Vera Ellen - More Than White Christmas

I was watching my favorite Christmas movie, "White Christmas," the other night, when it occurred to me that I had seen other movies with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Danny Kaye, but did not know anything about the extraordinary dancer, Vera Ellen. So with a little research, including good 'ole Wikipedia, here are some facts about the actress with the "smallest waist in Hollywood."

• Vera Ellen was born Vera Ellen Westmeier Rohe on February 16, 1921 in Norwood, Ohio. She died at the age of 60 on August 30, 1981 in Los Angeles, California
• She was married twice. Robert Hightower was husband number one, with whom she was married from 1941 until 1946. Husband number two, was the wealthy Victor Rothschild and the two were married from 1954 until 1966.
• Her parents, Martin Roche and Alma Catherine Westmeier were both descendants of German immigrants.
• Vera Ellen started dancing at the age of 9.
• At 16, Vera Ellen appeared on Major Bowes Amateur Hour, becoming one of the winners.
• She debuted on Broadway in the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein musical "Very Warm for May" in 1938.
• Vera Ellen was one of the youngest Rockettes at Radio City Musical Hall.
• Her first film role was in "Wonder Man" in 1945, with Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo.
• Besides "White Christmas", her other film roles included, "On the Town" and "Words and Music," dancing with Gene Kelly and "Love Happy," starring the Marx Brothers.
• Vera Ellen danced with Fred Astaire in "Thre Little Words," and "The Belle of New York."
• She danced with Donald O'Connor in "Call Me Madam," and "Let's Be Happy."
• Because she was so thin, it was believed Vera Ellen may have suffered from anorexia nervosa.
• She had one child, a daughter, Victoria Ellen Rothschild, who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

As I watch "White Christmas" every year, I am always amazed at the talent of Vera Ellen. The speed at which she can tap and her graceful lines make her truly one of the greatest dancers of the golden age of musicals. She seems to have withdrawn from her career and from public life in the early 1960's.

Now that I know a little more about her, I will be watching for these classic movies featuring Vera Ellen.