Feb
05

You won’t have to fly down to Rio to meet Robert Osborne

Robert Osborne

Robert Osborne

Join historian Amy Henderson, curator of “Dancing the Dream” at the National Portrait Gallery, at a wine-and-cheese reception with Turner Classic Movies’ Robert Osborne Wednesday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m. Henderson and Turner will discuss the role of dance in film before a screening of the 1934 classic film, “Flying Down to Rio.”

“Flying Down to Rio” marks the first time that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared onscreen together. Astaire and Rogers brought glamour and a stylized elegance to Depression-era audiences. Astaire worked on the main choreography, with Rogers coming in to “button-hook” the work at the end. A classic “Frank and Ernest” cartoon by Bob Thaves declared, “Sure he was great, but don’t forget that Ginger Rogers did everything he did, backwards . . . and in high heels.”

Robert Osborne has been the primetime host and anchor of the Peabody award-winning TCM television network since the network made its on-air debut in April 1994. He is also known as the official biographer of “Oscar” because of a series of books he’s written on the subject of the motion picture industry’s annual Academy Awards.

All tickets must be purchased in advance. Smithsonian staff may purchase discounted tickets before February 12.

When: Wednesday, March 19, 2014.  Reception, 6:00 p.m. Film screening, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium, Donald W. Reynolds Center, 8TH and F Streets, N.W. (Use G St. entrance)

Cost: Reception and film screening: $50 ($45 for SI staff if purchased before Feb. 12)
Film screening only: $15 ($10 before Feb. 12)

These pictures by an unknown photographer show Hollywood's most famous dance team performing "Lets Face the Music and Dance" and the end of the film "Follow the Fleet." Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

These pictures by an unknown photographer show Hollywood’s most famous dance team performing “Lets Face the Music and Dance” and the end of the film “Follow the Fleet.” Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

 

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About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.