Ann Miller--Tops In Taps!
Stan Freberg here. The great MGM star and tap dancer Ann Miller was recently honored at the Friar's Club. I was one of the roaster/toasters. What's my connection with her? Be right back. [:60 SPOT BREAK]
Freberg again. Fred Astaire once told me that Ann Miller was the fastest tap dancer in show business. I once wrote and directed a TV commercial I created just for Ann Miller, for Heinz's "Great American Soup."
A line of dancers were behind her, choreographed by Hermes Pan, as she tap danced on top of this giant soup can. First the walls of her kitchen opened up, and she dances back into this spectacular set, a la Busby Berekely. At the very end, she taps back into her kitchen, as these giant walls smash back together, just missing her. Her husband says, "Why do you have to make such a big production out of everything?"
It won lots of awards, and I'm glad her timing was perfect; otherwise, I might have turned Ann Miller into a bookmark.
Stan Freberg here.
Copyright ©1997, Stan Freberg/Freberg, Ltd. (but not very) Distributed by Dick Brescia Associates and Radio Spirits, Inc.