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Jack Carey

Stage Name

Birth Name

Jack Carey

Guy Dossey

  Jack grew up in Southern California, learning tap, jazz and swing at a young age, he went on to become a Theater, Television and Movie dance performer. Jack joined the Navy and became a cook, and on being honorably discharged, returned to dancing at Borston's, his favorite dance spot. Nick Castle, (a famous dance choreographer) thought Jack to be the best swing dancer he ever saw and hired him to dance in the movie " Living It Up" (with Lorraine) starring Jerry Lewis which featured a legendary swing dance scene with many Top Swing Dancers of the day.

  Jack Carey danced with his now ex-wife Lorraine Edwards and together won many dance contests in the Los Angeles area including the legendary Harvest Moon Ball dance championships in 1949.

More Photos
  Jack was a Tap and Jazz dancer who excelled in Swing Dance. Carey was the best dancer on the competition circuit in his day beating many greats such as Dean Collins, Gil & Nicki Brady, Lenny Smith, Lou Southern etc.

  Jack has been featured in many magazines such as Life Magazine, he is the one with the "droopy socks" as well as the Herald Examiner newspaper (now the Times.) Jack has performed with many stars of Stage and screen including: Nick Castle, Sammy Davis Jr. Elaine Verdugo, Bob Hope, Bennie Reuben, Jerry Lewis etc.

  Carey is credited with inventing and coined the term "Jack and Jill" in the 1950's for a particular type of dance contest, where the dancer does not know in advance what the music will be or the partner they will have. Carey's style is very smooth, clean, syncopated and fun. Jack Carey can be credited with advancing the slotted form of swing we call West Coast Swing.

  Jack is the Chief Judge at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships (Carey started as Chief Judge with the original Jack Bridges Open at Disneyland, Ca.) and has been instrumental with keeping swing dance alive in the Los Angeles area along with his current partner in Life, Love and Swing ... the famous Annie Hirsch.

Birth Place

Birth Date

Spouse

Offspring

Watts, CA. 1/23/1927 Lorraine Edwards Ronald Larry Dossey
      Donald Gary Dossey
      4 Grandchildren
      14 Grandchildren
 

Dance Types

Dance Partners

Music Titles

Balboa Lorraine Edwards-Dossey n/a
Jazz Annie Hirsch      
Jitterbug            
Tap            
West Coast Swing            
             
 

Night Clubs

Theaters

Stage

Borston's Million Dollar Theater - L.A. n/a
Avedon Ballroom Orpheum Theater - L.A.      
Palomar Ballroom        
Cinderella Ballroom        
Rag Doll        
Lion D'or        
Press Box        
Clover Club        
         
 

Films

Television

(Other)

Living It Up (w/Jerry Lewis) Bob Hope Comedy Hour n/a
  Earl Barton Jr. Show      
  Bennie Reuben Show      
  Meet Millie      
NOTE: Jack and Lorraine won the 1949 Los Angeles Harvest Moon Ball Championships.
January 19, 2010
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