Louis DaPron
Encyclopedia
Louis Francis DaPron was an American dancer, choreographer and dance instructor. He worked often with tap dancer Donald O'Connor
.
in Columbia Pictures
’ ‘Sweetheart of the Campus’, her last musical film’.
was assembling a group of the best teenage dancers in the country for a dance group to be marketed as the “Jivin’ Jacks and Jills” in musical comedy films, and DaPron was put under contract by Universal to be the choreographer for this group. The Jivin’ Jacks and Jills were popular with teen audiences, primarily for the dancing and comedy efforts of Donald O'Connor
and Peggy Ryan
, who were frequently teamed together. As O’Connor became increasingly popular, Universal focused on him, and the Jivin’ Jacks and Jills were disbanded after 10 films. DaPron stayed on, as O’Connor’s choreographer and as head choreographer at Universal, a role he retained well into the '50s. He can be seen in small dancing parts in two films from 1948: Are You With It and Feudin', Fussin' and a-Fightin'
(as ‘the shadow’ in a dance routine to Al Jolson
’s Me And My Shadow
), illustrating his unique style of movement.
Show from 1955 to 1960.
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
.
Early days
His parents were Elizabeth Kurtz (b. around 1890) and Louis I DaPron, and the family shows up on the 1930 Federal Census as living in Denver. Both parents were professional dancers, and at some point in the ‘30s they settled in Hollywood to open a dance school.Professional beginnings
Louis, who had been dancing and teaching dance with his parents since he was a child, was hired by choreographer LeRoy Prinz and actor/choreographer Nick Castle in 1936 to assist with dance direction for films at Paramount. He seems not to have been under contract, but to have worked for various studios for the next few years. By 1941 he was the primary choreographer for Ruby KeelerRuby Keeler
Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler, was an actress, singer, and dancer most famous for her on-screen coupling with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Brothers, particularly 42nd Street . From 1928 to 1940, she was married to singer Al Jolson...
in Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
’ ‘Sweetheart of the Campus’, her last musical film’.
Universal
In 1941, Universal StudiosUniversal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
was assembling a group of the best teenage dancers in the country for a dance group to be marketed as the “Jivin’ Jacks and Jills” in musical comedy films, and DaPron was put under contract by Universal to be the choreographer for this group. The Jivin’ Jacks and Jills were popular with teen audiences, primarily for the dancing and comedy efforts of Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
and Peggy Ryan
Peggy Ryan
Margaret O'Rene "Peggy" Ryan was an American dancer, best known for starring in a series of movie musicals at Universal Pictures with Donald O'Connor and Gloria Jean....
, who were frequently teamed together. As O’Connor became increasingly popular, Universal focused on him, and the Jivin’ Jacks and Jills were disbanded after 10 films. DaPron stayed on, as O’Connor’s choreographer and as head choreographer at Universal, a role he retained well into the '50s. He can be seen in small dancing parts in two films from 1948: Are You With It and Feudin', Fussin' and a-Fightin'
Feudin', Fussin', and a Fightin
Feudin', Fussin' and a-Fightin' is a 1948 musical comedy film from Universal Studios, starring Donald O'Connor. Also featured are Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride, , with Penny Edwards as the perky love interest. Donald O'Connor plays Wilbur McMurtry, a traveling salesman who is captured and held...
(as ‘the shadow’ in a dance routine to Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
’s Me And My Shadow
Me and My Shadow
"Me and My Shadow" is a 1927 popular song. Officially the credits show it as written by Al Jolson, Billy Rose, and Dave Dreyer; in fact, Billy Rose was exclusively a lyricist, Dreyer a composer, and Al Jolson a performer who was often given credits so he could earn some more money, so the actual...
), illustrating his unique style of movement.
Television
DaPron was next conscripted to provide choreography for The Colgate Comedy Hour, again working with Donald O’Connor, and The Louis DaPron dancers were regulars on the popular Perry ComoPerry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
Show from 1955 to 1960.