Tommy Wonder (dancer)
Tommy Wonder (March 7, 1914 in
As a child, Wonder had an unspecified physical disability which hindered his ability to
broomstick to build a puppet on which he could support himself. Wonder named the puppet "Suzanne", and with its help he was able not only to learn to walk, but to dance at a professional level; an upgraded version of "Suzanne", designed by members of the Westmore family, with human hair, and Wonder's mother's original broomstick, is in the Smithsonian Institution.[2]
Career
Wonder began as a
musical comedies;[4] he also appeared in more serious films, including the 1938 Gangster's Boy.[5] By 1946, his fame was such that his presence at social events was considered worth reporting.[6]
In 1970, Wonder retired from performing and co-founded an
artist management business with his former singing partner Don Dellair.[7]
References
- ^ Tommy Wonder; Actor and 'Ziegfeld Follies' Dancer, in the Los Angeles Times; published December 12, 1993; retrieved July 28, 2015
- ^ American Puppetry: collections, history and performance, p. 209, edited by Phyllis T. Dircks, 2004; volume 23 of the Performing Arts Resource Series of the Theatre Library Association; via Google Books
- New York Times, December 18, 1993
- ^ Tommy Wonder at the Internet Broadway Database
- IMDb
- WIPO; "The opening of the Casino was attended by many Hollywood stars of the day, such as Jimmy Durante, Tommy Wonder, Eddie Jackson and Rose Marie."
- New York Times, by Enid Nemy, August 14, 1988
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