although she couldn't perform, she continued to teach until her death in 1991, at age 96.
The Martha Graham Dance Company:
Founded by Martha in 1926, the Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest, most celebrated modern dance company in the world. It presents the classic Graham repertory and new choreography in New York and on tour, featuring many of today's most talented dance artists.
Fred Astaire (1899-1987):
 | Childhood: Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 10, 1899. The son of Johanna "Ann" and Frederic "Fritz" Austerlitz, Astaire began dancing at the age of four. He formed an act with his sister, Adele, that became popular at the time. Their first act was called "Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty." Astaire wore a top hat in the first half and a lobster outfit in the second. Following their debut performance, the local paper wrote, "the Astaires are the greatest child act in vaudeville." |
Partnership With Ginger Rogers:
In 1933, Astaire was paired with Ginger Rogers. They were an instant sensation and were featured together in a classic series of films including The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, and Swing Time. Astaire's partnership with Rogers had a special chemistry. It has been said that he gave her class and she gave him sex appeal. Their dance routines were complicated tap or graceful ballroom routines that portrayed romance. However, only once did the couple share an on-screen kiss.
Influence on Dance:
Fred Astaire is regarded as a pioneer in the serious presentation of dance on film. Although his dancing appeared relaxed and effortless, he actually worked incredibly hard, rehearsing for hours at a time. Several of his dance routines became famous, including the slow-motion dance in Easter Parade, the dance with empty shoes in The Barkleys of Broadway, the ceiling dance and the duet with a hat rack in Royal Wedding, and the dance on air in The Belle of New York.
Personal Life:
Astaire married New York socialite Phyllis Potter in 1933. The two were happily married for 21 years, until Potter died of lung cancer at the age of 46, leaving Astaire devastated. He wanted to drop out of his current project, Daddy Long Legs, but he decided to continue with the picture to distract him from his grief.
Astaire was a golf and horse-racing enthusiast, remaining physically active into his eighties. He married Robyn Smith in 1980, an actress turned champion jockey.
Astaire died on June 22, 1987, at the age of 88. One of his last requests was to thank his fans for their many years of support.
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