Gwen Verdon - "Can-Can"

The real star of the 1953 Broadway production of "Can-Can" demonstrates why her performance was such a sensation and an audience and critical favorite.

These are from various sources:

http://pinterest.com/pin/128000814381440209/
(with numerous other cancan photos)

http://photos.lucywho.com/gwen-verdon-photo-gallery-c10604453.html
(An entire gallery of photos of Gwen, including the next one)

http://photos.lucywho.com/gwen-verdon-photo-gallery-c10604449.html

http://www.ormondgigli.com/g_gwen.html
(The skirt-up photo and the following two are by Ormond Gigli)

http://verdonfosse.com/gwen-verdons-first-tony-award-can-can-1953/
(The Verdon Fosse Estate)

An Al Hirschfeld drawing can be seen at:

http://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/search?keywords=GWEN+VERDON

Gwen Verdon?

The costume and pose are right for Gwen Verdon for the 1953 Broadway production of "Can-Can", but I don't think it's actually her in this photo as the auction description says.  Whoever it is, this is a great photo.  Nice flexibility too.

You can buy an 8x10 original at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gwen-Verdon-Can-Can-Original-8x10-Theater-Photo-K0283-/371484040847?hash=item567e2c9e8f:g:rNUAAOSwT5tWQihr

The Seller, Movie-Material-Store, is a great resource for entertainment memorabilia.  Visit them at:

http://stores.ebay.com/movie-material-store?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

More about Gwen Verdon and "Can-Can":

http://classiccancan.blogspot.com/search?q=gwen

1953 7TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS - QUADRILLE - CAN-CAN

An historic video has surfaced.  This is the Quadrille from "Can-Can" featuring Gwen Verdon.  So far as I know this is the only extant video showing a performance from the original Broadway show.  It is blurry, but shows the quality of the dancing and why Ms. Verdon got such acclaim for her performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Olx_67IJ0

More Gwen:

http://classiccancan.blogspot.com/search?q=gwen

"Can-Can"

A photo group from the original 1953 Broadway production of "Can-Can" showing Lilo, Gwen Verdon and Hans Conreid.  These are for auction at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vint-53-Entertainer-Lilo-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Doubleweight-Glamour-Photo-by-Darby-/160967930054?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257a6fb0c6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-53-Gwen-Verdon-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Seductive-Glamour-Doubleweight-Photo-/390536315148?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aedc7410c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-Gwen-Verdon-Lilo-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Doubleweight-Glamour-Stage-Photo-by-Darby-/160967930072?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257a6fb0d8

Can-Can 1953

A second great photo from an Ebay auction by Movie-Materials-Store.   I believe the center dancer is Gwen Verdon.  It is from the 1953 production on "Can-Can".

You can buy the 8x10 original at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gwen-Verdon-Lilo-Pulver-Can-Can-Original-8x10-Theater-Photo-K0282-/371484040314?hash=item567e2c9c7a:g:5E8AAOSw14xWQigw

The Seller, Movie-Material-Store, is a great resource for entertainment memorabilia.  Visit them at:

http://stores.ebay.com/movie-material-store?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

For a Hirschfeld drawing see:

http://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/piece/can-can-0#result_info_2915

Can-Can 1953

Two photos of the chorus of Can-Can convincing the tribunal of their innocence (of the charges at least).  The photo is by Ormond Gigli.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Can-Can-Dancers-photographed-by-Ormond-Gigli-Magazine-Clipping-c1950s-/310845454807?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item485fd539d7

Gigli also had a photo session wth Gwen Verdon, which resulted in this more well known set of photos:

http://www.ormondgigli.com/g_gwen.html

http://www.staleywise.com/collection/gigli/pages/gwen.html

Off-Duty

Gwen Verdon sits one out.  From 1953's Can-Can.

From this auction on EBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gwen-Verdon-DeeDee-Wood-Can-Can-Dancers-Magazine-Clipping-Photo-1954-/311227304633?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487697cab9

Chip off the old block ...

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and all that.

The top photo is instantly recognizable as Gwen Verdon in "Can-Can".  The bottom one is her daughter, Nicole  Fosse, performing a cancan years later at the Tropicana.

The photos are for sale on EBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-UPI-Photos-Gwen-Verdon-Nicole-Fosse-Cole-Porters-Can-Can-/390765152478?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item5afb6b08de

Gwen - The Classic Picture

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gwen-Verdon-Can-Can-Original-8x10-Theater-Photo-K0283/371484040847?hash=item567e2c9e8f:g:rNUAAOSwT5tWQihr

Hall of Shame - The Merry Widow 1952

It had all the ingedients for a great cancan, Gwen Verdon, The Merry Widow Maxim's scene, Lana Turner.  What could possibly go wrong?

A mangled script for starters.  I could almost have forgiven that if the cancan was any good.  But it isn't really a cancan at all, and then there are the dancers' costumes!  Where are the petticoats?  And who had the bright idea to dress the dancers in those black see-though pantalets?  (The same pantalets problem plagued "Can-Can" a few years later, although there they at least had the sense to have the dancers in conventional cancan dresses.)

A missed opportunity of the first order.

This photo is from:

http://www.zapitano.de/images_epg/tntfilm/Die_lustige_Witwe_124512_0.jpg

http://www.zapitano.de/tnt-film/spielfilme/die-lustige-witwe.html

Can-Can 1953

From:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gwen-Verdon-Lilo-Pulver-Can-Can-Original-8x10-Theater-Photo-K0282-/371484040314?hash=item567e2c9c7a:g:5E8AAOSw14xWQigw

Can-Can - New York 1953

Two versions of an advertising postcard for the 1953 musical "Can-Can" featuring a change in favor of the famous Gwen Verdon royal flash.

From EBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCENES-FROM-CAN-CAN-NEW-YORK-CITY-SHUBERT-THEATRE-EARLY-ADVERTISING-POSTCARD-/191589267149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9b9c36cd

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-YORK-CITY-NY-Postcard-Dancers-CAN-CAN-Musical-3view-SHUBERT-THEATRE-/301096506663?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item461ac01527

Gwen Verdon in "Can-Can"

 

Demonstrating the dancing that won her such acclaim in the show.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9PzG0jJk8/

Nicole Fosse

 

 

 

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.  Nicole Fosse, daughter of Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-NICOLE-FOSSE-B-W-UPI-Promo-Photograph-9-034-X-7-034-Can-Can-Tropicana-AC-NJ-/393129559761?hash=item5b885906d1%3Ag%3AtioAAOSw%7EjlgJXjz&nma=true&si=1McI9Qk6qavxGUVo8PL%252FUX7C8FQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Dee Dee Wood

Dee Dee Wood refines her cancan (or is it karate?) at the seashore.

From this EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gwen-Verdon-DeeDee-Wood-Can-Can-Dancers-Magazine-Clipping-Photo-1954-/311227304633?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487697cab9

Ms. Wood went on to a distinguished career as a choreographer:

http://www.tremainedance.com/2012_Dee_Dee_Wood

Gwen Verdon - "Can-Can"

 

 

 

 https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_PT6Cl5QP/

Rehearsing for "Can-Can"

The dancer is Gwen Verdon.  Taken during a rehearsal for 1953's "Can-Can".

From an EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHOW-SEPT-1953-LESLIE-CARON-CELEBRITIES-MOVIES-AND-MORE-/271883109843?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4d7f05d3