Danny Dare

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Danny Dare (March 20, 1905, New York City – November 20, 1996, Tarzana, Los Angeles, California) was an American choreographer, actor, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film.[1]

Career[edit]

Dare began his career in the 1920s as an actor on the New York stage, making his Broadway theatre debut in 1923 in the musical Dew Drop Inn.[2] He then performed on the vaudeville circuit, where he also gained experience as a choreographer, comedy sketch writer, and eventually a producer. In 1927 he portrayed Ronnie Webb in the musical The Five O'Clock Girl, also serving as the show's assistant choreographer.[3] He soon became highly busy as a choreographer on Broadway, serving in that capacity for such shows as The Little Show (1929),[4] Sweet Adeline (1929)[5] Sweet and Low (1930),[6] You Said It (1931),[7] and Tattle Tales (1933).[8] In 1931 he produced the play Sentinels and later produced, directed, and wrote the book for the musical Meet the People (1940).[9]

Dare's talents as a choreographer drew the attention of executives at Paramount Pictures and he was offered a contract with the studio in 1929. He went on to choreograph several films with the company including Let's Go Places (1930),[10] Such Men Are Dangerous (1930),[11] Not Damaged (1930),[12] Wild People (1932),[11] Three Cheers for Love (1936),[11] Start Cheering (1938),[11] Hit Parade of 1941 (1940),[11] Panama Hattie (1942),[11] and most notably Holiday Inn (1942).[13] The last film he choreographed was Road to Utopia in 1946.[14]

In 1938 Dare turned to directing for the first time with the film The Main Event. He never directed another film, but he was active as a television director during the 1950s with the shows Damon Runyon Theater and How to Marry a Millionaire. He also produced a total of eight films between 1945 and 1952.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1996: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre By Harris M. Lentz, Page 54
  2. ^ "Max Reinhardt To Produce Here: European Director to Give "The Miracle," "The Dream Play," "Orpheus" Next Season". The New York Times. May 18, 1923.
  3. ^ "Local Talent". The New York Times. January 29, 1928.
  4. ^ Brooks Atkinson (May 1, 1929). "THE PLAY; Revue, Pocket Edition". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Broadway musicals, show by show By Stanley Green & Kay Green, page 68
  6. ^ Showstoppers: Busby Berkeley and the tradition of spectacle By Martin Rubin, page 227
  7. ^ Brooks Atkinson (January 20, 1931). "THE PLAY; Collegiate". The New York Times.
  8. ^ L.N. (June 2, 1933). "Expired Option on You". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Meet Some People From 'Meet The People'". The New York Times. January 5, 1941.
  10. ^ The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures ..., Issues 1931–1940 By Kenneth White Munden, page 431
  11. ^ a b c d e f Film choreographers and dance directors By Larry Billman, page 289
  12. ^ The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures ..., Issues 1931–1940 By Kenneth White Munden, page 553
  13. ^ Thomas M. Pryor (August 2, 1942). "By Way of Report". The New York Times.
  14. ^ The Great American movie book By Paul Michael, page 233

External links[edit]

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