Person

Gene Kelly

Not who you're looking for? Others named Gene Kelly: American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer (

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Overview

Gene Kelly (born Eugene Sims) (October 6, 1918 – September 18, 1979) was an American sportscaster, best known as the announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1950s. Early life Kelly was born Eugene K. Sims in Brooklyn, New York on October 6, 1918. He attended Marshall University, graduating in 1941. After graduating Kelly signed a Class C contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but arm trouble prevented him from continuing as a player. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Career Originally, By Saam was the broadcaster for both Philadelphia A's and Philadelphia Phillies games, which was possible because only home games were broadcast live, and the A's and Phillies shared Shibe Park, therefore were never home at the same time. When the announcers began to travel with the teams to road games, a second announcer was needed for the 1950 season. Saam chose to stay with the A's, and Kelly, who had previously been general manager of WXLW in Indianapolis, became the Phillies broadcaster. Over the next decade, his broadcast partners included Claude Haring, Bill Brundige and George Walsh The Phillies fired Kelly after the 1959 season. He then moved to Cincinnati to broadcast Cincinnati Reds games beginning in 1960. At times during his career he was a football announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Big Ten, Notre Dame and Ivy League, as well as announcing the Indianapolis 500 and Philadelphia Warriors basketball games.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“I really don't know why I clicked. I didn't want to be a dancer, I just did it to work my way through college. But I was always an athlete and gymnast, so it came naturally.”
— Quoted in "Gene Kelly's Musical Memories" by Rex Reed, in The Chicago Tribune (November 29, 1970)
“In the 1930s, when I started, Martha Graham was the only dancer doing anything modern, but she did it all to classical music. I couldn't see myself doing Swan Lake every night, and I wanted to develop a truly American style. The only dancer in the movies at that time with any success was Fred Astaire, but he did very small, elegant steps in a top hat, white tie, and tails.”
— Quoted in "Gene Kelly's Musical Memories"
“Fred Astaire represented the aristocracy, I represented the proletariat.”
— Quoted in Vaudeville Old and New, Frank Cullen, Florence Hackman, Donald McNeilly (2004)

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

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Not who you're looking for? Others named Gene Kelly: American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer (

Overview

Gene Kelly (born Eugene Sims) (October 6, 1918 – September 18, 1979) was an American sportscaster, best known as the announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1950s. Early life Kelly was born Eugene K. Sims in Brooklyn, New York on October 6, 1918. He attended Marshall University, graduating in 1941. After graduating Kelly signed a Class C contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but arm trouble prevented him from continuing as a player. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Career Originally, By Saam was the broadcaster for both Philadelphia A's and Philadelphia Phillies games, which was possible because only home games were broadcast live, and the A's and Phillies shared Shibe Park, therefore were never home at the same time. When the announcers began to travel with the teams to road games, a second announcer was needed for the 1950 season. Saam chose to stay with the A's, and Kelly, who had previously been general manager of WXLW in Indianapolis, became the Phillies broadcaster. Over the next decade, his broadcast partners included Claude Haring, Bill Brundige and George Walsh The Phillies fired Kelly after the 1959 season. He then moved to Cincinnati to broadcast Cincinnati Reds games beginning in 1960. At times during his career he was a football announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Big Ten, Notre Dame and Ivy League, as well as announcing the Indianapolis 500 and Philadelphia Warriors basketball games.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“I really don't know why I clicked. I didn't want to be a dancer, I just did it to work my way through college. But I was always an athlete and gymnast, so it came naturally.”
— Quoted in "Gene Kelly's Musical Memories" by Rex Reed, in The Chicago Tribune (November 29, 1970)
“In the 1930s, when I started, Martha Graham was the only dancer doing anything modern, but she did it all to classical music. I couldn't see myself doing Swan Lake every night, and I wanted to develop a truly American style. The only dancer in the movies at that time with any success was Fred Astaire, but he did very small, elegant steps in a top hat, white tie, and tails.”
— Quoted in "Gene Kelly's Musical Memories"
“Fred Astaire represented the aristocracy, I represented the proletariat.”
— Quoted in Vaudeville Old and New, Frank Cullen, Florence Hackman, Donald McNeilly (2004)

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.