Elinor Fry: A Legacy of Dance in Richmond

by Paul N. Herbert

Overview

In Richmond, no other name is more synonymous with dance than Elinor Fry. Helen Keller, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and author Tom Wolfe were just some of the people with whom Fry connected in five decades of dance. From 1920 to 1970, Fry was involved, often accompanied by her beloved students, in nearly every major public event in the River City. Performing in an array of venues and photographed twice by "National Geographic," Fry was a blend of creativity and business savvy and a wonderful role model for thousands of children who learned dance in her studio. Join author and historian Paul Herbert as he celebrates Elinor Fry's spirit and exceptional achievements in the world of dance in Richmond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625846013
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	01/22/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	145
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Paul N. Herbert is the author of The Jefferson Hotel: The History of a Richmond Landmark and God Knows All Your Names, a collection of short, true stories of obscure and lesser known events in American history. Paul, his wife, Pam, and their two sons, Alex and Bill, live in northern Virginia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Prologue 9

I Our Miss Fry 11

Students Who Stayed in Dance 16

Peter Meriwether Fry 21

II Learning and Teaching 23

Miss Ella Binford's Star Pupil 23

Miss Traylor, Miss Boyer: Tray-Boy Studio 24

The Studio at 2600 Monument Avenue 28

Other Richmond Dance Studios 33

Dance Ideas from Foreign Travel 35

Mabel Puterbaugh 42

New York City 43

III Setting the Stage 48

Costumes 51

Prices and Programs 55

Some Anecdotes 58

Very Busy Times 64

Comings and Goings 68

Annual Christmas Party 69

IV Dance Themes 72

Topical and Fads 75

Gypsies, Sports, Perfumes and Cards 78

Polkas, Boogies, Waltzes and Miss Americas 79

Moon, Planets, Stars and Galaxy 81

Colonial Minuets and Dress Balls 83

Tobacco, Parades, Drill and Military 87

V Frylics 93

Edith Iindeman Reviews 101

VI Moments to Remember 103

"Mr. Fry" 103

Miss Fry Retires 105

Epilogue 113

Timeline 115

Notes 131

Sources 137

Index 139

About the Author 143