1. Robert Alton was an American dancer and choreographer, a major figure in dance choreography of Broadway and Hollywood musicals from the 1930s through to the early 1950s.
12 Facts About Robert Alton
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Robert Alton is principally remembered today as the discoverer of Gene Kelly, for his collaborations with Fred Astaire, and for choreographic sequences he designed for Hollywood musicals such as The Harvey Girls, Till the Clouds Roll By, Show Boat, and White Christmas.
3.
Robert Alton collaborated with Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart and Rodgers and Hammerstein on Me and Juliet in 1953.
4.
Robert Alton learned stage direction from John Murray Anderson and during his Broadway career he was instrumental in furthering the careers of Ray Bolger, John Brascia, Don Crichton, Betty Grable, Gene Kelly, Sheree North, Vera-Ellen and Charles Walters, among others.
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Robert Alton is credited with transforming Broadway choreography by breaking up the chorus into featured soloists and small groups, and his musical staging was celebrated for its elegance and attention to detail.
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Robert Alton's theatre credits included Life Begins at 8:40, The Vamp, Anything Goes, Du Barry Was a Lady, Panama Hattie, Pal Joey, and Hazel Flagg.
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Robert Alton continued to work on Broadway during this period and, in 1952 won a Tony Award for his revival of Pal Joey which he had originally choreographed in 1940, catapulting the young Gene Kelly to stardom.
8.
Robert Alton directed the films Merton of the Movies and Pagan Love Song for MGM.
9.
Robert Alton staged and choreographed the dynamic nightclub act, "Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers", which successfully toured the world from 1947 to 1952.
10.
Robert Alton's place was taken by Fred Astaire's principal collaborator, Hermes Pan.
11.
Robert Alton died later in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, in Los Angeles, California, of a kidney ailment.
12.
Robert Alton was buried in the family plot in Bennington, Vermont.