Announcing the Second Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers Blogathon!


The epitome of wit, sophistication, elegance, and fun, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are enduring icons whose films will never cease to delight audiences. Their solo work continues to inspire people, while their collaborations are unforgettable pieces of art. Last year, In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood's Crystal and I hosted our first Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Blogathon, and I'm thrilled to say we're bringing it back!

Choosing the dates for this event was a bit tricky given our schedules, but we decided to host this on Dec. 28-30. Obviously, this is very close to Christmas and New Year's, which is why we thought it best to announce now and give people plenty of time to write their pieces. (Personally, I find the cozy glamour associated with these holidays to be more than fitting for our favorite dancing duo!)

Here are our rules:

1) You can write about anything relating to Fred and Ginger: their collaborations, their other films, their TV appearances/specials, their fashion... whatever you'd like! Leave a comment with your topic(s) on this post or on Crystal's announcement post. You can also email Crystal at carolelombardforever@yahoo.com. Don't forget to include your blog's name and URL!

2) Since there are SO MANY topics to choose from, we are accepting two duplicates, so be sure to check the roster before leaving a comment.

3) We would prefer no more than three entries per person.

4) Please submit new material and not previously published posts.

5) Be respectful! We're here to celebrate these icons, not tear them down.

After claiming your topic, go ahead and grab a banner, and please help us spread the word!

Topics taken the maximum number of times:
Swing Time
Kitty Foyle
Top Hat

List of Participants:
Love Letters to Old Hollywood | Kitty Foyle (1940) and a personal tribute to Fred
In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood | Stage Door (1937) and TBD
Maddy Loves Her Classic Films | a tribute to Fred & Ginger
Poppity Talks Classic Film | The Sky's the Limit (1943) and Swing Time (1936)
Pale Writer | Daddy Long Legs (1955)
Pure Entertainment Preservation Society | Swing Time (1936)
Caftan Woman | Professional Sweetheart (1933)
Screen Dreams | Top Hat (1935)
The Story Enthusiast | Forever Female (1953)
Crítica Retrô | Kitty Foyle (1940)
Silver Screenings | Top Hat (1935)
Movies Meet Their Match | Monkey Business (1952)
Musings of a Classic Film Addict | Having Wonderful Time (1938)
The Classic Movie Muse | The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)






Comments

  1. Caftan WomanOctober 25, 2019 at 2:29 PM

    It looks like my (alleged?) earlier post didn't take. Must have pushed the wrong button. I'd like to offer something on Ginger in Professional Sweetheart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaOctober 25, 2019 at 11:45 PM

      I thought it strange we hadn't heard from you! Nice to have you with us, Paddy!

      Delete
    2. Caftan WomanOctober 26, 2019 at 8:55 AM

      T'would be strange indeed!

      Delete
  2. AishaOctober 26, 2019 at 8:16 AM

    Hi Michaela! Can I write about Top Hat (1935)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaOctober 26, 2019 at 12:12 PM

      Certainly! That's my favorite films of theirs, so I look forward to your post!

      Delete
  3. LêNovember 2, 2019 at 4:38 PM

    I'm glad this event is back! I'll go after you and also wirte about Kitty Foyle, a film I have here and haven't watched yet.
    Kisses!
    Le from Crítica Retrô

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaNovember 2, 2019 at 11:17 PM

      It's such a good film! I can't wait to finally write about it. Thanks for joining us!

      Delete
  4. Silver ScreeningsNovember 3, 2019 at 2:13 PM

    Hi Michaela, I'd love to do Top Hat if a second blogger hasn't snapped it up already.

    Also: Congrats on joining the CMBA! Great news! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaNovember 3, 2019 at 8:51 PM

      As far as I know it's yours! Glad to have you join, Ruth.

      Thanks! I had tried to join a few years ago, so it was nice that things worked out this time.

      Delete
  5. Chloe the MovieCriticNovember 6, 2019 at 11:33 PM

    Hey, Michaela!
    Last time I reviewed a movie just with Fred, so now I'd like to do one just with Ginger! I'd like Monkey Business (1952), please.

    MovieCritic | Movies Meet Their Match
    https://moviesmeetmatch.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Realweegiemidget ReviewsDecember 6, 2019 at 9:32 AM

    Sorry but going to have to withdraw from this blogathon. Hope you have a happy Christmas, from Gill at Realweegiemidget Reviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaDecember 7, 2019 at 11:11 PM

      Sorry to hear this, Gill! Wishing you a merry Christmas as well!

      Delete
    2. Realweegiemidget ReviewsDecember 9, 2019 at 6:42 AM

      Thanks Michaela, holding one next year on James Garner if you'd like to join.

      Delete
    3. MichaelaDecember 9, 2019 at 4:28 PM

      I do really love James Garner, but I want to wait and see how my master's thesis is coming along in January before I commit to your February event. :)

      Delete
  7. The Classic Movie MuseDecember 6, 2019 at 10:45 PM

    Hi Michaela, I'd love to join your blogathon! I'm writing a series on my blog for the month of December and if it's ok with you I'd like to write about Fred in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979) as the last entry in my series. My blog is The Classic Movie Muse at www.theclassicmoviemuse.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Silver ScreeningsDecember 27, 2019 at 10:44 PM

    Hi Michaela, I've posted my entry here: https://silverscreenings.org/2019/12/19/how-fred-astaire-kept-busy-after-his-sisters-retirement/
    Looking forward to learning more about Fred and Ginger!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MichaelaDecember 27, 2019 at 11:43 PM

      Thanks, Ruth! It's going to be a wonderful three days, that's for sure. :)

      Delete
  9. MaddyDecember 28, 2019 at 5:56 AM

    Hi Michaela.
    Hope you're well and had a good Christmas. Here's my piece.

    https://maddylovesherclassicfilms.wordpress.com/2019/12/27/the-second-fred-astaire-and-ginger-rogers-blogathon-a-tribute-to-fred-and-ginger/

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

You might've missed these popular posts...

Loving and Fighting Furiously: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

Image
Let me preface this by saying I set myself up for failure on this one. So much as been written about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz -- books, movies, TV specials, great blog posts. I can't possibly include all of the vast information I have at my fingertips, so if you're at all intrigued by my post, good news: there is a wealth of material out there. The Ball-Arnaz relationship was messy and sometimes hurtful, but it all came from two people who loved each other more than they could say. Their marriage brought them a legacy that transformed them into icons, yet they weren't the Ricardos -- they were Lucy and Desi, fallible people who ultimately couldn't stay together. "Man, that's a hunk of woman!" That's what a handsome 23-year-old Cuban said when he saw a gorgeous 28-year-old redhead in 1940. Wearing a tight gold lamé gown with a slit down the center to show off her legs and sporting a fake black eye and loose hair, Lucy had been filming for Da...
Continue »

Top Ten: Fred Astaire's Partners

Image
Every August, TCM dedicates one day to one exclusive star. It's times like these I'm thankful to the television gods for both airing TCM and for creating the DVR; Summer Under the Stars covers a vast array of different films and I can always find at least five that I've been dying to see. This August is a bit different because I'll also be contributing to the SUTS Blogathon that runs alongside the programming, hosted by Kristen at Journeys in Classic Film. I really wanted to cover a bunch of people, but things have been absolutely bonkers for me lately. I have other blogathons I already committed to that I still have to write for, I'm going back to IU shortly, and I had gallbladder surgery recently that kept me away from my blogging (but not my film viewing!). Because of all this, I just chose three wonderful stars -- sorry, my beloved Gene Tierney and Kate Hepburn! -- and today I bring you the first of those. For the complete list of entries, click here . There...
Continue »

Announcing the 100 Years of Esther Williams Blogathon!

Image
  There have been quite a few centennials to honor this year -- Lana Turner, Donna Reed, Jane Russell, Judy Holliday, Dirk Bogarde -- but there is one I'm especially excited to celebrate: Esther Williams! To commemorate this gorgeous human being's 100th birthday, I'm bringing back my Esther blogathon from last year, which ended up being such a lovely way to honor her legacy. Because Esther's filmography isn't very large, I'll allow any topic to be claimed a maximum of two (2) times. That being said, you can cover more than her films, such as her autobiography, her history with swimsuits, her TV work, an overview of her teamings with people like Busby Berkeley, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalbán, etc. I will say that if any of her work with Van Johnson is taken the maximum number of times, I'll still be holding my annual Van blogathon in August (which I'll be announcing very soon), so you'll have another chance to cover it. Again, because the topics are a...
Continue »

Fred Astaire tells Rita Hayworth... You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

Image
In the early 1940s, Fred Astaire was already a legend, thanks to his massively successful teaming with Ginger Rogers. Amazingly enough, although the actor had conquered vaudeville, Broadway, and Hollywood, he still had many more iconic achievements to look forward to. Rita Hayworth, on the other hand, was just beginning her rise to film stardom when she was first paired with Astaire for 1941's You'll Never Get Rich . As Fred tells it, "Gene Markey, then a producer at Columbia Pictures, asked me to discuss an idea about working with a little girl they had under contract there. She was primarily a dancer, he said, and sure to become a terrific star. She had only done a few B pictures up to that time. Her name was Rita Cansino -- recently changed to Hayworth. I had heard about this beautiful daughter of my old vaudeville-days friend Eduardo Cansino." Time passed, though, and Astaire began to wonder why he hadn't heard from Markey again until he read that the pr...
Continue »

Announcing the Sixth Annual Doris Day Blogathon!

Image
  Well, long time, no see! Life has made it hard to keep up with my blog, but I'm going to try my best to stick with my annual blogathons, including my Doris Day one. This year is particularly special because it's going to be Doris's centenary ! The rules are the same as they have been: you can write about anything relating to Doris -- her films, her music, her personal life, her work with animals, her role as a style icon, the list goes on! I also won't limit how many posts you want to do. Because there is so, so much you can write about, I'd prefer no duplicates . Sorry, all, it's first come, first serve. You can post on any of the three days of the blogathon, or you can post early. I only ask that you be sure to send me your link and I'll try to post it as soon as possible. Now grab a banner, spread the word, and I'll see you in April! List of Participants: The Stop Button | Young Man with a Horn (1950) Box Office Poisons | That Touch of Mink (196...
Continue »

The ABCs of Esther Williams

Image
We don't talk about Esther Williams enough. That's basically what I've been shouting from the rooftops ever since I started learning about her in 2013, after her death at the age of 91 encouraged me to take notice of the remarkable life and career of the woman deemed the Million Dollar Mermaid. As a longtime lover of classic Hollywood, I'm used to admiring people and films that are annoyingly, stupidly, and unfairly dismissed by others, but the lack of appreciation for Esther has always stung me the most. Before I even started my master's degree two years ago, I knew I wanted my thesis to be about her and it was more fun and interesting than I could have imagined. Don't get me wrong, it was also super stressful, but researching Esther was worth it. A sensuous pin-up, an incredible athlete, and an ambitious, business-savvy careerwoman, she is simply one of my favorite people. August 8 would have been her 99th birthday, and so I thought it'd be nice to ...
Continue »

Esther Williams enthralls in... Dangerous When Wet (1953)

Image
It's a bright, beautiful morning at the Higgins' Arkansas dairy farm. Giving us what may be the sunniest opening to a film ever, the Higgins family -- comprised of Pop (William Demarest), Ma (Charlotte Greenwood), cute little pipsqueak Junior (Donna Corcoran), middle daughter Suzie (Barbara Whiting), and the eldest child, Katy (guess who?) -- leaves the house one by one as they sing "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side" and march to their swimming hole for their daily exercise routine. When it comes time to jump in the water, though, Katy only dips her toe in and turns her attention to the book she brought, which is such a fun bait-and-switch. Esther Williams is going to read about farming instead of swim?! Finally, Pop tells Katy to do her laps before breakfast. She begrudgingly obliges, and in she goes, baseball cap and all, doing a simple but wonderful underwater swim -- until she suddenly hears some advertisement jingle that breaks her out of her peaceful rou...
Continue »

Bette and Errol

Image
"The most beautiful person we've ever had on the screen... He openly said he knew nothing about acting, and I admired his honesty because he was absolutely right." -- Bette Davis on Errol Flynn "Now Bette was a dynamic creature, the great big star of the lot, but not physically my type; dominating everybody around, and especially me, or trying to. This drove me off." -- Errol Flynn The relationship between Flynn and Davis was not an easy one. In the late 1930s, both stars saw their popularity rising to astronomical heights. After setting the screen on fire in 1935 with Captain Blood , Flynn became a swashbuckling icon with The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dodge City , and The Dawn Patrol to name a few. Similarly, at this time, Davis gave some of her own career-defining performances in Jezebel and Dark Victory . During this period, Davis and Flynn made two films together: 1938's The Sisters and 1939's The Private Liv...
Continue »

Bob, Bing, and Dottie take the... Road to Rio (1947)

Image
  With the exception of 1962's Road to Hong Kong , the "Road" movies starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour are some of the funniest, weirdest comedies that ever came out of classic Hollywood. Brimming with inside jokes, delightful musical numbers, and plenty of decadent costumes and sets, the series always features Hope and Crosby as a pair of pals who find themselves in the worst situations as they travel to such places as Morocco, Bali, and Zanzibar. To be honest, not all of the films have aged well thanks to racist jokes and occasionally sexist attitudes, but one of the best entries, as I discovered this year, is Road to Rio . From the moment the opening credits started, this movie had me hook, line, and sinker. (I'm an absolute sucker for animated credits.) The plot follows musicians Hope and Crosby as they're forced to flee every gig because of one woman or another, finally winding up on a ship bound for Rio after they accidentally burn down the...
Continue »

The Fifth Annual Doris Day Blogathon is here!

Image
  Who else is excited to celebrate Doris Day for three whole days?! After TCM's recent Star of the Month tribute to this illustrious triple threat, I can't think of a more fitting way to kick off April and celebrate Doris's 99th birthday. Participants, please leave me a comment below once you are ready to submit your entry. I'll try to post them as soon as I can! And if you're running a bit late, no worries -- I'll still accept it! Realweegiemidget Reviews |  Move Over, Darling  (1963) Filmland Follies |  Romance on the High Seas  (1948) Love Letters to Old Hollywood |  Lullaby of Broadway  (1951) Here's Booking at You, Kid |  April in Paris  (1952) Taking Up Room |  Calamity Jane  (1953) Cinema Cities |  Day and Rock Hudson Movies Meet Their Match |  Day's appearances on  What's My Line? Box Office Poisons |  The Glass Bottom Boat  (1966) Box Office Poisons |  Day's title tracks Whimsica...
Continue »