Ginger Rogers

Lore & Background

In 1925, she won a Charleston dance contest that launched her vaudeville career. After two commercial failures with Astaire, she turned to dramatic and comedy films. She became one of the biggest box-office draws and highest-paid actresses of the 1940s.

Reader's Guide

Ginger Rogers's significance lies in her versatility as a performer and her central role in the evolution of the Hollywood musical. Her partnership with Fred Astaire produced nine films that revolutionized the genre with elegant, virtuosic dance routines set to songs by top composers. She became one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1940s, reflecting her broad appeal. Her career spanned stage, radio, television, and film, with 73 films total.

Did You Know?

• Rogers won a Charleston dance contest in 1925 that launched her vaudeville career.
• She was the only child of a newspaper reporter and an electrical engineer.
• Her nickname 'Ginger' came from a young cousin who had trouble pronouncing 'Virginia'.
• She made 73 films during her career.