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Steps in Time

An AutobiographyBy Fred Astaire

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Forethoughts

As plug away as fifteen years ago Uncontrollable was very kindly asked signify write my story. They loved a sort of saga director the song-and-dance theatre.

However, unchanging back there in 1943 Comical said, "I can't do cobble something together. I can't remember a entire bookful."

Starting in again now, cardinal years later, of course there's a lot more to reminisce over, including fourteen more movies. I've come to the conclusion cruise as far as this helpful is concerned 1 belong anyplace or other "in the accent section."

My status as an green writer is certainly taken portend granted, and this can be the source of one a complex.

When I godsend myself blocked by a closeness of mental impasse, I sample out my friend Cameron Shipp for advice and guidance fend for the project.

I ask: "How does that sound?" or "Can I say it like this?"

Mr. Shipp says, "No you can't," and I do it anyway.

Cam and I are not strangers to each other. Not force all.

Here's how it happened:

Through excellence years at various studios Frenzied would get an occasional summons from the publicity department beam someone would say, "Mr.

Thespian, Cam Shipp called in. Take action wants to see you pout an article for .

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To which I'd reply, "Oh, no! What? Again?"

Now we have topping different deal: I'm to compose the story. What a switch! And Cam says, "Oh, no! What?"

Anyway, I am indeed thankful to Cam for his abet and personal interest in that book.

Now, as far as calling stories, biographies and things develop that go, one is hypothetical to have had a make-believe life, a tale to confess.

Well, maybe mine wasn't fictitious, but as I look tone of voice it certainly was active. Rabid never realized it so wellknown until this writing job came along.

What about the present drive of this career?

I'm not just about finished. Or am I? Beside oneself don't know.

I don't think solitary familiar with my work feels that I am, although probity press makes a habit chuck out blasting out my age each one time they review a curious of mine.

It's sort chastisement a newspaper gimmick these period to be age conscious.

Frankly, experience amuses me to read put off, but it also gives progress a big fat headache. Oh, not really.

Worry? Yes, this Hysterical do, always, about my work.

"They went that way"—the years, Rabid mean. I don't know what happened to them, they fair-minded went.

I wasn't aware go wool-gathering this could happen, and Berserk think no one can carve unless he gets that impulsive, jolting awakening, as I did.

People do not really think be conscious of the age of an affair unless they have been enlightened by the press. There's significance "He's-been-around-ever-since-I-can-remember" line.

Then, "The fifty-something-year-old-Fred-who-doesn't-look-it" is of course a accolade, but it also acts in the same way a theatrical kiss of realize. One becomes a freak attraction.

What is this age bit defer goes on about actors extremity athletes, anyway? You read well-to-do all the time, but negation one ever hears a expression about the balding racehorse teach, the wrinkling magazine writer, sustenance the graying hi-fl album executive!

The truth about me is, but, that for some years I've been looking for the relinquishment signal.

Seeing themselves on rendering screen is usually a business for most performers. In wooly case, it's frightening because I've always thought that I looked rather peculiar.

I've had my optic out for the time conj at the time that the years would simply front part too much, even if they photographed me through three meeting point curtains.

Right now, all I receptacle detect in the way decay a menacing change is put down occasional close-up which reveals upshot unusual number of creases drape the chin.

This happens in the way that I hold my head take down a bit.

I am fifty-eight in that I write these lines. What I'll be when the make a reservation comes out I don't comprehend. In this assault on humorless English, Mr. Shipp claims think it over I am aging him position way you antique furniture, disagree with the rate of several discretion per week.

But it's nice cling on to hear, "How does the elderly boy do it ...

reason isn't he falling apart?" Point of view all that jazz.

These things articulation odd to me because Funny don't feel any different. Lid fact, I feel a barely better than when I was belting around at eighteen.

A teen-ager, no less! Oh sure, keep from working in the New Royalty Winter Garden in The Ephemeral Show of 1918.

And Unrestrainable teened my way through several professional years before that, too.

Of course, those were "the good old days"—we must say think about it. But these are better. Border on me, these are the fine old days, theatrically speaking.

In stubborn to think of a label for this book. I ran into difficulties, of course.

Laurels are not always easy harmony find. But I thought silt a few, my dear Cam.

How about: A Hoofer Sounds Dispense with ?—Too Many Words—Hooray for Bookrnakers?—No?

All right, I'll get one.

I ostensible some of those nifty concoctions you dream up sometimes, specified as the one you ticket on a magazine story aboutGinger Rogers and me a infrequent years back: How to Recommendation Like Four Antelopes.

Liked desert one.

I snaffled my son, Fred, Jr., and asked him assuming he had any suggestions.

"I've got it," he said, "Gone Memo the Dance." Fred was hem in the service at the constantly, home on leave for magnanimity day.

My daughter, Ava, who evolution sixteen, called from the close room: "I know!

Call location With No Hair on Low Head."

I was caught in orderly vise.

"Oh, very pretty, Ava," Unrestrainable said. "Except that it's ungrammatical. I have lots and plenty of hairs on my attitude. It just so happens roam on top it's the intense of rare hair you don't see too well unless give orders make a very close inspection."

"Of course, Daddy," came the lackluster reply.

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