Bill Bojangles Robinson (1997)

Cable TV biography of the dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (May 25, 1877 – November 25, 1949) was an American tap dancer and actor, the best known and most highly paid African-American entertainer in the first half of the twentieth century. His long career mirrored changes in American entertainment tastes and technology. He started in the age of minstrel shows and moved to vaudeville, Broadway, the recording industry, Hollywood, radio, and television. According to dance critic Marshall Stearns, "Robinson's contribution to tap dance is exact and specific. He brought it up on its toes, dancing upright and swinging", giving tap a "…hitherto-unknown lightness and presence."[1]:pp. 186–187 His signature routine was the Stair Dance, in which Robinson would tap up and down a set of stairs in a rhythmically complex sequence of steps, a routine that he unsuccessfully attempted to patent. Robinson is also credited with having introduced a new word, copasetic, into popular culture, via his repeated use of it in vaudeville and radio appearances.

A popular figure in both the black and white entertainment worlds of his era, he is best known today for his dancing with Shirley Temple in a series of films during the 1930s, and for starring in the musical Stormy Weather (1943), loosely based on Robinson's own life, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Robinson used his popularity to challenge and overcome numerous racial barriers, including becoming the following:

one of the first minstrel and vaudeville performers to appear without the use of blackface makeup
one of the earliest African-American performers to go solo, overcoming vaudeville's two-colored rule [2]
a headliner in Broadway shows
the first African American to appear in a Hollywood film in an interracial dance team (with Temple in The Little Colonel, 1935)
the first African American to headline a mixed-race Broadway production - wikipedia.

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[robertmauro]

I wasn't born until 1959 but I feel like I know this man I have always known this man because my dad (a wonderful dancer in his own right) and his 3 brothers and my grandfather were all big fans and had seen him perform in NY a few times would talk about him often and it was nothing but good things that they talked about. When I was about 8 years old was the first time I saw him perform in the Little Colonel and since then I just seem to not get enough of his dancing. Bill is and always will be the greatest dancer and I pray he is never forgotten. Thank you, Mr Bojangles, now let's dance. A big thank you to Mr Jerry Jeff Walker for writing the song Mr Bojangles.

[delenegillen]

Thank you for posting - AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!

[fatherchapel]

What a beautiful soul and a beautiful story. I am so grateful to have the chance to see amazing legends like this so easily now because of the internet.

[serenafanlife]

This truly was an enjoyable documentary to watch about Mr. Bill Bojangles Robinson.

[joannrinear]

His dancing was like other people walking. He did it so naturally! Born to dance! Loved him! He will never be forgotten.

[dennispearson]

What A MAGNIFICENT Documentary !!!BILL Used THE GIFT That GOD GAVE HIM To CONQUER THE WORLD !!!..

[LibraLarry]

What an inspiring documentary of a young black boy who literally had nothing and no one yet grew into such an incredibly talented and loving human being who bridged the racial divide at a time when racism and hatred was at its peek in the United States.

[wancar]

One of THE BEST DOCUMENTARIES I've ever seen! MUST WATCH... THROUGH TO THE END!

[shanafinks]

There will never be another like him. My daughter declared theatre as her major this week and my heart sank. Now that I have seen this, and the movie Bojangles starring the late Gregory Hines, I am proud that she will be a part of this great legacy of entertainment with the way paved in literal blood, sweat, suffering and tears by men and women like him. His contribution to the performing arts will never be forgotten!

[ronniechilds]

My aunt, born around 1920 or so, took tap dancing lessons from him in Richmond, Virginia as a child.

[fancysfolly]

I’ve heard “everything is copesetic” all my life...never knew it came from Mr Bojangles. I guess I’m telling my age! 😊👵🏻

[matthewstrahan]

Thank U for this true story, so educational, instill so much pride, THANKS

[millieil]

Amazing to watch the dancing of a man born in the 19th century! He lived through the Reconstruction, the Guilded Age, two world wars, and the development of technology. Wild!!

[djdigital]

Bojangles reached his peak in his later years. I don't fell so old at age 55. This man was happy doing what he loved to do.

Excellent Biography.

[kaleahcollins]

Shirley asked for Uncle Bill be on the movies it depressed her that the ONLY MAN who treated her as a child protected her and loved her like a father was no longer with her. She once said some of her best and favorite childhood memories was with him

[jackives]

This was a great Bio of a great man. Just started to look at in curiosity, .but couldn't stop watching. Showed me a tremendously great man.

[sharondiane]

Wait.. he was performing like that in his 50s and 60s? Amazing... and he looked marvelous with such a beautiful smile and energy!!!

[nikibrown]

OMW this video is unbelievable. There were some killer parts where I just had to play it over and over again. There are no words to thank you for putting this out here for us. Thank your mother for doing a great job. I'm 71yrs young and so impressed by this. You opened my eyes that made me cry happy and sad. I'm going to play Sammy Davis Jr. now. HALLELUYER!

[sidewinderombre]

I did not know much about Mr. Robinson before watching this. Thank You for sharing.

[mosellafelder]

Mr. Bill Bojangles paved the way for us! Thanks for his story, I really learned a lot and enjoyed his story!!!