Ray Bolger's Tribute

Quintessential Ray Bolger performs his tribute to three vaudeville legends, Pat Rooney, Eddie Leonard and George M. Cohan. From his TV show in 1953, the elevated stage had mics beneath the floor so the taps could be heard as he did them...no pre-record here. Allyn Joslyn, seen briefly.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Ray Bolger ... one of the top-ever, amazingly acrobatic and flexible, gravity defying male dancers in 20th century film. To paraphrase Wizard of Oz's Dorothy, "Scarecrow," we miss you most of all!

[@stephenjoeagi]

Wonderful. Ray Bolger captured the style of these great entertainers, and his tap dancing is heat. Vaudeville was before my time, but it is one of my favorite forms of entertainment. Thanks for posting.

[@stephenjoeagi]

Revisiting Sylvia Lewi's channel, I realize how much I enjoy Vaudeville. It is an American invention, as sure as is Jazz, and apple pie. Vaudeville artists must be the happiest of the lot. They surely give us great joy. Thanks Syl for posting your lifetime's work for us to enjoy.

[@Creative62]

Bravo Ray Bolger. I have not seen this I was very young. Thank you for sharing

[@Hoching03]

It's a shame that shows like these with real entertainers are replace today with reality TV crap with young people with not an ounce of talent.

[@CarlDuke]

Wonderful clip. Thanks for posting it.

[@brendarussell3055]

Amazing elastic .

[@CarlDuke]

There were 3 Pat Rooneys Sr, Jr and the III. Pat Jr became famous for this song and clicking his heels while dancing hands in pockets. Even in his late 70s he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and still managed to get off the ground and click those heels.

[@vincentsartain3061]

CarlDuke I once had and watched a VHS video of The Ed Sullivan Show which featured Pat Rooney in one of the episodes and IIRC Rooney said he was 80; I was astounded at the moves he made at such an advanced age, that would put even most teens and twenty-somethings to shame!

[@oldgypsytap]

@CarlDuke Thank you for the added comment. I vaguely recall having seen Rooney on Ed Sullivan. Wonderful entertainment in those days!

[@CarlDuke]

Yes before Eddie Cantor sang this, it was Leonard's song.

[@oldgypsytap]

@stephenjoeagi So glad you enjoyed....

[@oldgypsytap]

Sadly, that's what happens when there are hundreds of channels that simply have to fill 24 hours of air time every day with whatever mindless junk is available. No talent or gifted performers required...

[@antinotis]

Interesting to compare his George Cohen to Jimmy Cagney's. Wonder who captures him better. I always thought there was lot of Cagney in his Cohen (not that I don't absolutely love it; acting isn't mimicry). I know Bolger does Pat Rooney almost perfectly.