MochiDreams

Donald O’Connor, 1942

Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly … two of the greatest dancers of all time!

“Nobody else in the business could have taken the beating I gave Donald O’Connor in ‘Singin’ In the Rain’ … Donald comes from vaudeville. He’s disciplined. I’ve seen him rehearse a step a thousand times.”

 ~ Gene Kelly ~

“Working with him? Yeah, he was miserable. No, we had a great time together… I was never offended by Gene, I love the guy too much.”

~ Donald O’Connor ~

You should watch this if you’re sad.

Donald O’Connor (1925-2003)

“I was born and raised to entertain other people. I’ve heard laughter and applause and known a lot of sorrow. Everything about me is based on show business - I think it will bring me happiness. I hope so.”  

Remembering Gene Kelly on his birthday 🌹

Born on August 23, 1912 as Eugene Curran Kelly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Died on February 2, 1996 in Beverly Hills/L.A., California

“My full name is Eugene Curran Kelly. Curran was my mother’s family. Her father came from County Clare. And so I’m Irish on both sides.”

“Writing a scene. Directing a show. Those were more fun. Once a dance is made up and I have to perform it, that’s the least interesting part.”

"Dancing is either learning or teaching. If you’re a dancer, you’re learning. If you’re a choreographer, you’re teaching.”

“In film, a dancer should always be shot from head to toe, because that way you can see the whole body and that is the art of dancing. Nowadays they shoot the nose. Left nostril. Right nostril. Hand. Foot. Bust. Derrière. The film prevents you from determining who is a good dancer and who is not. When they do let them sustain on screen from head to toe, though, then you know they must think the person is a good dancer.” (1985)

“You’re right about the Irish dancers. That’s a phenomenon of the time. The Irish really dominated popular dance in twentieth century America, no doubt about it. I think it came from the fact that the dancing in Ireland for centuries has been clog dancing and reels and these dances certainly influenced the American people in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries so that it actually became part of American tap dancing.”

Lá Breithe Shona dhuit A mhuirnín!  ~  Happy Birthday Darling 💋

Finally coloured and finished my drawing of the bestest video game boy Arin Hanson, now complete with WIP gif. 

“Being a public figure was what I thought I always wanted, but I never imagined the realities that come with it.  When things broke for us a few years ago, I was unprepared for the intensity of certain fans, as well as the isolation and exhaustion that comes from trying to be all things to all people.  There’s a line in (Rush’s “Limelight”) that goes “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend” and it hits very close to home.  As time has passed, I’ve come to fully accept the unusual turn my life has taken.  I am extremely grateful to the fans who have given me my dream career, especially those who allow me the space to live a life away from the spotlight.”