The Death of Fred Astaire

I was always a great admirer of Fred Astaire, starting at an early age when I first saw him on the stage of the New Amsterdam theater in New York, appearing in “The Band Wagon” with his sister, Adele.

What a dancing team! No one can ever forget these two great talents dressed as children playing with hoops while “dancing in the dark” to “I Love Louisa.”

In his prime, Fred Astaire, wearing top hat and tails in his movies, gave America and the world a lift that was much needed in the 1930s during the Great Depression.

In later years, I often saw Fred Astaire at Hollywood Park and when he passed through the crowd in the clubhouse it was as if he were still dancing in swing time--gracefulness personified.

Fred Astaire loved show business and show business loved Fred Astaire. It always will.

MONROE RUBINGER

Beverly Hills