|
|
Stage Name |
Birth Name |
| Vera
Ellen |
Vera
Ellen Rohe (Westmeyer) |
|
At only 4' 6" tall, she would work hard
to increase her height, and did, eventually reaching a grand 5'4."
Vera Ellen was called 'Twinkletoes' by her friends. Vera started
dancing as a child at the age of ten. At age sixteen she won a
local New York dance contest on the 'Major Bowes Comedy Hour'.
She started her professional career as a 'Rockette'
at Radio City Music Hall in New York City (one of the youngest)
then on to Broadway at age eighteen in 'Its Very Warm for May'
in 1939, before appearing as an actress in the movies. Some of
her dances with Danny Kaye (Bali Boogie) and Gene Kelly
(Slaughter on Tenth Avenue) were very, very memorable.
After marrying g another Dancer named Robert
Hightower (Louis's Brother,) they formed a dance troupe
called the Hightowers. She would eventually dance with such stars
as Fred Astaire and Danny Kaye. Vera had some of the best legs
in Hollywood and the producers made sure she showed them off.
|
