Ginger Rogers will always be remembered as one of the true dancing legends of all time and more so as being half of the partnership that will always be considered the most memorable on screen dance partnership of Astaire and Rogers. They danced well together with elegance and style. And as they said, Ginger did everything Fred did on screen…but she had to do it backwards!
Rogers has appeared in many memorable film classics including “Top Hat”,” “Shall We Dance”, “ Black Widow”, “The Barkley’s of Broadway”, “Roxie Hart” and “I'll Be Seeing You”.
This first costume is a two-piece single-breasted brown suit with a cream blouse worn by Ginger Rogers in the 1944 Paramount film “Lady In The Dark”. The film is an adaption of the Kurt Weill stage musical of the same name. Rogers plays Liza Elliott, an unhappy female editor of a fashion magazine, “Allure”, who is undergoing psychoanalysis.
Pictures here show Ms Rogers in costume.
The second costume is a two-piece period gown worn in Rogers last RKO film, “The First Travelling Saleslady” RKO 1956. Edward Stevenson designed the costumes.
The film tells the story of turn of the century Rogers and ex-showbiz friend, Carol Channing who become involved as female steel sellers. When they find themselves unsuccessful selling corsets, they turn to selling barbed wire to Texas cowboys.
The following photo shows the costume as it appears on screen.
Here is a copy of the original Edward Stevenson sketch for the costume.
Miss Rogers also appeared on Broadway and on the London stage in shows such as “Hello Dolly” and “Mame”.
Another much loved film favourite of mine!
