Tap!: The greatest tap dance stars and their stories, 1900-1955 by Rusty E Frank (1990-05-03) - Hardcover

Frank's much-needed and most entertaining book, an oral and pictorial history of tap dance, documents the stories of 30 legendary, living performers. The format is excellent. There are personal interviews with and descriptions of headliners as well as chorus dancers, representing every aspect of the dance form. The interviews--the book's most valuable feature--are filled with delightful anecdotes about such dancers as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Ruby Keeler, Vilma and Buddy Ebsen, Donald O'Connor, Bunny Briggs, Gene and Fred Kelly, and Ann Miller. Each chapter contains uncommon theater, film, and publicity photographs. The excellent appendixes include an alphabetical list of tap dancers and a filmography, discography, and glossary. Frank is a tap dancer and producer. Her exciting work captures the human dimension and passion of these tap dancing legends and is also a tribute to them. Highly recommended for tap and dance aficionados as well as general readers.
- Charles E. Kratz, Hofstra Univ. Lib., Hempstead, N.Y.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.