ANKLES AWEIGH

Mark Hellinger Theater - 1955

Ankles Aweigh was my first Broadway show. I took pride in having the opportunity to work for Tony Charmoli, - EMMY award winning choreographer for the very popular and weekly television show "Your Hit Parade". - (1950 - 1955) Mr. Charmoli's choreography was very physical. Especially, "The Code Dance", a show-stopping number in which six male dancers dressed as hoods, performed a secret Mafia underworld dance to Morse-code rhythms. This was my introduction to what was popular at the time and referred to as knee-work.  We did everything from knee slides, belly and hip slides, to knee walks, even single air tours from both knees to both knees. Maybe twice were we all on our feet at the same time. This was not a number you attempt without knee-pads.

One night during our Philadelphia pre-Broadway tryout, while waiting for my entrance, I glanced over my shoulder to discover Bob Fosse watching the number from the wings. At that same moment, I realized I had forgotten my knee pads. Miraculously, I got through it without casualty. Mr. Fosse definitely did not see one of my finer performances.

One evening at the Variety Club in Philly, I met a couple of dancers from another show that was having their out of town tryout. They were discouraged because they thought their show wasn't doing well and their revues had been less than encouraging. How fortunate and lucky I felt. There I was, new in New York, about to open in an elaborate Broadway show that many were predicting to be the hit of the season, and these poor kids were probably going to be out of work very soon.
That other show was "Damn Yankees", which proceeded to have a two and a half year run on Broadway. "Ankles Aweigh", in spite of being shredded by the critics, ran twenty three weeks.
"Ankles Aweigh" was a big, fun, musical extravaganza and I couldn't understand why it wasn't a smashing success. Perhaps had I seen it from out front?