Talent Scout: What if?

11/14/2016

I have a great admiration for the talent exhibited by the entertainment industry of the 1940's, a talent which I frankly don't see today. Maybe I am not tuned in enough to what is going on, or just belong in the 1940's. :)

I thought it would be fun to list all the talents that I could think of that I admire from that era of entertainers, and find out what talents you wish you could have!

1. Comedian. I think of Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Donald O'Conner, and Jack Benny. I am sure there are other great ones out there, but these are some of my favorites.

2. Dancing. I certainly can't talk about dancing without mentioning Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, and Vera Ellen.

3. Singing. Too many good ones to name, but here we go: Frank Sinatra, the Andrews Sisters, and Bing Crosby.

4. Musician: Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Jose Iturbi, and the list could go on.

And a lot of these cross over into other talents. Danny Kaye was a comedic actor, but he also sang and danced in a lot of his roles. Frank Sinatra was also an actor. Gene Kelly also sang besides being a great dancer. Donald O'Conner sang, danced, and was a comedic actor.

So if you were trying to get into Hollywood as a star of that day, what talents would you wish you had or do you have?

P. S. I think the talents I would wish for are to sing and dance. And if I was an actress, I truly can play the piano without faking it. :)

11 Comments

Rozy link

11/14/2016 11:12:22 am

Even now I would like to learn ballroom dancing. My dad took lessons as a boy and was always a great dancer. Unfortunately, he never taught us children (I always thought that weird, but he just never did), so I learned to dance as a teen in the late sixties, early 70's when nobody danced ballroom. Anyway, I can sing and I did some acting in school, but I sure would like to learn to dance. I think the 40's (and earlier) are so attractive because manners still mattered, and people dressed up regularly.

Sew Characteristically You

11/15/2016 05:52:49 pm

Music is very important to me, and so dancing is extra special in being able to combine graceful movements to music. Dancing can be a way of expressing my feelings about the music. I don't know how to dance very much, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to learning how to ballroom dance! Dancing now-a-days, just doesn't seem much like dancing to me.

I know if one of my parents knew how to dance really well, I would getting them to teach me! It's too bad that you never got to learn from your dad.

Sarah

Marilyn

11/14/2016 04:04:09 pm

I love to dance and did not learn to the ballroom dances. The old movies had a lot of spectacular dancers. Cyd Charisse and Rita Hayworth were also terrific dancers. Debbie Reynolds was pretty good in "Singin' In The Rain. She never danced before and Gene Kelly taught her and ruled with an iron fist. She mentioned tha ton atalk show years ago.
Marilyn

11/15/2016 05:55:08 pm

Well, if that was Debbie Reynolds' first outburst into dancing, she did really well. I guess that leaves some hope for me!

Some friends of mine and I are putting together a 1940's swing dance. Hopefully, I will pick up some things from that. That and my brother will be home from Grad school and he has been going to some swing dances regularly, so maybe I can learn from him.

Sarah

Molly

11/18/2016 11:09:15 am

Hehe, I love this post because I just got to swing dance 1940s style! I was at a retreat over the weekend and two people were swing danceing and asked me to dance. Of course I said yes, and one of the songs that I danced to was The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!
I would like to learn more because I didn't realize how much I liked it!
I also, like you, would like to sing more!

11/21/2016 11:35:59 am

I agree that swing dancing is a lot of fun. So much so, that a few friends and I are planning on hosting our own dance after Christmas and New Years.

Sarah

11/25/2016 05:47:54 pm

WOW! That'll be such fun! Where did you learn to swing dance?
Molly

11/25/2016 05:56:15 pm

Technically, I don't really know how to swing dance. I have watched some Youtube videos, and received a little instruction when my brother and I went to a dance a while back. Fortunately, one of the ladies at my church used to teach dance and has offered to call the dance for us. So we will have some instruction on how to swing dance. :)

Sarah

11/25/2016 05:56:27 pm

Also, what music is your favorite to dance to?

11/25/2016 05:58:48 pm

I haven't done very much dancing, so I don't know that I can really say. :) When swing dancing, I like to have the old Big Band music. :) English country dancing, I might be a little more open, just so long as it is rousing good fun.

Sarah

11/29/2016 04:55:25 pm

Cool! Thank you! Yeah, I love Big Band music too! For one of the swing dances, I actually danced to the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy--which I knew really well, so it made it fun!

Talent Scout: What if?

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