Gene Kelly, Creative Genius
A personal celebration of his life and work
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99 Comments
I did always know he wore a hairpiece and have seen a few pictures without. He was still very handsome sans piece and sometimes I think he looked better without it (if possible). I especially loved Gene in hats -- baseball hats, caps, fedoras, berets, bowlers, top hats, etc.
geneius says...
Hi Singer. Yes Gene certainly wore hairpieces. his hair seemed to thin and recede after he returned home from the Navy. It seems like he wore them in all of his films after Living In A Big Way. I even read that it was written into his MGM contract that he had to wear them on 'public' occasions but I do not know if that is true. Sorry to dispel your illusions! I have a pic of him in 1952 in England, without any hairpiece and he looks very attractive still - well, I think so!
I love this site. Sometimes I need to find information quickly (like the name of a TV show) so I prepared this index for myself which I am sharing.
Index
◦ Home
◦ Guestbook
◦ Our Love Is Here ..... Gene?s Fans? Tributes
◦ Listen to my heart Gene's own words
◦ "The life & times of.." Others? Words about Gene
◦ Oh, I know you... Items about Gene by people who knew him personally
◦ During the war... Gene?s activities during the war
◦ ...my pals Gene?s wonderful relationship with children
◦ "..ready for your show" Live Theater
◦ La Danse American.. Gene?s Dancing
◦ .. movies that we know Gene?s Movies
◦ By golly these are good Innovative Choreography in Gene?s Movies
◦ ..great individuality.. Gene's non-musical roles
◦ It'll be work, hard work Gene's work as a director
◦ I've got a studio... Gene?s relationship with the studios f
◦ Can't you see I'm busy? Gene's other work, mainly in TV
◦ ..some very good friends Guest appearances by Gene
◦ I heard it on the radio Gene's radio work
◦ ..I've heard you sing.. Quotes about Gene?s singing
◦ No Contest... Some of the many awards, honours and tributes
◦ "I got music.." Gene's recordings
◦ Helping me a lot Those who helped Gene personally and professionally
◦ I could...encourage you Some of the many people whom Gene helped
◦ Somebody rooting for you BETSY BLAIR, JEANNE COYNE, CAROL HANEY, LOIS McCLELLAND
◦ A good-hearted kid... Gene's Involvement with many Charities
◦ "I could talk about...." Interviews
◦ ...what's in the book Books written about Gene
◦ ...almost have on. Roles Offered to Gene
◦ ...go out and have fun. Ways in which Gene spent his leisure time
◦ ...hangin' round my door Gene?s home on Rodeo Drive
◦ We're on the left.... Gene?s political activities and Ideals
◦ ...called it home Pittsburgh
◦ This Star called Paris Gene and France
◦ An American...lives here Gene in England
◦ A formal brawl? Fred V Gene
◦ ...your advertisement Gene?s advertisements for various products
◦ The world is in Rhyme Poetry by, for, related to Gene
◦ Photo Gallery
Index
◦ Home
◦ Guestbook
◦ Our Love Is Here ..... Gene?s Fans? Tributes
◦ Listen to my heart Gene's own words
◦ "The life & times of.." Others? Words about Gene
◦ Oh, I know you... Items about Gene by people who knew him personally
◦ During the war... Gene?s activities during the war
◦ ...my pals Gene?s wonderful relationship with children
◦ "..ready for your show" Live Theater
◦ La Danse American.. Gene?s Dancing
◦ .. movies that we know Gene?s Movies
◦ By golly these are good Innovative Choreography in Gene?s Movies
◦ ..great individuality.. Gene's non-musical roles
◦ It'll be work, hard work Gene's work as a director
◦ I've got a studio... Gene?s relationship with the studios f
◦ Can't you see I'm busy? Gene's other work, mainly in TV
◦ ..some very good friends Guest appearances by Gene
◦ I heard it on the radio Gene's radio work
◦ ..I've heard you sing.. Quotes about Gene?s singing
◦ No Contest... Some of the many awards, honours and tributes
◦ "I got music.." Gene's recordings
◦ Helping me a lot Those who helped Gene personally and professionally
◦ I could...encourage you Some of the many people whom Gene helped
◦ Somebody rooting for you BETSY BLAIR, JEANNE COYNE, CAROL HANEY, LOIS McCLELLAND
◦ A good-hearted kid... Gene's Involvement with many Charities
◦ "I could talk about...." Interviews
◦ ...what's in the book Books written about Gene
◦ ...almost have on. Roles Offered to Gene
◦ ...go out and have fun. Ways in which Gene spent his leisure time
◦ ...hangin' round my door Gene?s home on Rodeo Drive
◦ We're on the left.... Gene?s political activities and Ideals
◦ ...called it home Pittsburgh
◦ This Star called Paris Gene and France
◦ An American...lives here Gene in England
◦ A formal brawl? Fred V Gene
◦ ...your advertisement Gene?s advertisements for various products
◦ The world is in Rhyme Poetry by, for, related to Gene
◦ Photo Gallery
P.P.S. "To try to work out where the Celtic population originally came from, the team from UCL, the University of Oxford and the University of California at Davis also looked at Basques.
"On the Y-chromosome the Celtic populations turn out to be statistically indistinguishable from the Basques," Professor Goldstein said.
The Welsh and Irish Celts have been found to be the genetic blood-brothers of Basques, scientists have revealed.
The gene patterns of the three races passed down through the male line are all "strikingly similar", researchers concluded." Excerpt from BBC News Online
----------------------------------------
OK now I'm done...for a while.
"On the Y-chromosome the Celtic populations turn out to be statistically indistinguishable from the Basques," Professor Goldstein said.
The Welsh and Irish Celts have been found to be the genetic blood-brothers of Basques, scientists have revealed.
The gene patterns of the three races passed down through the male line are all "strikingly similar", researchers concluded." Excerpt from BBC News Online
----------------------------------------
OK now I'm done...for a while.
P.S. From Wikipedia: " In further examining pigmentation characteristics (both as a whole and regionally), studies have indicated the Irish are "almost uniquely pale skinned when unexposed, untanned parts of the body, are observed" and "40% of the entire group are freckled to some extent". " [(GK's freckles are obvious in the scene from AA when he's on the phone to Lola Laverne.)] "Moreover, "in the proportion of pure light eyes", data shows that "Ireland competes successfully with the blondest regions of Scandinavia", as approximately 42% of the Irish population have pure blue eyes. Another 30% have been found to possess light-mixed eyes and "less than 1 half of 1% have pure brown".
The complete results of this survey have been condensed and arranged in the Harvard Anthropometric Laboratory (formerly under the close supervision of Professor Earnest A. Hooton) with the cooperation of both governments in Ireland."
The complete results of this survey have been condensed and arranged in the Harvard Anthropometric Laboratory (formerly under the close supervision of Professor Earnest A. Hooton) with the cooperation of both governments in Ireland."
Sue deserves a lot of praise for this site. Her dedication is remarkable.
I think of GK as being what's known as "Black Irish", those of Irish blood with black or very dark brown eyes and hair who are thought to also have some Iberian or Spanish ancestry. Check out his interest in Spanish dancing, e.g. Anchors Aweigh, and a tiny piece in SITR.
Now that you mention it, I'm curious, what exactly does his family, aside from his widow, actually do to keep his legacy alive? Seems like Aunt Suzy is making a huge unpaid effort to keep his legacy alive. Quelle a labor of love!
I think of GK as being what's known as "Black Irish", those of Irish blood with black or very dark brown eyes and hair who are thought to also have some Iberian or Spanish ancestry. Check out his interest in Spanish dancing, e.g. Anchors Aweigh, and a tiny piece in SITR.
Now that you mention it, I'm curious, what exactly does his family, aside from his widow, actually do to keep his legacy alive? Seems like Aunt Suzy is making a huge unpaid effort to keep his legacy alive. Quelle a labor of love!
Reply
L. MICHELLE
07:40 PM on December 18, 2009
Hello, this is a WONDERFUL website & I must say, it is a truly a very done comprehensive composite of Gene's life and career. His work is note worthy more than ever, since film musicals are making a slow"comeback" & not to mention tv dance competitions! His films of the 40s & 50s were technological masterpieces--today, people are out of ideas & look to the past. I was struck one thing: I see how Alvin Ailey's Dance co. has evolved into an international phenom (as it should) & yet not much has been done on Kelly's behalf in the promotion of dance on film. I am not comparing the two because I love them both & each artist focused on two different areas of dance: theater/stage & film. I'm just noting that hard work, passion & preservation of the arts, all of which I believe Kelly felt very strongly should be expressed today. I wish his family would devote more of an effort to build & preserve his legacy. I applaud your hard work & always look forward to some new posting! His family photos are the coolest & I find him so interesting. P.S: As for the hair pieces...Today, it is not uncommon anymore.. whatever, I know that I don't care. He's the cutest Irishman I've ever seen!
Reply
alejandra1948
12:30 AM on December 15, 2009
i just want to know if the photos i send you where good.Because you didŽnt say anything
Reply
geneius
06:10 PM on November 27, 2009
Hi Singer. Yes Gene certainly wore hairpieces. his hair seemed to thin and recede after he returned home from the Navy. It seems like he wore them in all of his films after Living In A Big Way. I even read that it was written into his MGM contract that he had to wear them on 'public' occasions but I do not know if that is true. Sorry to dispel your illusions! I have a pic of him in 1952 in England, without any hairpiece and he looks very attractive still - well, I think so!
Hello, again I want to express my appreciation for this site! You've done an amazing job!
I have a quick question, maybe you might know with all that information you have collected. I was wondering if the rumor of Gene Kelly wearing a toupe or hair piece is true? I read this somewhere and was little shocked. I didn't think he did, looking at him in the later years, but just thought I asked.
if you have any idea and at your convenience, could you let me know?
thanks!
I have a quick question, maybe you might know with all that information you have collected. I was wondering if the rumor of Gene Kelly wearing a toupe or hair piece is true? I read this somewhere and was little shocked. I didn't think he did, looking at him in the later years, but just thought I asked.
if you have any idea and at your convenience, could you let me know?
thanks!
