Tommy Wonder (dancer)

Tommy Wonder (March 7, 1914 in Montana – December 11, 1993 in Riverdale, Bronx, New York City) was an American dancer, actor, choreographer, and artist manager. He was a principal dancer in the 1943 Ziegfeld Follies.[1]

As a child, Wonder had an unspecified physical disability which hindered his ability to walk; to help him, his mother used clothes and a 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 child actor, performing in vaudeville; he subsequently appeared in the Our Gang films.[3] As an adult, Wonder performed in numerous 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
  1. Tommy Wonder; Actor and 'Ziegfeld Follies' Dancer, in the Los Angeles Times; published December 12, 1993; retrieved July 28, 2015
  2. 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
  3. Tommy Wonder, 78, Ex-Ziegfeld Dancer at the New York Times, December 18, 1993
  4. Tommy Wonder at the Internet Broadway Database
  5. Gangster's Boy at IMDb
  6. WIPO Domain Name Decisions: D2005-0293 at the 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."
  7. NEW YORKERS, Etc at the New York Times, by Enid Nemy, August 14, 1988
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