Knowledge

Jeni Le Gon

Source 📝

25: 180: 93: 1281: 347:. She danced at a number of clubs and theaters including the Apollo, Cafe de Paris, Howard, Paramount and Lincoln Theaters. In the early 1950s, she appeared on the televised version of 1341: 326:
signed her to a long-term contract, making LeGon the first African-American woman to receive such an opportunity, but cancellation of the contract soon followed.
1239: 356:
LeGon owned and operated the Jeni LeGon Dance Studio in Los Angeles and managed the Drama & Dance Playhouse in Los Angeles. In 1969, she settled in
574: 442:(1937), the character Tracey "sits perched close to the TV, studying her moves, her mouth open in surprise." LeGon becomes an obsession for Tracey. 260:
company. In 1933, she and her half-sister, Willa Mae Lane, formed the LeGon and Lane song-and-dance team. They were given the opportunity to go to
1326: 1273: 1179: 1080: 1044: 1380: 1580: 1620: 1013: 944: 913: 438:, features two biracial young women who discover LeGon while watching videotapes of old film musicals. When they see her perform in 1590: 1570: 1605: 237: 1575: 240:
and finished Sexton Elementary School in 1928. When she was 13, she successfully auditioned for the chorus line of band leader
1600: 1153: 1054: 990: 1585: 1373: 980: 341:'s treacherous girlfriend Minnie the moocher in a low-budget full-length musical movie with an all-Black cast titled 68: 46: 39: 1630: 1615: 1610: 1349: 1209: 245: 1595: 1635: 1247: 1640: 1625: 411: 365: 1366: 1046:
Who's Who in Black Canada 2: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada : a Contemporary Directory
471: 1187: 1319: 761: 712: 389: 171: 1088: 272:. Upon arrival, they discovered there was, in fact, no job. LeGon heard about auditions being held by 867: 349: 831: 415: 33: 557: 280:
was producing. She won the part and subsequently appeared in dance numbers in several musicals.
744: 522: 289: 265: 50: 1145: 1021: 591: 505: 264:
and work with nightclub owner Leonard Reed. While there, they received an offer to travel to
1565: 1560: 1484: 1459: 952: 796: 779: 398: 343: 8: 1539: 1390: 626: 323: 310:
While in Hollywood, LeGon had the opportunity to work with performers such as Waters and
189: 98: 1524: 1423: 1110: 814: 643: 434: 179: 1443: 1310: 1149: 1138: 1050: 986: 884: 540: 233: 1499: 1474: 1433: 1334: 608: 488: 361: 277: 213: 151: 1358: 1509: 1489: 1469: 1405: 1353: 1315: 257: 1519: 1494: 1479: 1438: 1410: 679: 661: 304: 299: 269: 1554: 1415: 319: 209: 982:
Vaudeville Old & New: an Encyclopedia of Variety Performances in America
1534: 1514: 1464: 1428: 373: 338: 315: 284: 273: 256:
In 1931, LeGon began performing across the southern United States with the
184: 849: 429: 294: 241: 1346: 1217: 1306: 393: 1327:"Hooray for Jeni LeGon: the Hollywood pioneer who 'danced like a boy'" 1274:"Hooray for Jeni LeGon: the Hollywood pioneer who 'danced like a boy'" 1504: 357: 311: 217: 147: 128: 261: 229: 124: 276:' former manager, Earl Dancer. The audition was for a film that 212:
dancer, dance instructor, and actress. She was one of the first
92: 322:, becoming the first African-American woman to do so on film. 297:. She also performed in a 1935 London production of the revue 204:; August 14, 1916 – December 7, 2012), also credited as 232:, her parents were Hector Ligon, a chef who also worked as a 979:
Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (2007).
421:
LeGon's papers are housed at the Smithsonian Institution.
236:, and Harriet Bell Ligon, a housewife. She grew up in the 388:
In 1943, LeGon married composer, conductor, and pianist
287:
to be the dancing partner of Bill Robinson in the film
414:
in 1987 and into the Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002.
978: 914:"Jeni LeGon, Singer and Solo Tap-Dancer, Dies at 96" 1388: 97:At Masters of Lindy Hop and Tap, Century Ballroom, 1137: 1552: 364:, where she taught tap and pointe. In 1999, the 1216:. American Tap Dance Foundation. Archived from 1049:. Who's Who in Black Canada. pp. 228–229. 392:. They composed the song "The Sping", sung by 1374: 372:, directed by Grant Greshuk and produced by 368:released a documentary film about her life, 418:awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2002. 1381: 1367: 1271: 91: 1246:. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from 405: 69:Learn how and when to remove this message 1111:"Jeni LeGon - Living in a Great Big Way" 1042: 575:I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby 178: 32:This article includes a list of general 16:American dancer and actress (1916–2012) 1553: 1324: 1284:from the original on February 29, 2020 1140:Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne 370:Jeni Le Gon: Living in a Great Big Way 329:On Broadway, LeGon portrayed Jenny in 303:, taking over numbers that Waters and 1362: 1267: 1265: 1135: 1087:. Library of Congress. Archived from 1020:. The Broadway League. Archived from 911: 424: 1272:Hutchinson, Pamela (March 8, 2017). 1075: 1073: 939: 937: 935: 933: 931: 929: 927: 216:women to establish a solo career in 18: 1581:20th-century American women singers 1347:Listing from Tap Dance Hall of Fame 1244:Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives 1186:. February 24, 1987. Archived from 1036: 974: 972: 970: 13: 1621:American musical theatre actresses 1262: 1103: 38:it lacks sufficient corresponding 14: 1652: 1300: 1070: 985:. Psychology Press. p. 670. 924: 912:Weber, Bruce (17 December 2012). 1240:"Guide to the Jeni LeGon Papers" 1081:"Jeni LeGon [biography]" 967: 383: 23: 1591:African-American female dancers 1571:20th-century American actresses 1342:Listing from The History Makers 1232: 1202: 1117:. National Film Board of Canada 1606:American expatriates in Canada 1172: 1144:. Simon and Schuster. p.  1129: 1006: 905: 445: 223: 1: 1576:20th-century American singers 898: 412:Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame 366:National Film Board of Canada 307:had in the Broadway version. 1601:American emigrants to Canada 410:LeGon was inducted into the 337:(1943). In 1947, she played 7: 376:. She appeared in the film 10: 1657: 1586:African-American actresses 1320:Internet Broadway Database 1280:. British Film Institute. 1043:Williams, Dawn P. (2006). 1018:Internet Broadway Database 837:Maid in "Rose Room" Number 477:Jeni LeGon - the Ballerina 268:and perform with composer 238:Black Belt area of Chicago 1452: 1398: 868:Home Is Where the Hart Is 546:Singer at Le Petit Harlem 320:Bill "Bojangles" Robinson 283:In 1935, she signed with 251: 248:for one year thereafter. 167: 159: 136: 106: 90: 83: 1085:Performing Arts Database 416:Oklahoma City University 333:(1936), and Lily Ann in 228:Born as Jennie Ligon in 1631:American dance teachers 1616:American film actresses 1611:American female dancers 1331:BFI | Sight & Sound 53:more precise citations. 1596:Actresses from Chicago 1214:Tap Dance Hall of Fame 745:I Walked with a Zombie 523:The Adventurous Blonde 406:Recognition and papers 194: 1636:Dancers from Illinois 1184:The Los Angeles Times 1136:Gavin, James (2009). 592:While Thousands Cheer 506:Ali Baba Goes to Town 440:Ali Baba Goes to Town 246:Englewood High School 182: 1641:Singers from Chicago 1626:American tap dancers 1485:Spencer Williams Jr. 1325:Hutchinson, Pamela. 1250:on February 29, 2020 1220:on February 29, 2020 1190:on February 28, 2020 1091:on February 29, 2020 1024:on February 29, 2020 955:on February 28, 2020 802:Essie, Nadine's Maid 293:which also featured 99:Seattle, Washington 1352:2011-07-20 at the 918:The New York Times 815:I Shot Jesse James 649:Black Girl in Jail 644:Birth of the Blues 425:In popular culture 314:. She danced with 195: 1548: 1547: 1444:Barbara Jean Wong 1335:Sight & Sound 1155:978-1-4391-6425-9 1056:978-0-9731384-2-9 992:978-0-415-93853-2 949:The HistoryMakers 896: 895: 832:Somebody Loves Me 541:Fools for Scandal 230:Chicago, Illinois 177: 176: 79: 78: 71: 1648: 1500:Dudley Dickerson 1475:Lillian Randolph 1434:Lillian Randolph 1383: 1376: 1369: 1360: 1359: 1338: 1294: 1293: 1291: 1289: 1269: 1260: 1259: 1257: 1255: 1236: 1230: 1229: 1227: 1225: 1206: 1200: 1199: 1197: 1195: 1176: 1170: 1169: 1164: 1162: 1143: 1133: 1127: 1126: 1124: 1122: 1107: 1101: 1100: 1098: 1096: 1077: 1068: 1067: 1065: 1063: 1040: 1034: 1033: 1031: 1029: 1010: 1004: 1003: 1001: 999: 976: 965: 964: 962: 960: 951:. Archived from 941: 922: 921: 909: 729:My Son, the Hero 609:Glamour for Sale 489:Dishonour Bright 450: 449: 362:British Columbia 214:African-American 152:British Columbia 143: 140:December 7, 2012 120: 118: 95: 81: 80: 74: 67: 63: 60: 54: 49:this article by 40:inline citations 27: 26: 19: 1656: 1655: 1651: 1650: 1649: 1647: 1646: 1645: 1551: 1550: 1549: 1544: 1510:Jester Hairston 1490:Alvin Childress 1470:Amanda Randolph 1453:Television cast 1448: 1406:Charles Correll 1394: 1387: 1354:Wayback Machine 1303: 1298: 1297: 1287: 1285: 1278:Sight&Sound 1270: 1263: 1253: 1251: 1238: 1237: 1233: 1223: 1221: 1208: 1207: 1203: 1193: 1191: 1178: 1177: 1173: 1160: 1158: 1156: 1134: 1130: 1120: 1118: 1109: 1108: 1104: 1094: 1092: 1079: 1078: 1071: 1061: 1059: 1057: 1041: 1037: 1027: 1025: 1012: 1011: 1007: 997: 995: 993: 977: 968: 958: 956: 943: 942: 925: 910: 906: 901: 472:Hooray for Love 448: 432:'s 2016 novel, 427: 408: 386: 290:Hooray for Love 258:Whitman Sisters 254: 244:. She attended 226: 155: 145: 141: 132: 122: 121:August 16, 1916 116: 114: 113: 112: 102: 86: 75: 64: 58: 55: 45:Please help to 44: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1654: 1644: 1643: 1638: 1633: 1628: 1623: 1618: 1613: 1608: 1603: 1598: 1593: 1588: 1583: 1578: 1573: 1568: 1563: 1546: 1545: 1543: 1542: 1537: 1532: 1527: 1522: 1520:Theresa Harris 1517: 1512: 1507: 1502: 1497: 1495:Ruby Dandridge 1492: 1487: 1482: 1480:Ernestine Wade 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1456: 1454: 1450: 1449: 1447: 1446: 1441: 1439:Ernestine Wade 1436: 1431: 1426: 1421: 1420:Elinor Harriot 1418: 1413: 1411:Freeman Gosden 1408: 1402: 1400: 1396: 1395: 1386: 1385: 1378: 1371: 1363: 1357: 1356: 1344: 1339: 1322: 1313: 1302: 1301:External links 1299: 1296: 1295: 1261: 1231: 1201: 1171: 1154: 1128: 1102: 1069: 1055: 1035: 1005: 991: 966: 923: 903: 902: 900: 897: 894: 893: 891: 888: 881: 877: 876: 874: 871: 864: 860: 859: 856: 853: 846: 842: 841: 838: 835: 828: 824: 823: 821: 818: 811: 807: 806: 803: 800: 793: 789: 788: 786: 783: 776: 772: 771: 768: 765: 762:Stormy Weather 758: 754: 753: 751: 748: 741: 737: 736: 734: 731: 726: 722: 721: 719: 716: 713:Arabian Nights 709: 705: 704: 702: 699: 694: 690: 689: 686: 685:Cabaret Dancer 683: 680:This Was Paris 676: 672: 671: 668: 665: 662:Bahama Passage 658: 654: 653: 650: 647: 640: 636: 635: 633: 630: 623: 619: 618: 615: 612: 605: 601: 600: 598: 595: 588: 584: 583: 581: 578: 571: 567: 566: 564: 561: 554: 550: 549: 547: 544: 537: 533: 532: 529: 526: 519: 515: 514: 512: 509: 502: 498: 497: 495: 494:Cabaret Dancer 492: 485: 481: 480: 478: 475: 468: 464: 463: 460: 457: 454: 447: 444: 426: 423: 407: 404: 385: 382: 305:Eleanor Powell 300:At Home Abroad 270:Shelton Brooks 253: 250: 234:railway porter 225: 222: 175: 174: 169: 165: 164: 161: 157: 156: 146: 144:(aged 96) 138: 134: 133: 123: 110: 108: 104: 103: 96: 88: 87: 84: 77: 76: 31: 29: 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1653: 1642: 1639: 1637: 1634: 1632: 1629: 1627: 1624: 1622: 1619: 1617: 1614: 1612: 1609: 1607: 1604: 1602: 1599: 1597: 1594: 1592: 1589: 1587: 1584: 1582: 1579: 1577: 1574: 1572: 1569: 1567: 1564: 1562: 1559: 1558: 1556: 1541: 1538: 1536: 1533: 1531: 1528: 1526: 1523: 1521: 1518: 1516: 1513: 1511: 1508: 1506: 1503: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1488: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1457: 1455: 1451: 1445: 1442: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1422: 1419: 1417: 1416:James Baskett 1414: 1412: 1409: 1407: 1404: 1403: 1401: 1397: 1393: 1392: 1391:Amos 'n' Andy 1384: 1379: 1377: 1372: 1370: 1365: 1364: 1361: 1355: 1351: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1336: 1332: 1328: 1323: 1321: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1308: 1305: 1304: 1283: 1279: 1275: 1268: 1266: 1249: 1245: 1241: 1235: 1219: 1215: 1211: 1205: 1189: 1185: 1181: 1175: 1168: 1157: 1151: 1147: 1142: 1141: 1132: 1116: 1112: 1106: 1090: 1086: 1082: 1076: 1074: 1058: 1052: 1048: 1047: 1039: 1023: 1019: 1015: 1014:"Jeni Le Gon" 1009: 994: 988: 984: 983: 975: 973: 971: 954: 950: 946: 940: 938: 936: 934: 932: 930: 928: 919: 915: 908: 904: 892: 890:Window Granny 889: 887: 886: 882: 879: 878: 875: 872: 870: 869: 865: 862: 861: 857: 854: 852: 851: 847: 844: 843: 839: 836: 834: 833: 829: 826: 825: 822: 819: 817: 816: 812: 809: 808: 804: 801: 799: 798: 797:Easter Parade 794: 791: 790: 787: 784: 782: 781: 777: 774: 773: 769: 766: 764: 763: 759: 756: 755: 752: 749: 747: 746: 742: 739: 738: 735: 732: 730: 727: 724: 723: 720: 717: 715: 714: 710: 707: 706: 703: 701:Helen Stanley 700: 698: 695: 692: 691: 687: 684: 682: 681: 677: 674: 673: 669: 666: 664: 663: 659: 656: 655: 651: 648: 646: 645: 641: 638: 637: 634: 631: 629: 628: 624: 621: 620: 616: 613: 611: 610: 606: 603: 602: 599: 596: 594: 593: 589: 586: 585: 582: 579: 577: 576: 572: 569: 568: 565: 562: 560: 559: 555: 552: 551: 548: 545: 543: 542: 538: 535: 534: 530: 527: 525: 524: 520: 517: 516: 513: 510: 508: 507: 503: 500: 499: 496: 493: 491: 490: 486: 483: 482: 479: 476: 474: 473: 469: 466: 465: 461: 458: 455: 452: 451: 443: 441: 437: 436: 431: 422: 419: 417: 413: 403: 401: 400: 399:Panama Hattie 395: 391: 384:Personal life 381: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 359: 354: 352: 351: 350:Amos 'n' Andy 346: 345: 340: 336: 332: 327: 325: 321: 317: 313: 308: 306: 302: 301: 296: 292: 291: 286: 281: 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 249: 247: 243: 239: 235: 231: 221: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 199: 192: 191: 186: 181: 173: 170: 166: 163:Dancer, actor 162: 160:Occupation(s) 158: 153: 149: 139: 135: 130: 126: 109: 105: 100: 94: 89: 82: 73: 70: 62: 59:February 2014 52: 48: 42: 41: 35: 30: 21: 20: 1535:Sam McDaniel 1529: 1515:Kim Hamilton 1465:Nick Stewart 1429:Madaline Lee 1389: 1330: 1288:February 29, 1286:. Retrieved 1277: 1254:February 29, 1252:. Retrieved 1248:the original 1243: 1234: 1224:February 29, 1222:. Retrieved 1218:the original 1213: 1210:"Jeni LeGon" 1204: 1194:February 28, 1192:. Retrieved 1188:the original 1183: 1174: 1166: 1161:February 28, 1159:. Retrieved 1139: 1131: 1119:. Retrieved 1114: 1105: 1095:February 29, 1093:. Retrieved 1089:the original 1084: 1062:February 28, 1060:. Retrieved 1045: 1038: 1028:February 29, 1026:. Retrieved 1022:the original 1017: 1008: 998:February 28, 996:. Retrieved 981: 959:February 28, 957:. Retrieved 953:the original 948: 945:"Jeni LeGon" 917: 907: 883: 866: 855:Martha Swife 848: 830: 813: 795: 778: 760: 743: 728: 711: 697:Take My Life 696: 678: 660: 642: 625: 607: 590: 573: 556: 539: 521: 504: 487: 470: 439: 433: 428: 420: 409: 397: 396:in the film 387: 377: 374:Selwyn Jacob 369: 355: 348: 342: 339:Cab Calloway 335:Early to Bed 334: 331:Black Rhythm 330: 328: 316:Fred Astaire 309: 298: 288: 285:RKO Pictures 282: 274:Ethel Waters 255: 227: 205: 202:Jennie Ligon 201: 197: 196: 188: 185:Gene Tierney 142:(2012-12-07) 111:Jennie Ligon 65: 56: 37: 1566:2012 deaths 1561:1916 births 1540:Bill Walker 1530:Jeni Le Gon 1316:Jeni Le Gon 1307:Jeni Le Gon 1167:Jeni LeGon. 1121:22 February 858:Uncredited 850:Bright Road 840:Uncredited 805:Uncredited 770:Uncredited 688:Uncredited 670:Uncredited 667:Mary's Maid 652:Uncredited 617:Uncredited 558:Double Deal 531:Uncredited 446:Filmography 430:Zadie Smith 295:Fats Waller 278:Fox Studios 242:Count Basie 224:Early years 206:Jeni Le Gon 85:Jeni Le Gon 51:introducing 1555:Categories 1525:Johnny Lee 1424:Johnny Lee 1399:Radio cast 1115:Collection 899:References 873:Wanda Fuch 435:Swing Time 394:Lena Horne 390:Phil Moore 198:Jeni LeGon 183:LeGon and 172:Phil Moore 117:1916-08-16 34:references 1505:Roy Glenn 1460:Tim Moore 511:Specialty 358:Vancouver 312:Al Jolson 266:Hollywood 218:tap dance 208:, was an 148:Vancouver 1350:Archived 1282:Archived 1180:"Movies" 820:Veronica 780:Hi-De-Ho 380:(2001). 344:Hi-De-Ho 210:American 154:, Canada 129:Illinois 1318:at the 718:Dresser 632:Miriami 627:Sundown 262:Detroit 193:(1941) 190:Sundown 125:Chicago 47:improve 1152:  1053:  989:  785:Minnie 767:Dancer 750:Dancer 733:Lambie 462:Notes 456:Title 252:Career 200:(born 168:Spouse 131:, U.S. 101:, 2009 36:, but 885:Bones 580:Annie 459:Role 453:Year 378:Bones 1311:IMDb 1290:2020 1256:2020 1226:2020 1196:2020 1163:2020 1150:ISBN 1123:2014 1097:2020 1064:2020 1051:ISBN 1030:2020 1000:2020 987:ISBN 961:2020 880:2001 863:1987 845:1953 827:1952 810:1949 792:1948 775:1947 757:1943 740:1943 725:1943 708:1942 693:1942 675:1942 657:1941 639:1941 622:1941 614:Maid 604:1940 597:Myra 587:1940 570:1940 563:Nita 553:1939 536:1938 528:Maid 518:1937 501:1937 484:1936 467:1935 318:and 137:Died 107:Born 1309:at 1146:185 324:MGM 187:in 1557:: 1333:. 1329:. 1276:. 1264:^ 1242:. 1212:. 1182:. 1165:. 1148:. 1113:. 1083:. 1072:^ 1016:. 969:^ 947:. 926:^ 916:. 402:. 360:, 353:. 220:. 150:, 127:, 1382:e 1375:t 1368:v 1337:. 1292:. 1258:. 1228:. 1198:. 1125:. 1099:. 1066:. 1032:. 1002:. 963:. 920:. 119:) 115:( 72:) 66:( 61:) 57:( 43:.

Index

references
inline citations
improve
introducing
Learn how and when to remove this message

Seattle, Washington
Chicago
Illinois
Vancouver
British Columbia
Phil Moore

Gene Tierney
Sundown
American
African-American
tap dance
Chicago, Illinois
railway porter
Black Belt area of Chicago
Count Basie
Englewood High School
Whitman Sisters
Detroit
Hollywood
Shelton Brooks
Ethel Waters
Fox Studios
RKO Pictures

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.