Vernon and Irene Castle
From Londonhua WIKI
Vernon and Irene Castle
 Vernon and Irene Castle, c. 1912 | |
| Credit: | Benjamin Johnston[1] |
|---|---|
Overview
Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife Ballroom dancing team, rising to fame in the early 1910s. The Castles are credited with spreading the popularity of American Ballroom dances to Europe, including the Foxtrot, One-Step, Tango, Turkey Trot, and others[2].
Contents
Background
Vernon Castle
Born: May 2, 1887, Norwich, England
Died: February 15, 1918, Fort Benbrook, Texas[3]
Vernon Castle was born Vernon William Blythe in 1887[4]. He moved to New York with his sister and her husband, both actors, and soon joined show business himself, despite his training as an civil engineer[5], and adopted the last name of Castle[6]. Between 1906 and 1911, Vernon appeared in vaudeville,[7] specializing as a "gentleman drunk," elegantly falling and stumbling about the stage[8].
Irene Castle
Born: April 17, 1893, New Rochelle, New York
Died: January 29, 1969, Eureka Springs, Arkansas[9]
Irene Castle was born Irene Foote in 1893, the granddaughter of the press agent for the Barnum and Bailey Circus[10]. She studied dance as a child, and appeared in amateur theatricals as a teenager[11].
The Castles
Vernon and Irene met in the summer of 1910[12], and were married one year later[13]. Together they appeared in several shows together, into which they would occasionally insert choreographed dance numbers[14]. It was these dances that gained the Castles public attention, and they were soon invited to dance at private parties across Europe[15].
- ↑ By Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer. - Library of Congress CALL NUMBER: LOT 11735 <item> [P&P], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9711039
- ↑ Martin, C. (2012). Irene and Vernon Castle. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.danceheritage.org/castle.html
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Warren, J. (2014, October 6). 'A Groundbreaking Biography:' Years of Ballroom Success Cut Short by Tragedy. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/519291/Biography-of-ballroom-dancers-Irene-Castle-and-Vernon-Castle
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Martin, C. (2012). Vernon and Irene Castle. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.danceheritage.org/treasures/castle_essay_martin.pdf
- ↑ Warren, J. (2014, October 6). 'A Groundbreaking Biography:' Years of Ballroom Success Cut Short by Tragedy. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/519291/Biography-of-ballroom-dancers-Irene-Castle-and-Vernon-Castle
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Martin, C. (2012). Vernon and Irene Castle. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.danceheritage.org/treasures/castle_essay_martin.pdf
- ↑ Vernon and Irene Castle Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ca-Ch/Castle-Vernon-and-Irene.html
- ↑ Martin, C. (2012). Vernon and Irene Castle. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.danceheritage.org/treasures/castle_essay_martin.pdf
- ↑ Martin, C. (2012). Vernon and Irene Castle. Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.danceheritage.org/treasures/castle_essay_martin.pdf