WTN: "Slightly bald, can't act...

[Jenise]

...but can dance."

So said the notes taken when MGM studios borrowed and screen-tested an unknown dancer from RKO studios for a 1933 Joan Crawford film. The dancer? Fred Astaire.

This delicious bit of film history appears on the back label of the 2014 chardonnay by British Columbia's boutique pinot noir and chardonnay-only Foxtrot Winery. I'm not exactly sure what message they mean to convey by this as there are no first-look downsides to this wine, but it's more interesting than advising me to drink it with fish and chicken so what the heck.

Ordered from a Vancouver restaurant this week because about ten years ago, a ridiculously wealthy east coast Burgophile drug a bottle of Foxtrot pinot noir to lunch to show off it's surprisingly accurate Burgundian charms. The first vintage of pinot was 2004, and they added chardonnay in 2008. This did not present old world like the long-ago pinot did with a higher degree of toast than would be typical of Burgundy, but it was nonetheless quite good with spot-on chardonnay fruit, an elegant weight and creamy texture (only about 13.4% abv). Very refined overall.

I like the little historical aside on their website about how they named their (second label?) "Wapiti Cellars", which makes Viognier and pinot noir rose. I'd love to try any of them....

I believe Fred Astaire and his sister were well known on Broadway before Hollywood. Not exactly unknowns.

Correct, Lou. They were a hit on the vaudeville circuit as child performers.

[Jenise]

True enough, but it's nonetheless a huge step from there to the mega wattage of being a marquee name in Hollywood.

As a born New Yorker I know when someone who stars in Hollywood movies then makes it on Broadway he is know considered to have arrived and made it in show business. I'm sure my friend Mr Grossman would agree.

[Jenise]

I don't disagree with that in today's terms. But in the 30's it was a different story. Broadway was by and for New Yorkers, where film was for everybody and overnight stardom was a new reality.

Jenise, I wouldn't take me too seriously. Remember with this administration the truth has become very flexible.

As a born New Yorker I know when someone who stars in Hollywood movies then makes it on Broadway he is know considered to have arrived and made it in show business. I'm sure my friend Mr Grossman would agree.

It isn't really acting unless you do it on the stage.

Movies are a lot of close-ups and re-takes, even in the 1930s. But if you act on stage, it's two hours, no do-overs, no hiding, no mistakes. It's you and the audience, period.

True enough, but it's nonetheless a huge step from there to the mega wattage of being a marquee name in Hollywood.

Pumpkin says Fred was a huge star on Broadway and in London, that's why Hollywood wanted him. The Astaire brother-sister act broke up when his sister married an English peer. After the film with Joan Crawford, Fred & Ginger, his new dance partner, had 5th and 4th billings in "Flying Down to Rio". They were such a hit in that movie that they next starred in "Gay Divorcee", which is the movie version of Fred's great leading role on Broadway, "The Gay Divorce".

The Astaires were from Omaha, Nebraska in my home state as was Henry Fonda and Marlon Brando. Robert Taylor also was born in Nebraska and grew up partly in the state. My mother once met Robert Taylor when he was visiting Lincoln and she pretended to be a reporter on the high school newspaper to interview him!

[Jenise]

True enough, but it's nonetheless a huge step from there to the mega wattage of being a marquee name in Hollywood.

Pumpkin says Fred was a huge star on Broadway and in London, that's why Hollywood wanted him. The Astaire brother-sister act broke up when his sister married an English peer. After the film with Joan Crawford, Fred & Ginger, his new dance partner, had 5th and 4th billings in "Flying Down to Rio". They were such a hit in that movie that they next starred in "Gay Divorcee", which is the movie version of Fred's great leading role on Broadway, "The Gay Divorce".

I love Pumpkin!

A pumpkin that's a fount of info, I know how to pick my defenders.