Ruby Keeler: A Photographic Biography

by Nancy Marlow-Trump

"You're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star," Warner Baxter told Ruby Keeler in the 1933 film 42nd Street. The actor's scripted words would prove prophetic. The film propelled her to stardom. Ruby Keeler's rags-to-riches story is told in this pictorial biography (with text as well). Born on August 25, 1910 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, her father an iceman, her family moved to New York City in 1912. Soon enrolled in the Professional Children's School, she got her first taste of life on the stage, eventually finding her way to Broadway. Her dancing brought her the pivotal role in 42nd Street and she was soon one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. Her performance in No, No, Nanette in 1971, her first Broadway show in 41 years, met with rave reviews. Keeler's life, including her ill-fated marriage to performer Al Jolson, is recounted here, with many never-before-seen photographs.

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a decent overview of Keeler’s life and career. If you are looking for a detailed account of her life, this may not be the book for you. There is a 2017 biography that may be more detailed, but this book is a good coffee table reader. But it left me with more questions than answers concerning her life and her experiences on the amazing films she did for Warner Bros.

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are no other biographies available about Ruby Keeler and that is a real shame, because she was an adorable presence on-screen. She was a success as a showgirl in speakeasies and on Broadway before she was strangely matched to showman Al Jolson. Then, she transitioned with big success to films, making musicals with Busby Berkeley and Dick Powell. After her few years in the spotlight, she retired and devoted herself to being a wife and mother. She revived her career briefly with No, No, Nanette but chose to remain at home enjoying her family and her talents with a golf club.

This book has sparse biographical information, albiet a bit more than is readily online, and plenty of photographs. They're not the greatest quality. None of them are on photographic paper and some are grainy and pixelated. The author, Nancy Marlow-Trump, was a friend of Keelers. However, there aren't many personal stories shared nor are the words glowing with sincere admiration or emotion. The information written is pretty straight-forward and factual, but it ignores delving deeply into Keeler's relationships with others.