Oh What a Night!!
50th ANNIVERSARY DINNER DANCE
Click here to see pictures.Anyone who has pictures to share, please send them to Ellen at tdenniston@comcast.net
Oh What a Night!! |
50th ANNIVERSARY DINNER DANCEClick here to see pictures.Anyone who has pictures to share, please send them to Ellen at tdenniston@comcast.net |
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"...we were all 17 again for 10 minutes..." |
Rockette Cake |
Christmas in August - SNOW!! |
"Christmas in August".......and the gang's all here! |
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ROCKETTE 75TH ANNIVERSARYBy Sandi Bloomberg It was definitely a "hoot!" Four hundred Rockettes of various heights, widths, ages and outfits of red and white, converging on the Grand Foyer of the famous Radio City Music Hall for the 75th Anniversary of the Rockettes. A sight to behold! The invitation told us to be at the stage door dressed in any combination of red and white, by 9:00 A.M. for a rehearsal, then at 1:00 P.M., a performance in front of the Music Hall to "kick" off the sale of the tickets for the upcoming Christmas show. "Christmas in August" they called it and invited all the present and ex Rockettes to the 75th Anniversary PR ploy to sell tickets. I didn’t care. I was going! At 7:00 A.M. all dolled up in my new white pants and red t-shirt, I walked out of my house to get into my car and make the drive from Melville Long Island to Manhattan. There before my eyes was a stretch limo and a driver holding the door open for me. My husband surprised me with a royal "Rockette" ride to the city. I was so sure the girls would say "who the hell does she think she is?" that I had the driver drop me off a block before the stage door. I didn’t have to. I was so early, no one had arrived yet. By 9:15, the Grand Foyer was filled with every combination of red and white imaginable. As I made my way through the throng, I heard screams of recognition, saw hugs and kisses ad nauseam, and finally added to it when I found familiar faces from my "era". They were all there, my backstage buddies – Speedy, Millie, Sue, Marylou, Emmie, and many more I hadn’t seen since my last summer at Radio City – 1962. And I thought that I was going to be the only one who had put on some weight over the years. There were quite a few who were also wearing an x-large sized t-shirt like mine. Of course there were those who after 39 years still had their Rockette figures. How dare they! We had to separate into groups according to when we started dancing at the "hall". I went into the "60"s group. There were girls from the 30"s, right up to the young, skinny, gorgeous, Rockettes of today. Some of the original "girls" were in wheel chairs and walkers. But they all made it to Radio City for this special celebration. They came from all over the United States. There were special air fares and a block of hotel rooms at the Hilton for the occasion. After learning six counts of eight to "New York, New York," kicks and all, we were ushered out to 6th avenue where the present day Rockettes performed their famous "Wooden Soldier" dance. We followed in lines of 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s girls, all strutting our "stuff". Over 2000 people surrounded us, traffic was halted on 6th avenue, and the TV stations of all the major networks covered the festivities, as a huge fake 75th birthday cake was wheeled out in front of us. For just a few brief moments we were all doing our famous "kicks", though not as high as we used to. There was not a dry eye amongst us. For these precious few minutes, we were young again, we were glamorous again, we were "Rockettes" again. It was great! I hope to make it to the 100th Anniversary celebration. I’ll only be 85! Don't forget to check out Sandi's web site at http://sandibloomberg.com/ where you'll find information on her recently published books for kids. "The Magic Garden" and "The Magic Cookies" are available through Amazon.com. |
Attendees:Rosalie Bowers AmorosoCheryl Homan Anderson Berlinda Artzner-Gordon Abby Arauz Eleanor Aetisse Evelyn Rakovich Ashley Patricia Clark Asmann Lindsay Flora Babich Mary Lee Dewitt Baker Millie Pratt Balint Linda Bartle Lenore Lortz Beetar Andrea Clifford Bekkenhuis Dottie Belle Barbara Baxter Benjamin Kiki Bennett Linda Berres Emma Stiffer Bishop Sandy Harvey Bloomberg Pokie Powers Bookless Lisa Lewis Basi Darla Bradle Katy Braff Dorothy Meachen Breen Peggy Burke Brennan Dee Dee Knapp Brody Mary Limbach Burg Linda Deacon Burrington Deidre Caroll Kathleen Rudolph Cezer Elizabeth Chanin Stephanie Chase Barbara Ann Cittadino Kelli Coleman Jacqueline Collins Lillian Colon Helen Conklin Holly Copeland Barbara Boho Creighton Alzine Straub Cuppett Mary Ann Strilka Cusimana Cathy Dacey Vickie Daigle Betty Rose Silva Dammert Darlene Wendy Cheryl Davidson-Steinthal Prudence Grey-Demmler Irene Guerreiro Diamante Cathy Beatty Di Marco Gretchen Green Dodd Susanne Doris Becky Downing Beverly Browne Duke Beth Dukleth Cookie Franzese Dutch Carolyn Dutra Jenny Eakes Betty Dedrick Eckhardt Rosemary Rickerhauser Elsegood Gretchen Esch Holly Evans Angie Everett Dotty Hoarton Eyl Janice Dinkins Ferguson Betty White Fernandez Diana Ford Fiscus Barbara Parkhurst Forgue Christina Fortenbaugh Linda Christ Gache Mary Anne Fiordalisi Garretson Barbara DiMateo Gasser Dianne Gauroy Fern Dion Gedney Jody Erickson Ghanem Joy Wheeler Gibbons Glenda Guilfoyle Vosberg Heather Ginther Darcy Gloria Heather Goelz Eileen Grace Jeanne Spooner Gracey Pat De Carlo Grantham Mary Ellen Scilla Greco Shelly Speas Green Troy Greenfield |
Leslie Guy Charles Hacker Nanette Brousseau Hackett Joy Shelby Hairston Ward Tamara Halenda Dobias Michelle Hammer Jackie Sloan Hanson Cheryl Hebert Susan Henderson Ellie Thies Hevel Sandie Summer Hilliard Janice Davis Himler Betty Hunt Holding Kathy Maier Horan Michelle Imor Lorraine Monty Johnson Linda Johnston Temple Kane Jerry Karsus Jeri Kansas Jandrok Mary Louise Fidmik Kaufmann Mary Lou Barnes Kennedy Sharlene Curley Kessler Natalie King Bernice Hess Klebaur Corinne Lawton Klemmer-Allaire Bette Lou "Belle" Daley Koblentz Judy Goodman Koch Debby Kole Laurie Kotecki Barbara Kraemer Renna Amy Krawcek Edith Karen Kusik Sandra Scilla La Maina Cindy Pierce Lee Liane Neumann-Pruzan Eleanor Russell Leight Joanne Lentino LuAnn Leonard-Johns Barbara Yula Levy Lisa Lewis-Basi Sabra Lewis Arnelle Mauer Liblit Eleanor Leight June Anne Loesch Mary Lillygren Kimberly Louwsma Adele Harper Lyttle Linda Muhrcke Lynch Elaine Bahr MacDonald Peggy Morrison Macherey Melissa Mahon Flip Butterfield Manne Geri Marcolina Jean Radzik Martin Setsuko Maruhashi Lisa Matsuoka Elizabeth Maurer Florence Kimball May Barbara Vaughan McCabe Mary McCatty Patrice McConachie Julie McDonald Lori McMacken Laraine Memola Stevie Van Meter Angela Mezzacapa Sarah Misiano Marquis Monday Sue Bono-Moore Marion Block Moriarty Betty Vincent Moritz Harriet Rover Muller Catherine Madigan Murray Janet Murphy Anne Murphy Lucille Naar Darcy Natalie Kathy Westlund Nelson Nancy Walker Nesbitt Dorothy Laxson Nesholm Liane Neumann-Pruzan Jennifer Newman Betty Ann Warshauer Nice Peggy Fears Noble |
Beth Woods Nolan Joyce Nolen Rosemary Posillico Noviello Gail Paduani Oldfield Eileen O'Rourke Liese Pat Tully Osborn Lillian Hodulick Oswald Cathy Dunsmore Oswandel Jill Owens Dani Parish Jyl Perry Cynthia Petrone Pam Stacey Pasqualino DoDo Wicker Parmenter Keisa Parrish Margaret Morley Pearsall Rita Iacurto Pelletier Susan Kingsland Peterson Sandra Simpson Philpott Anita Sowa Pokrassa Maureen Stevens-Pollack Liane Neumann-Pruzan Kerri Quinn Tara Radcliffe Dorothy "Candy" Hart Ratcliff Erica Reed Carol Kaufman Reilly Laureen Repp-Russell Loraine Brown Rinaldi Jody Robinson Buckelew Sheila Phillips Rodriguez Kara Marie Sandberg Kathryn Kehrle Ryan Lorraine Holscher Sarek Patsy Brady Scalise Kim Leslie Schwab Tara Bradley Schweitzer Melanie Seymour Diane Brisson Sheehan Tamlyn Shusterman Susan Alai Sinibaldi Helene Grethlein Smith Amber Smith Barbara Speedling Gatti Jean Spouswell Elizabeth Sprei Katherine Steers Twila Saylor Stern Leslie Stroud Carole Roth Sullivan Lyn Sullivan-Bowers Fern Fitzgerald Sweet Romaine Strilka Switch Carol Wilcox Tarallo Jeanette Dix Tarrand Nancy Bryan Taylor Eileen Thomas Adriene Thorne Tammy Tipton Nay Joan Swack Tipton Linda Gumiela Toliver Michelle Tolson Karyn Tomzak Betty Brady Walters Eva Ward Sara Weber Carla Drumm Webber Barbara Warren Anzalone Darlene Wendy Marilyn Westlake Tiffany Whitaker Gertrude Fryer Wylie Kathleen O'Connor Williams Dottie Williams Hunt-Kleeb Laura Williams Jaime Windrow Suzanne Sibilio Winn Sally Wong Verna Pharo Yezo Amy York Carole Calibani Zablocki Terry Burke Zukowski Diann Mac Donald Catino Viva Reynolds Pastor Keri Pearsall Corliss Fyfe Whitney |
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(L-R) Joan Browning Bean, Barbara Vaughan McCabe, Muriel (Duffey) Hake, Margaret Morley Pearsall, Corliss Fyfe Whitney -- Taking Duffey to Lunch |
Celebrating 75 Years -- The Rockette Alumni takes to the stage for recognition of their 75th Anniversary. |
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NY Times Article, December 24, 2005 |
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To see the article, click here. By GIA KOURLAS Published NY Times: December 24, 2005 The Rockettes performing "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" at Radio City Music Hall. Choreographed by Russell Markert in 1933, the number is a perennial highlight of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Everyone seems to forget that Rockettes are serious dancers. As soon as the holidays roll around, they seem to be everywhere they shouldn't be - posed seductively next to an inane weatherman as he delivers the morning forecast and then, invariably, tries to take part in a kick line, or being ridiculed by comedians on VH1's "I Love the Holidays." At the gift kiosk at Radio City Music Hall, there is even a doll version available to take home. The Rockettes are a highly marketable operation, but what consistently saves them from becoming a pawn in the Radio City promotion blitz is the glory of their dancing - specifically, in Russell Markert's "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," a gorgeous number from 1933. In it, the Rockettes move in rigid patterns that resemble military drills without a trademark eye-high kick in sight. "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" is a veritable modern masterpiece of precision dancing, which would be a dying art if not for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a boisterous show of otherwise questionable artistic merit, which continues at Radio City Music Hall through Jan. 2. The dancers, wearing the latest generation of the stunning soldier uniforms designed by Vincente Minelli - wide-legged white pants, snug red jackets and tall black hats topped with jaunty white feathers - move as one impeccable line, facing the audience or the rear of the stage, and rotating in sharp circles to form shapes that fit together like the steel puzzle of a piece of machinery. Standing in profile, they pretend to be hit by a blast from a cannon and collapse one by one, each carefully hooking her arms through those of the dancer in front. Like a painstaking game of human dominos, one body descends into the next until the last dancer has no choice but to crumple into an oversized red velvet cushion. After all these years, it's still a mesmerizing wonder. This year, the Christmas Spectacular includes a new opening number, "Deck the Hall," choreographed by John Dietrich, in which the dancers congregate sexily around a glittering sign that spells out "Rockettes." The design is pretty enough, but the number comes nowhere near recreating the power or the austere beauty of "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." The dancers display what the audience expects - tapping and kicking with movie-star smiles - which is important, but the results are more an arrangement of bodies than a timeless dance. The effect is hardly Las Vegas, and that is commendable, but dressed as they are, in sparkling white halter dresses, the Rockettes come closer to resembling models than dancers. "Deck the Hall" is a lost opportunity. What the Rockettes need is not a modernized imitation of the precision style but an innovative choreographer willing to challenge them to the fullest extent of their meticulous technique, all the while honoring the past. The Radio City Web site maintains that in the 21st century, the Rockettes "will continue to explore new dance repertoires, styles and techniques that reflect their exciting, contemporary and modern style." Unfortunately, this reads as little more than truism. The group's lack of modernity isn't a flaw; it's what makes the Rockettes so fascinating and viable in the modern world. As proof, "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" remains the freshest, most distinct piece of choreography in the Rockettes' repertory. In the excellent book "The Work of Dance: Labor, Movement and Identity in the 1930's," Mark Franko points to a 1938 essay on dance and abstraction by John Martin, longtime chief dance critic of The New York Times. As an example of dance that "puts aside all dramatic and literary program, and deals exclusively in terms of movement, without what is generally referred to as meaning," Martin relies on the Rockettes, which he calls "as complete abstraction as it is possible for the human body to attain." Russell Markert, who died in 1990, invented the Rockettes with that notion seemingly in mind. He was inspired to form the group after watching a performance of the Tiller Girls, a popular English group, but he was intrigued by the idea of a bolder, all-American version, with a lineup of taller dancers who could kick higher and master more complicated tap routines than their predecessors. His answer, the Missouri Rockets, was formed in St. Louis in 1925; touring companies were created. At the invitation of Samuel L. (Roxy) Rothafel, Mr. Markert brought his troupe to the Roxy Theater in New York as the Roxyettes. It wasn't until March of 1934 that the Roxyettes became the Rockettes. When John D. Rockefeller Jr. approached Rothafel to oversee the opening of a new theater - Radio City Music Hall - the opening-night performance featured 19 acts, including the Roxyettes in Mr. Markert's "With a Feather in Your Cap." The program also included Martha Graham and her Dance Group in "Choric Dance for an Antique Greek Tragedy," creating an inclusiveness that rarely exists today. By all accounts, opening night was a bust. A rainstorm delayed the curtain, many audience members fled after intermission, and Rothafel, the visionary behind it all, collapsed and was taken from the theater to the hospital on a stretcher. But no one could criticize the splendor of the Music Hall. In 1933, with the Depression in full force, the theater began presenting films. At first, they played for only one week each, and Mr. Markert choreographed new numbers for the Rockettes with the same frequency. But as choices for suitable family movies declined in the late 1960's, so did the troupe's performing options. Today, the Rockettes remain vibrant and capable, but they are stilted by a lack of stage time. Performing at the halftime show at a New York Liberty basketball game or with Hugh Jackman at the 2004 Tony Awards simply is not sufficient. The legacy of what it means to be a Rockette is not lost on the dancers; if they don't immediately identify with their icon status, they do understand that they are part of a deep sisterhood. They are hardly automatons or chorus girls, and they are infinitely more than a bunch of life-size Barbie dolls that appear at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They are treasures of the dance world, and they need their own show. |