Danny Dare

Danny Dare (March 20, 1905, New York City – November 20, 1996, Tarzana, Los Angeles, California) was an American choreographer, actor, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film.[1]

Career

Dare began his career in the 1920s as an actor on the New York stage, making his Broadway theatre debut in 1923 in the musical Dew Drop Inn.[2] He then performed on the vaudeville circuit, where he also gained experience as a choreographer, comedy sketch writer, and eventually a producer. In 1927 he portrayed Ronnie Webb in the musical The Five O'Clock Girl, also serving as the show's assistant choreographer.[3] He soon became highly busy as a choreographer on Broadway, serving in that capacity for such shows as The Little Show (1929),[4] Sweet Adeline (1929)[5] Sweet and Low (1930),[6] You Said It (1931),[7] and Tattle Tales (1933).[8] In 1931 he produced the play Sentinels and later produced, directed, and wrote the book for the musical Meet the People (1940).[9]

Dare's talents as a choreographer drew the attention of executives at Paramount Pictures and he was offered a contract with the studio in 1929. He went on to choreograph several films with the company including Let's Go Places (1930),[10] Such Men Are Dangerous (1930),[11] Not Damaged (1930),[12] Wild People (1932),[11] Three Cheers for Love (1936),[11] Start Cheering (1938),[11] Hit Parade of 1941 (1940),[11] Panama Hattie (1942),[11] and most notably Holiday Inn (1942).[13] The last film he choreographed was Road to Utopia in 1946.[14]

In 1938 Dare turned to directing for the first time with the film The Main Event. He never directed another film, but he was active as a television director during the 1950s with the shows Damon Runyon Theater and How to Marry a Millionaire. He also produced a total of eight films between 1945 and 1952.[1]

References
  1. Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1996: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre By Harris M. Lentz, Page 54
  2. "Max Reinhardt To Produce Here: European Director to Give "The Miracle," "The Dream Play," "Orpheus" Next Season". The New York Times. May 18, 1923.
  3. "Local Talent". The New York Times. January 29, 1928.
  4. Brooks Atkinson (May 1, 1929). "THE PLAY; Revue, Pocket Edition". The New York Times.
  5. Broadway musicals, show by show By Stanley Green & Kay Green, page 68
  6. Showstoppers: Busby Berkeley and the tradition of spectacle By Martin Rubin, page 227
  7. Brooks Atkinson (January 20, 1931). "THE PLAY; Collegiate". The New York Times.
  8. L.N. (June 2, 1933). "Expired Option on You". The New York Times.
  9. "Meet Some People From 'Meet The People'". The New York Times. January 5, 1941.
  10. The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures ..., Issues 1931–1940 By Kenneth White Munden, page 431
  11. Film choreographers and dance directors By Larry Billman, page 289
  12. The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures ..., Issues 1931–1940 By Kenneth White Munden, page 553
  13. Thomas M. Pryor (August 2, 1942). "By Way of Report". The New York Times.
  14. The Great American movie book By Paul Michael, page 233
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