To: ROUTING 1222-90 ENTERTAINMENT i Kennedy Center honoree Ginger Rogers’ trailblazing recognized By Frank Lovece to get under your epidermis, and I in the vaudeville circuit, She broke didn’t like that. used to bore me a into Broadway stardom with the mu- “1 couldn't write a book like I hear lot every time they asked you a ques- sicals “Top Speed” (1929) and “Girl Madonna has written” says Ginger tion like, Who's the best kisser in Hol- Crazy” (1930), in which she introduced Rogers at home in California, obvi- lywood?’ I'd say, ‘Next question, the Gershwin standard "Embraceable cusly staying well on top of pop cul- please. I haven't kissed everybody in. You.” After appearing in numerous ture. “I think there's gonna be a time Hollywood shorts — back in the days when shell be sorry she did it.” She danced with quite afew, though, movies were accompanied by news Rogers hersell, at 81, has nothing most famously with Fred Astaire. And reels, cartoons and “short subject but good feelings for het own extraor- unlike the Beatles toward the end, or like “Three Stooges” comedies — she dinary, non-controversial, yet similar- Lucy and Desi through much of “I broke into features with the minor ly. trailblazing career. Both a Love Lucy,” Rogers says her own cel- “Young Man of Manhattan” (1930), be celebrated dancer in countless films, ebrated partnership “was terrific. 1 fore teaming with Astaire, starting in fand an Academy Award-winning dra. loved every minute of it, wouldn't 1933, for 10 magnificent musicals. matic actress (for 1940's "Kitty change it for the world.” ‘Their leg- Their on-screen chemistry was ex Foyle”, Rogers reinforced the notion endary dance routines — shot re- traordinary, but their personal rela that men and women are equals in markably straight through without tionship was strictly business. Rogers terms of ability. As the feminist say- culs or editing to cover mistakes or herself had five marriages, to dancer ing goes, "Ginger Rogers did every. to fake things — often required dozens Jack Pepper (1928-31), actor Lew thing Fred Astaire could do — oftakes to get them right. “Sometimes Ayres (1934-41), actor Jacques Berg ickwards and in high heels. 40, sometimes 80,” Rogers recalls. erac (1953-57), actor/director/produe T've never known what feminists ce William Marshall (1961-62) and, her were supposed to do,” Rogers says, ‘second husband, non-showbiz person Sounding feisty yet adylike. If she was 2 Sack Briggs. arole model she insists, "Ididn't re. ‘Ginger Rogers did ‘nd as for where the famous fem aizeit” nist quote came from, even Rogers il she was. And for that and om eV@FYthIng Fred isnt sure. “I have no way to judge — ez accomplishments ~ including 73 Astalre ould do — —__verybo who remarks kes the ims, including the likes of "Top Hat,” app attitude they invented it” she says be- “Flying Down to Rio” and “Stage B@CKWards and in high smusediy. tier own favorite version Door” — Rogers joins jazz musician heels.’ ‘came in the cartoon strip “Frank and Lionel Hampton, actors Paul Newman eels Ernest,” by Bob Thaves. and Joanne Woodward, cellist-condue “*Thaves sent me a copy of his car- {or Mstislav Rostropovich and chore- toon with it,” Rogers says, “and 1 ‘ographer Paul Taylor in being honored Over the course of several days? “No, Wrote him back saying, ‘'d love to buy by the Kennedy Center. The gala the same day. Our dances never fell. the original from you.’ He wrote back “Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebra- to two days, ever. saying, ‘No you're not gonna buy it tion of the Performing Arts,” which It was obviously highly physical {fom me — I'm gonna give it to you.” was taped Dee. 6 in Washington, D.C., work, especially with Rogers often | From the way she says it, she airs Wednesday, Dee. 30 on CBS. decked out in gowns with accessories couldn't have been any more pleased Guests and performers include Robert. or even long, cumbersome feather-boa with even the Kennedy Center medal: Redford, Sally Field and Aretha scarves 10 feet long. "Sometimes it_ lion. Franklin, and the audience is made up_was tough,” she allows, “especially if ®!% NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSN. of dignitaries including the President you had to turn around without look- andi George Bush, Not too shab- ng, back and jump up thre steps sackwards, not even seeing the stairs “ave had the privilege of meeting, 1 behind and above you." And she did "4 sadiloata think, six different presidents, starting. all that, she says, with regular high with Franklin Roosevelt,” Rogers says, heels — not stagestandard dancing which gives you an idea of how long. shoes. and prominent her career has been. " Fortunately, she had aot of time to FRANK “Td Say it was a rollercoaster of fun, get it right. Born Virginia Katherine though some oft was very dificult ~ MeMath in Independence, Mo, she ee the public spotlight. You felt like you appeared in early movie commercials were walking on hot coals. I would at age 3, then debuted as a profes have interviews where they would try sional dancer at 14 and quickly rose