Beacon Sept 2022

Page 8A THE BEACON September 2022
By Mary-Alice Helms
My sister, Julie, and I
blinked in the light as we
came out of the Morin Movie
Theater in Brookville. We
were blinded by the memory
of swirling colors and intricate
dance steps. The wonderful
music still sounded in our
ears. We had just seen another
of the great Hollywood
musicals of the time, this one
“On the Town”, starring Gene
Kelly and our favorite female
dancer, Vera-Ellen. It was
1949, and Vera-Ellen was at
the peak of her career. Julie
was eleven years old and I
was fourteen. We had a special
reason for being such fans
of the lovely Vera-Ellen.
Years before, in about 1943,
we learned that a famous
dance instructor was coming
to Brookville from Cincinnati
once a week to give lessons. I
begged Mother to let us take
lessons, but they were a bit
pricey. At 50 cents each, it
would cost a whole dollar for
both of us at each lesson. That
sounds like a pittance, now,
but at that time $1.00 would
buy meat enough for four
meals for our family of four.
However, Mother and Daddy
decided to let us give the lessons
a try.
The classes were held in
the basement of the Peoples
Trust Company Bank, which
now houses the Franklin
County Community Foundation
offices. As Julie and I
entered the foyer on the night
of our first lesson, the metallic
sounds of hundreds of tapshoes
on the hard tile floors
below assaulted our ears. Julie
looked a little scared as we
descended the stairs.
I will never forget my first
glimpse of the tall, elegant
gentleman who stood at the
head of the room. I knew
nothing about Mr. Harry Hessler,
at the time, only that he
SHALL WE DANCE?
was the teacher. The way he
stood, graceful even when not
in motion, his height, and the
way he held his balding head
with its gray strands, spoke
of greatness. And we later
learned just how distinguished
and honored this man was in
his field. Harry Hessler wasn’t
just a dance instructor. He
was a member of the Academy
of Dance Masters of the
United States and his studio in
Cincinnati was considered the
center of dance instruction in
the area.
Mr. Hessler gave us a little
“pep talk” on that introductory
evening, telling us that if
we worked hard there would
be no end to the fame and
fortune we might find.
He told us that Doris Kappelhoff,
who changed her
name to Doris Day, had been
one of his students. Doris
Day!
“And”, he continued, “We
just recently sent one of our
students to Hollywood with a
movie contract. Her name is
Vera-Ellen”. The name Vera
Ellen stuck in my mind, and
I began watching for movies
listing her as one of the stars.
It didn’t take long. In 1945 the
movie “Wonder Man” made
its appearance, starring Danny
Kaye and Vera-Ellen.
As for Julie and me, our
dance careers were extremely
short-lived. I soon discovered
that I had no talent in that area
and was about as graceful as
a cow on crutches. Julie just
plain lost interest after several
ear infections forced her to
miss lessons. Mother agreed
to let us drop the lessons if we
promised to take music lessons,
instead.
Julie opted to study piano
and I fell in love with the
flute. I never lost my interest
in all things Vera-Ellen and
her distinguished instructor,
Mr. Hessler. Over the years
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I read with great interest that
Mr. and Mrs. Hessler had
spent the weekend visiting
relatives in Cedar Grove. It
seems that Mrs. Hessler was
related to the Fohl family and
other Cedar Grove denizens.
As for Vera-Ellen, it wasn’t
difficult to follow her. Her
movie career grew and grew
and I became more entranced
by her style, grace, and dancing
skills. She made wonderful
movies, including “Words
and Music” with Gene Kelly.
Their dance to “Slaughter
on Tenth Avenue” is still
mentioned by critics as one
of the greatest movie dance
numbers. “On the Town”
with Gene Kelly followed in
the next year, 1949, followed
by “Three Little Words” and
“ The Belle of New York”
both of which were with Fred
Astaire. Then came “Call Me
Madam” with Danny Kaye.
I never missed one of her
movies. In 1954, the movie
everyone remembers “White
Christmas” made its appearance,
with Bing Crosby,
Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and
Rosemary Clooney.
While her professional life
soared, Vera-Ellen struggled
in her personal life. She had a
life-long battle with Anorexia,
which gave her an 18” waist
and many health problems.
Her very thin neck made her
look older, and her costumes
were designed with high
necklines for concealment.
She suffered from arthritis and
lost her only child, Victoria
Ellen Rothschild, to SIDS in
1963. Her illness eventually
West Harrison
Couple Honored
with Circle of
Corydon Award
State Rep. Randy Lyness
(R-West Harrison) recently
honored Franklin County
residents Dorothy and George
Weaver with a Circle of
Corydon award during the
Franklin County Fair.
For more than fifty years,
the Weavers have hosted a
free, annual Christmas light
exhibit from Thanksgiving to
New Year’s Eve. More than
one hundred sixty thousand
lights were used in the 2021
attraction, bringing in nearly
twenty thousand visitors. Hot
chocolate, cookies, candy
canes, and other sweets were
2 8 6 4 1
4 8
6 8 7 5
7 1 3 8 6
1 8
2 1 3 9
2 7 6 9 8
3 7 9 2
6 9 8 4 1
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The solution can be found at
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Sudoku and view the solution for this month and last.
caused her to retire from show
business, and she died of cancer
at the age of 61 in 1981.
What a sad ending for such a
beauty with so much talent!
We can still enjoy her dancing
and sunny personality through
the old Hollywood musical
movies.
I don’t know why I have felt
such a connection to Mr. Hessler
and his talented student.
Someone told me that the
Hesslers lived in Cedar Grove
after their retirement, but I
haven’t been able to confirm
that story. As for Vera-Ellen,
provided at no cost.
“The Weavers are a perfect
example of what happens
when you combine the Hoosier
spirit with the Christmas
spirit,” Rep. Lyness said.
“Dorothy and George’s acts of
I doubt that she ever was
nearer to us than Cincinnati,
although her scrapbooks confirm
that she was very fond
of the Hesslers and stayed in
touch with them throughout
her life.
As a teenager, I wanted to
be Vera-Ellen. I wanted to
wear beautiful, filmy gowns
and float through the air and
into the arms of Fred Astaire,
Danny Kaye, or Gene Kelly.
In my mind, Vera-Ellen still
hears the music and steps to
the floor when her partner
asks, “Shall we dance?”
State Rep. Randy Lyness (R-West Harrison) presents the
Circle of Corydon award to Dorothy and George Weaver.
kindness and generosity make
the holiday season brighter for
so many friends and neighbors
in Franklin County.”
Gov. Eric Holcomb established
the Circle of Corydon
award in 2017 to honor Hoosiers
who have
made remarkable
contributions
to the
betterment of
Indiana and
its people,
demonstrating
through life
and service
qualities exemplified
by the
state’s greatest
citizens.
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Harrison, Ohio 45030
(513)367-4545 Fax: (513)367-4546
www.jackmanhensley.com
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