Speaking of Top Hats

Here’s Fred Astaire peforming Top Hat, White Tie and Tails. He makes wearing a top hat seem as casual as you or I wearing  a T shirt.

And as good as that is, I think his Top Hat performance below is stunning and arguably beats the above. In the following, it’s not enough for him to tap dance with two legs: the cane becomes a third leg, adding additional complexity. Plus the magic of the rising cane and the mirrored images all add up to an astounding performance.

 Fred Astaire – Puttin’ On the Ritz

P.S. Watch how he moves the camera to his left in order for the crew to presumably switch canes with one attached to a string that can be elevated….magic!

P.S.S. Wikipedia has a good compare and contrast of these two numbers here.

2 thoughts on “Speaking of Top Hats

  1. Just looking at the 2nd video now, and it IS a fantastic number!
    I also couldn’t help but notice how “current” the furniture on the set is!
    ….Would LOVE to have those white chairs!
    LOL! I can’t believe that furniture distracted my attention away from Fred’s dancing!

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