arts•meme arts•meme
24 December 2012

Jack Cole rehearses Marc Platt, Rita Hayworth in “Down to Earth”

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A rare pairing of rehearsal photo and the final pose in the movie, Jack Cole rehearses Marc Platt in “Down to Earth.” [...]

13 November 2012

Jack Cole’s mid-century-modern dance design

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A still photo from a lost dance number in DOWN TO EARTH (1947) reflects the superb choreographer Jack Cole;’s strong design influence in post-war Hollywood. [...]

25 October 2012

Ballet dancer, movie star Marc Platt’s “Culture by the Mile”

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A marvelous Columbia Pictures publicity still from 1947 describes a rare creature: a ballet dancer who became a movie star, Marc Platt. [...]

20 January 2012

Jack Cole rocks Rita Hayworth’s world in “Tonight and Every Night” (1945)

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Rita Hayworth doing her thing nicely enough until a monster dancer enters her realm — Jack Cole. [...]

11 January 2012

John Singer Sargent dresses Rita Hayworth for “Put the Blame on Mame”

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Iconic? You bet. As “Gilda,” Rita Hayworth is unbelievable in that black slit-up-to-the-thigh number. And who knew from whence the inspiration? [...]

26 August 2011

Rita’s dad

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Historic photo of dancer Eduardo Cansino, who at age 20 spawned a daughter, Rita Hayworth. [...]

3 May 2011

Movie musical talk with George Chakiris

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A few leftover quotes from my L.A. Times interview with actor/dancer George Chakiris. The conversation took place on April 30, 2011. [...]

2 August 2009

Why film community matters

In this coming Sunday’s Los Angeles Times Calendar section you will find my article about choreographer Jack Cole who coached Marilyn Monroe in movement over the course of six of her films. Most famously, he choreographed “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Jack Cole also choreographed “Put the Blame on Mame” for Rita Hayworth in [...]