1. Answer the following questions as honestly as possible!

  2. Check your answers against the answer chart, find some fun facts about the stars and write down your score for each of your answers.

  3. Add up the total points you received for all your answers.

  4. Find out which Famous Tap Star you are by comparing your score with the Star Chart!


1.  Select one of the following religions:

1.    Episcopalian

2.   Christian Scientist

3.   Catholic

4.   Baptist


2.  Select your favorite political party.

1.  Democrat

2.  Republican

3.  Undeclared


3.  When is the best time to begin taking dance lessons?

1.  1-4 years old  (preschool)

2.  5 -6 years old  (kindergarden)

3.  7 – 12 years old  (school age)

4.  13 – 19  years old  (high school or older)


4.   If you wanted to make teaching dance your career, what would you do?

1.  Forget it! Why teach? I’d rather perform!

2.  I would rather just play a dance teacher in a film!

3.  I would help out my family’s dance studio or teach at a local studio.

4.  I would open my own studio.


5.  What would you most prefer to do with your free time?

1.  Play an instrument

2.  Write

3.  Paint, sculpt or sketch

4.  Go shopping

5.  Golf


6.  Select one of these musical styles

1.   Classical

2.   Jazz

3.   Rock and Roll

4.  Pop Music


7.  Which of the following best describes you?

1.   Prompt, upbeat and hardworking

2.   Not the top dog but works hard to stay ahead

3.   Multi-tasker

4.   Work-a-holic


8.  Select your favorite part of the United States

1.  Southwest

2.  West Coast

3.  North

4.  Northeast

5.  Midwest


9.  If you became a star would you….

1.   Keep your real name

2.   Change your first name

3.   Change your last name

4.   Change your name completely


10.  Which best describes your view of schooling?

1.   Homeschooling is best.  School should be the responsibility of the parents.

2.   Most of what is important is learned in Grade School.  Artists can waste their valuable peak performance years in high school.

3.   High School Education is valuable.

4.   Higher Education is important.  One should attend college.


11.  As a performer, which of these would best describe you?

1.  I prefer to perform with at least one other person.

2.  I prefer to perform with others but my talent and personality always force me into the spotlight.

3.  I always do my best and prefer to allow others to shine.

4.  I prefer to perform alone and receive all the attention.


12.  What size family do you come from?

1.  I am an only child.

2.  I have only one sibling.

3.  I have two or three siblings.

4.  I come from a larger family of five or more children.


13.  Which award or honor would you most prefer to receive?

1.   Academy Award

2.   The Kennedy Center Honor

3.   A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

4.   An Emmy Award

5.  A Grammy Award


14.  Which of these words best describes you?

1.  Sexy

2.  Wholesome

3.  Athletic

4.  Sophisticated


15.  Select one of the following colors

  1. Pink
  2. Black
  3. Green
  4. Red
  5. Blue
  6. White
  7. Green




1.  4 pts.    FRED ASTAIRE  While young, he was introduced to the Episcopal faith and remained an Episcopalian his entire life.  He was confirmed at the Church of the Transfiguration know as “The Little Church Around The Corner” located at 1 East 29th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.  The following is a quote by Fred on his church: “I find great comfort in that magnificent church in the midst of the hurly-burly of the city. I think of everything there–my life, my work, the hidden meaning of the good and bad things that have happened to me. I come out spiritually refreshed. It often helps me to go on.”

2.   2 pts.   GINGER ROGERS  She attended the 28th Church of Christ, Scientist in Los Angeles regularly.  She was raised as a Christian Scientist and wrote about how important her religion was to her in her autobiography.

3.   3 pts.   GENE KELLY  Although there was a period of time where he questioned his faith, Gene was raised in an Irish Catholic family and attended a private Catholic School.

4.   1 pt.  ANN MILLER  Her mother was a devout Baptist, and since Ann did everything with her mother, there is no doubt that she was also a Baptist.



1.   3 pts.  GENE KELLY  He was often described as a good left-wing Democrat.

2.   2 pts.   ANN MILLER, GINGER ROGERS and FRED ASTAIRE  Fred was a founding member of the Hollywood Republican Committee and a lifelong Republican. Ginger’s political views mimicked her mother and was a right-wing Republican who campaigned for Richard Nixon’s gubernatorial run in 1962.  Anne was a staunch Republican who supported many conservative political causes.  She was an honorary member of the the Republican National Committee, attended many Republican National Conventions and actively campaigned for Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.

3.   0 pts.     This does not apply to any of our stars



1.  2 pts.   GINGER ROGERS   “My mother told me I was dancing before I was born. She could feel my toes tapping wildly inside her for months.” Ginger actually began acting in grade school plays that had been written by her mother and began dancing around that time.  She received her very early training by mimicking the performers as she waited backstage for her mother who was a performer at the Majestic Theater.   At 14 she won the Texas Charleston Championships and her show biz career began. She learned the Charleston backstage from Eddie Foy (from the historic team of Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys) and stepped into the Foy act when one of his famous children needed a sub.

2.   2 pts.    ANN MILLER  AND FRED ASTAIRE  Anne began dance classes at the age of 5 because her mother thought it would strengthen her legs after a case of rickets.  She hated ballet but because she was faced with the responsibility of supporting her deaf mother, rehearsed constantly.

3.   1 pt.     ANN MILLER   When Ann was 9, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother.  She was formally enrolled in Fancon and Morco’s dancing school.  She was given tap shoes and a board and practiced at a storefront that sold dance shoes on Sunset Boulevard.  She lied about her age and was only 13 when she first became a showgirl.

4.   3 pts.  GENE KELLY  His mother sent him to dance class at the age of 8 with his older brother, James but they hated it!  Neighborhood boys called them sissies!  Gene did not begin to dance seriously until he returned to dancing on his own at 15.



1.  1 pt.    ANNE MILLER  There is no evidence that she taught dance.

2.  2 pts.  GINGER ROGERS  – In the movie Swing Time, Fred Astaire plays the roll of  “Lucky”, a down on his luck gambler who is also part of a male dance team.  He runs into Ginger (Penny Carrol) who is a dance instructor at the Gordon Dance Academy.  In the film Penny attempts to teach Lucky who at first pretends to be a klutz to the famous song Pick Yourself Up.

3.  3 pts.  GENE KELLY  Kelly taught dance to help pay his way through college.  In the 1920‘s he helped run the family studio in Pittsburgh and used the opportunity to improve his own dancing,  always hiring the most innovative and talented teachers.  He was a very quick learner and an excellent teacher although he wanted to be a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates!

4.  4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE  From 1945 – 1947 Fred temporarily retired and opened the Fred Astaire Dance Studios.  He then returned to his film career.



1.   4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE  He played piano, accordion and clarinet as a child.

2.   3 pts.   GENE KELLY   Gene’s wife, Patricia Ward Kelly said that he also wanted to be remembered for his writing and producing.

3.   2 pts. GINGER ROGERS  She built a dream home in Coldwater Canyon in Los Angeles that had a small art studio where she enjoyed painting, sketching and sculpting in her free time.  She also had a working soda fountain where she enjoyed her favorite treat, ice cream.

4.  1 pt.   ANNE MILLER  To quote Ann;  “We all have our own wars within our souls, and special ways of killing our own mental dragons. Some drink, some take dope, some become nymphos, some eat themselves to death. Annie Miller is no better or worse than most people. When she gets frightened or scared or a case of the depressions, she just pushes her UP button, starts humming a song and goes out and buys some new clothes.”

5.  4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE  Fred’s favorite pastimes between film were horse racing and golf.



1.   4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE   His favorite was George Gershwin.

2.   4 pts.    FRED ASTAIRE  Still George Gershwin, who was both a classical and Jazz artist.

3.   2 pts.   GINGER ROGERS and FRED ASTAIRE  Fred appeared on the cover of the Lonely Hearts Club Band Album.  Fred and Ginger’s picture from the Cheek to Cheek dance from the movie Top Hat can be seen in the Beatle’s film Yellow Submarine during the Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds section.  Ginger’s image in a magazine was also found on Anne Frank’s wall where she and her family hid from the Nazis.

4.  3 pts.  GINGER ROGERS, FRED ASTAIRE, GENE KELLY  All three artists are mentioned in Madonna’s pop hit Vogue from her album; I’m Breathless.



1.  1 pt.   ANNE MILLER   She listed her occupation as “Star” on her passport and believed that she was a reincarnated Egyptian Queen. She is quoted as saying,  “Honestly, I have had to live like a high priestess in this show. It is a very, very lonely life. When you work the way I work – that means hard – there’s no time for play.” and  “I have worked like a dog all my life, honey. Dancing, as Fred Astaire said, is next to ditch-digging. You sweat and you slave and the audience doesn’t think you have a brain in your head.”

2.  2  pts.  GINGER ROGERS  Rogers was a distinctly independent woman. She was way ahead of her time in her directness, her self-possession, her firm command of her expressive powers and her career.  She was well known for dancing with Fred Astaire but not necessarily for her dance ability.  She would rehearse often times with Hermes Pan for a long time before every dancing with Fred.

3.   3 pts.   GENE KELLY  Besides his phenomenal commitment to choreography,  rehearsal and hard work, he enjoyed writing, producing and directing.  He co-produced and frequently appeared on television shows during the 1960s

4.  4 pts.   FRED ASTAIRE    During their partnership, Fred’s sister Adele gave him the nickname “Moaning Minnie” because of his constant pursuit of perfection.



1. 1 pt.   ANN MILLER was from Texas.   Her grandmother was Cherokee.

2.  2 pts.   All four Stars ended up in Hollywood, California

3.  4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE was from Nebraska

4.  3 pts.  GENE KELLY was from Pennsylvania

5.  2 pts.  GINGER ROGERS  was from Missouri



1.  3 pts.  GENE KELLY’s  birth name was Eugene Curran Kelly.

2.  2 pts.   GINGER ROGERS was born born Virginia Katherine McMath.  Her mother married John Logan Rogers was she was nine years old and Ginger took the surname Rogers, although she was never legally adopted.   Ginga (Ginger) was a nickname given to her by her cousin, Helen, who had difficulty saying her Virginia.

3.  4 pts.    FRED ASTAIRE  was born Frederick Austerlitz.  His mother suggested he and his sister Adelle change their name to “Astaire”.  It is believed that the name came from an uncle whose last name was L’Astaire.

4.  1 pt.  ANN MILLER  was born Johnnie Lucille Collier.  Her father thought she was going  to be a boy and decided to keep the name. She was often called Annie.



1.  2 pts. ANN MILLER and FRED ASTAIRE    Ann appeared in her first movie at 13 and had been dancing on stage as a show girl since the age of 11.  Chances are, she had little or no formal education.  Fred attended public school for at least two years in New Jersey, but most of his schooling came from his mother while on the road.

2.  2 pts.  GINGER ROGERS  She attended, but did not graduate from Fort Worth’s Central High School.

3.   3 pts.  GENE KELLY He attended St. Raphael Elementary School in Pittsburgh. He graduated at 16 from Peabody High School in 1929.

4.   3 pts. GENE KELLY  He enrolled in Pennsylvania State College to study journalism but the stock market crash caused him to leave school to teach dance and help with the family finances.   In 1931 he returned to college, this time at the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He also enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh Law School.



1.  2 pts. GINGER ROGERS   She generally avoided solo dance performances.  She performed on stage with the Rockettes in 1980.  She appeared in 10 movies with Fred Astaire.

2.   1 pt.  ANN MILLER  almost always played the second female lead.  She was never the star of the film.  Her good looks however made her hard to ignore!  Broadway later changed that for her and she finally owned the starring roles.

3.   3 pts. GENE KELLY always choreographed his dances to show off his partners.

4.   4 pts. FRED ASTAIRE always included at least one virtuoso solo routine in each film.



1.  1 pts. GINGER ROGERS & ANN MILLER  Both were only children.  Ann’s mother was deaf and married 3 times.  Ginger was kidnapped several times by her abusive birth father after her mother left him.  She was very close to her mother, Lelee.

2.  4 pts. FRED ASTAIRE had one older sister, Adele who was his dance partner for 27 years both in vaudeville and theater.  They began dancing together when he was 5 and she was 8.  She left the act when she decided to get married.

3.  2  pts.  NONE OF OUR STARS

4.  4 pts.  GENE KELLY  had 4 brothers and sisters.  His mother put together an amateur dancing act called “The Five Kellys”  but she believed, Gene was destined to be a great lawyer.



1. 2 pts.  ANNE MILLER, FRED ASTAIRE, GENE KELLY and GINGER ROGERS  Anne’s first Columbia film, You Can’t Take It With You, won the 1938 Academy Award for Best Picture. Fred received an Honorary Academy Award for his unique artistry and his contributions to the technique of musical pictures. Gene received an Honorary Academy Award in 1952 in appreciation of his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.   This Oscar was lost in a fire in 1983 and replaced at the 1984 Academy Awards. He also was awarded an Academy Award  posthumously, at the 1996 Academy Awards and was honored with a tribute directed by Quincy Jones.  Savion Glover performed the Singin’ in the Rain number at the event. Ginger received the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in Kitty Foyle in 1940.

2.  3 pts. GENE KELLY, GINGER ROGERS AND FRED ASTAIRE  Gene received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the fifth annual Kennedy Center Honors in 1982.  Ginger was the first recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978.  Fred received The Kennedy Center Honors in 1992.

3.   2 pts.  ANN MILLER, FRED ASTAIRE,  GENE KELLY and GINGER ROGERS all have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

4.  3 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE AND GENE KELLY both won Emmy Awards.  Fred won in 1958  for “Best Single Performance by an Actor” for An Evening with Fred Astaire.  He also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special for A Family Upside Down in 1978. and for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series for Astaire Time in 1960.   Gene won an Emmy in 1967  for “Outstanding Children’s Program” for Jack and the Beanstalk.

5.  4 pts. FRED ASTAIRE  won a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989.



1.  1 pt.  ANN MILLER had a vibrant personality, great legs and distinctive feminine appearance that reflected the studio-era ideal of glamor.  Huge black bouffant hair, heavy makeup with crimson lipstick, and clothes that emphasized her lithe figure and long dancer’s legs were her trademark.  Between marriages she dated such well-known men as Howard Hughes, Conrad Hilton and Louis B. Mayer.  Her tap shoes, nicknamed Moe and Joe are on display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C..

2.  2 pts. GINGER ROGERS said, “I enjoy sports, and love being involved in any outdoor sport from volleyball to softball. I’m not being immodest when I say I’m a natural athlete.”  She stayed active until she suffered two strokes, and became wheelchair bound.  She refused to see a doctor and never entered a hospital.  She was said to have an enduring naturalness in the way she underplayed her roles.

3.  3 pts.  GENE KELLY was well known for his athletic and energetic dancing style, his good looks and the likable characters he portrayed.

4.  4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE was debonair, poised, elegant and captivating.  Fred was very particular about his wardrobe, with strong preferences about cuffs, jacket length, stripe width, and other minute details. He once claimed that he took each new suit to the tailor “at least half a dozen times”.  A tuxedo worn by Fred Astaire in Artist/Rebel/Dandy: Men of Fashion is part of an exhibit at the RISD Museum in Providence, Rhode Island.



1.  2 pts. GINGER ROGERS had the nick name of “Pinky” and it was her favorite color.

2.  4 pts. FRED ASTAIRE  almost always wore a black tuxedo with tails.

3.  1 pt. ANN MILLER    In one of her first films, she appeared in Anne of Green Gables

4.  1 pt.  ANN MILLER wore a famous red costume in her dance, Too Darn Hot!

5.  1 pt.  ANN MILLER did a fabulous dance to Shakin The Blues Away.

6.  4 pts.  FRED ASTAIRE often wore a sophisticated white tie.

7.  3 pts.  GENE KELLY was of Irish decent and his last name is a shade of his favorite color, Green.




ANN MILLER   1-15 pts.

GINGER ROGERS   16-30 pts.

GENE KELLY  31-45 pts.

FRED ASTAIRE  45-60 pts



say hello or share your thoughts


WordPress.com Logo


Google+ photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo



Connecting to %s