Danny Dare
Encyclopedia
Danny Dare was an American choreographer, actor
, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film.
Dare began his career in the 1920s as an actor on the New York stage, making his Broadway
debut in 1923 in the musical Dew Drop Inn. 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. He soon became highly busy as a choreographer on Broadway, serving in that capacity for such shows as The Little Show
(1929), Sweet Adeline
(1929) Sweet and Low
(1930), You Said It
(1931), and Tattle Tales (1933). In 1931 he produced the play Sentinels and later produced, directed, and wrote the book for the musical Meet the People (1940).
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), Such Men Are Dangerous (1930), Not Damaged (1930), Wild People (1932), Three Cheers for Love (1936), Start Cheering
(1938), Hit Parade of 1941 (1940), Panama Hattie
(1942), and most notably Holiday Inn
(1942). The last film he choreographed was Road to Utopia
in 1946.
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.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film.
Dare began his career in the 1920s as an actor on the New York stage, making his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in 1923 in the musical Dew Drop Inn. He then performed on the vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
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
The Five O'Clock Girl
The Five O'Clock Girl is a musical with a book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson, music by Harry Ruby, and lyrics by Bert Kalmar. It focuses on wealthy Beekman Place playboy Gerald Brooks and impoverished shopgirl Patricia Brown, who become acquainted with each other via a series of anonymous 5...
, also serving as the show's assistant choreographer. He soon became highly busy as a choreographer on Broadway, serving in that capacity for such shows as The Little Show
The Little Show
The Little Show is a musical revue with lyrics by Howard Dietz and music by Arthur Schwartz. This was the first of 11 musicals that featured the songs of Dietz and Schwartz. The revue opened on Broadway in 1929.-History:...
(1929), Sweet Adeline
Sweet Adeline (musical)
Sweet Adeline is a musical with music by Jerome Kern, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and original Orchestration by Robert Russell Bennett. It premiered on Broadway in 1929...
(1929) Sweet and Low
Sweet and Low (musical)
Sweet and Low is a musical revue produced by Billy Rose and starring James Barton, Fanny Brice, George Jessel, and Arthur Treacher. It features sketches by David Freedman and songs by various composers and lyricists....
(1930), You Said It
You Said It
You Said It is a musical by Harold Arlen and Jack Yellen that uses a musical book by Yellen and Sid Silvers. The musical opened at the Chanin's 46th Street Theatre in New York City on January 19, 1931 and ran for 192 performances. The production was directed by John Harwood, choreographed by...
(1931), and Tattle Tales (1933). In 1931 he produced the play Sentinels and later produced, directed, and wrote the book for the musical Meet the People (1940).
Dare's talents as a choreographer drew the attention of executives at Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
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
Let's Go Places
Let's Go Places is a 1930 musical film made by the Fox Film Corporation. Directed by Frank R. Strayer, the film uses a screenplay by William K. Wells which is based on a story by Andrew Bennison. It was choreographed by Danny Dare. The film stars Joseph Wagstaff, Lola Lane, Sharon Lynn, Frank...
(1930), Such Men Are Dangerous (1930), Not Damaged (1930), Wild People (1932), Three Cheers for Love (1936), Start Cheering
Start Cheering
Start Cheering is a musical motion picture starring Jimmy Durante, Walter Connolly and Joan Perry. It is best remember today for a cameo appearance by The Three Stooges as Campus Firemen, who were Columbia Pictures' short subject headliners at the time...
(1938), Hit Parade of 1941 (1940), Panama Hattie
Panama Hattie
Panama Hattie is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva. It is also the title of a 1942 MGM musical based upon the play...
(1942), and most notably Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn (film)
Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with music by Irving Berlin. The film has twelve songs written expressly for the film, the most notable being "White Christmas"...
(1942). The last film he choreographed was Road to Utopia
Road to Utopia
Road to Utopia, filmed in 1943 but not released until 1946, is the fourth film of the "Road to …" series starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.-Plot:After the credits we see Sal and Chester Hooton, an old married couple...
in 1946.
In 1938 Dare turned to directing for the first time with the film The Main Event
The Main Event
The term main event typically refers to the championship fight at a combat-sport event, the most prestigious match on the card.The Main Event may also refer to:-Film and television:...
. He never directed another film, but he was active as a television director during the 1950s with the shows Damon Runyon Theater
Damon Runyon Theater
Damon Runyon Theater was an American television program that presented dramatized versions of Damon Runyon's short stories. Hosted by Donald Woods, the program, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser beer, aired for a total of 39 episodes on CBS from April 1955 through February 1956 .-Season...
and How to Marry a Millionaire
How to Marry a Millionaire (TV series)
How to Marry a Millionaire is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from 1957 to 1959. The series was based on the 1953 film of the same name which starred Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall.-Synopsis:...
. He also produced a total of eight films between 1945 and 1952.