Former Tap Sensation Ann Miller Dies
by Fred T. Beeman

A phenomenal performer has departed our ranks. Dancing legend Ann Miller (born “Johnnie Lucille Collier” on April 12, 1923) succumbed to lung cancer on Thursday, January 22, at age 80.

Although we can’t begin to do her stellar career justice with just a few brief paragraphs here, it needs to be acknowledged that she appeared as a performer (beginning at age 11) in no less than 13 motion pictures, prior to her 18th birthday. Her credits included, “Anne of Green Gables” (1934), “Stage Door,” (1937) “You Can't Take It with You,” (1938) and Gene Autry’s “Melody Ranch” (1940).

Oddly enough, she owed her career (and her awesome dancer’s legs) to a bout with rickets, at age 5 (1928). Doctors in those days recommended lots of exercise to prevent muscle atrophy (and straighten the still-forming bones), so her mother wisely enrolled young “Johnnie” (named by a father who had wanted a son, obviously) in dancing classes, where she quickly developed a reputation as a “prodigy,” by excelling in “the art of the tap.” Years later, she would claim an unofficial world record for tapping faster than any human in recorded history, at 500 tpm (“taps per minute”).

Her career took off when she was “tapped” (forgive the pun) to replace torn-tendon victim Cyd Charisse in 1948’s “Easter Parade,” and teamed with another dancing wizard, Fred Astaire (who, at 5‘ 9”, was only slightly taller, forcing Ann to work in flats). Former M-G-M head Louis B. Mayer (one of her many “discoverers,” it is claimed) was so enraptured by her great looks and abilities, he asked her to marry him. Ann’s mother disapproved of Mr. Mayer for some reason, so the romance ended, before it began.

Co-star and longtime friend Debbie Reynolds said, "She could knock 'em dead vocally as well as out-dance everybody." And, former child actor Mickey Rooney commented, “[she] was a great talent. She is a great talent. I'll never think of her as being gone. She told me the last time I spoke to her she wasn't feeling too well, and I said, 'Keep your head up, kid.' I'm just very sad."

So are we.