Vera-Ellen: Hollywood’s Versatile Dancer and Singer
Vera-Ellen (February 16, 1921 – August 30, 1981) was an American dancer, actress, and singer. She is known for her collaborations with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye, and Donald O’Connor, and for her starring roles in the musicals On the Town (1949) and White Christmas (1954).
Early Life and Education
Vera-Ellen Rohe was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Martin F. Rohe, a piano dealer, and Alma C. Westmeier, both descended from German immigrants. Her mother had dreamed of having a daughter named Vera-Ellen, including the hyphen. She began ballet dancing at age 10 and developed quickly, studying at Hessler Studio of Dancing alongside fellow student Doris Day. At age 13, she won on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour and launched her professional career.
Career and Achievements
Vera-Ellen made her Broadway debut in 1939 in Very Warm for May, a Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical. She became one of the youngest Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall before landing Broadway roles in Panama Hattie, By Jupiter, and A Connecticut Yankee. Samuel Goldwyn spotted her in the latter and cast her opposite Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in the 1945 film Wonder Man, which marked her film debut.
Her film career spanned nearly two decades. She danced with Gene Kelly in Words and Music and On the Town, and appeared in the Marx Brothers’ final film, Love Happy. She received top billing alongside Fred Astaire in Three Little Words and The Belle of New York, and co-starred with Donald O’Connor in the Ethel Merman vehicle Call Me Madam. In 1951, she starred in the musical comedy Happy Go Lovely with David Niven and Cesar Romero. Her most celebrated film role came in the 1954 blockbuster White Christmas, co-starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. Her final film was the 1957 British production Let’s Be Happy.
Throughout her film career, her singing voice was dubbed, beginning with Wonder Man. An exception was the 1943 Broadway revival cast album of A Connecticut Yankee, which featured two of her vocals: “I Feel at Home with You” and “You Always Love the Same Girl,” both duets with Chester Stratton. In the mid-to-late 1950s, she appeared frequently on US variety television, with her final performances on The Perry Como Show on November 22, 1958, and The Dinah Shore Show on February 14, 1959, after which she retired from performing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vera-Ellen’s 1939 Broadway debut launched a career that would span stage, film, and television. Her 1945 film debut in Wonder Man established her as a screen performer. The 1954 release of White Christmas became the pinnacle of her film work, earning blockbuster status. Her retirement from performance in 1959 marked the end of her public career.
Additional Resources
Vera-Ellen’s legacy as a dancer and performer remains documented in film archives, Broadway records, and entertainment histories. Those interested in learning more about her life and career can consult detailed biographical resources and the complete Wikipedia entry, which provides additional context on her personal life and the various rumors that surrounded her during and after her career.
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