Ginger Rogers was as spicy as they come.
And those who watcher her knew that even when she was a child. Those who knew her well said she could dance before she could walk.
At the age of 10, she was appearing at local charity shows, celebrations and even lodge meetings with her stepfather whose last name Rogers she eventually borrowed.
By 14, she was already performing for Texans at the Texas State Charleston Championship. She won that competition and took her talent to new heights with a tour of interstate theatres throughout Texas. Rogers and two redheaded Charleston dancers she picked were a true crowd pleaser so had their tour extended throughout the western United States.
By the time the show reached Chicago, a famous vaudeville act stole Rogers's partners so she found herself doing a single for the Skouras Brothers at their Ambassador Theatre in St. Louis. Her solo routine won people's hearts and for 28 stunning weeks, Rogers wowed the crowds, using always the Master of Ceremonies as her straight front man.
Eventually, Rogers ended up in Chicago as the celebrated Paul Ash invited her to appear with his band at the city's Oriental Theatre. For four months, Rogers performed with Ash and then Paramount Publix lured her away to New York to perform at the prestigious Broadway Paramount Theatre. The company also prepared a stage show for Rogers to tour in at their theatres across the country. Her routines with her MC companion however were so successful, she was held over for several weeks and the touring show went on without her. The Paramount Theatre subsequently brought Paul Ash and his band to New York and later invited Rogers back to join the gala affair.
Rogers is probably best well known for her partnership with Fred Astaire. The two dancing divas made nine musical films from 1933 to 1939 and in doing so, revolutionized the Hollywood musical with their dance routines of unprecedented elegance. To this day, Fred and Rogers remain an almost clich� reference for any successful dance partnership.