FRED ASTAIRE

Half-length studio Photograph of Astaire, looking dapper, almost vintage, in a striped suit, seated, with both arms resting on the table in front of him, and a slight smirk on his face. Signed in the light portion to the right of his image. The black and white photograph measures 8 inches wide by 10 inches high.

Studio executives initially worried that Astaire's enormous ears and bad chin would keep him from being a star; they hadn't counted on his charm, his feet, and his uncompromising standards. There was no loafing on the job or cutting corners when Fred Astaire was around. The virtuoso dancer, with his elegance, grace, originality and precision, would eventually go on to transform dance on film, including how it was shot and how it was integrated into the plot.

Matted in soft white and pewter in a gilt frame; dimensions measure 13 3/4 inches wide by 15 3/8 inches high.

This item is associated with these categories in our inventory:

• Dance
• Motion Pictures