Friday, July 6, 2012

Tapping & typing in 1937

If you like typewriters or tap dancing, this scene from "Ready, Willing, and Able" (1937) is bound to bring you a smile. The dancers, who must have risked breaking an ankle on those keys, are Ruby Keeler and Lee Dixon.



I was reminded of the scene by this still which is currently being auctioned on eBay.




Here's a photo taken a few moments earlier or later that Robert Messenger put up on his blog:



I want a typewriter with that Deco styling!

And here's a link to the 1970 Bollywood version of the idea, if you haven't seen it.

8 comments:

  1. I've seen both Hollywood and Bollywood versions. Fun!

    I'm curious, what typewriter brands/models have that specific art deco styling?

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  2. Would it be appropriate to add that to your "Writers and their Typewriters" listing for Ruby Keeler? Of course, it's unclear what make and model that "machine" is supposed to be.

    Oh, to have been a set designer, back in the day! That would have been a fun project to build.

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  3. It's a fantasy typewriter, not modeled on any particular real make as far as I can see.

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  4. I like the way the censor has blanked out "damn" and "hot" in the typescript. Attention to detail.

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  5. That was wonderful. I like old films, but I've never heard of that one. I'll have to track it down now.

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  6. Sometimes this is on TCM. Always wondered what the keys are made of, that were danced on. I had a large, 1920s Underwood for awhile, but it was so heavy, I got rid of it.

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