John W. Bubbles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John W. Bubbles
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Portrait (as Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess) by Carl Van Vechten, 1935 Dec. 27.
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John William Sublett
February 19, 1902 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | May 18, 1986 (aged 84) Baldwin Hills, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Vaudeville performer and tap dancer |
John William Sublett (born February 19, 1902 – died May 18, 1986) was an amazing American tap dancer, stage performer, movie actor, and TV star. He was best known by his stage name, John W. Bubbles. He was part of a famous duo called "Buck and Bubbles." They were the first black artists ever to appear on television in the United States! John W. Bubbles is also known as the "father of rhythm tap" because he changed the way tap dancing was done.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
John William Sublett was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 19, 1902. His family soon moved to Indianapolis. There, in 1919, he teamed up with Ford L. "Buck" Washington. They formed their famous duo, "Buck and Bubbles." Buck played the stride piano (a lively piano style) and sang, while Bubbles danced along with his incredible tap steps.
Their act became very popular. In September 1919, the duo moved to Manhattan, New York City. They performed in famous theaters like the Columbia Theater and the Palace. They even shared the stage with big stars like Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Danny Kaye. They also performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Breaking Barriers in Entertainment
Buck and Bubbles appeared in a show called Lew Leslie's Blackbirds in 1930 at the Royale Theatre. After that, they were in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931 at the Ziegfeld Theatre. They made history by becoming the first black artists to perform at the famous Radio City Music Hall.
On November 2, 1936, "Buck and Bubbles" performed live for the BBC in London. This was for the first planned "high definition" (240-line) television program at Alexandra Palace. This made them the first black artists to appear on television anywhere in the world!
John W. Bubbles also performed on Broadway in other shows. He played the role of Scipio in Arthur Schwartz's Virginia in 1937. Later, in 1946, he was Rum in Oscar Hammerstein II's Carmen Jones.
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Working with George Gershwin
Even though he couldn't read music, John W. Bubbles was chosen by the famous composer George Gershwin. Gershwin wanted him to create the role of Sportin' Life in his opera Porgy and Bess in 1935. Since Bubbles didn't understand written music, Gershwin spent time teaching him the songs by turning them into tap rhythms. Bubbles was very creative and sometimes made up his own rhythms, which could be a bit confusing for the other performers! He continued to perform the role of Sportin' Life for the next 20 years.
In 1963, Bubbles sang Sportin' Life's two main songs, "It Ain't Necessarily So" and "There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York," for a studio recording of Porgy and Bess. This recording featured famous singers Leontyne Price and William Warfield.
Teaching Fred Astaire
In 1920, John W. Bubbles gave tap dance lessons to the legendary dancer Fred Astaire. Astaire thought Bubbles was the best tap dancer of his time. In the movie Swing Time (1936), Astaire performed a dance called "Bojangles of Harlem." In this dance, Astaire dressed up like the Sportin' Life character and danced in a style similar to Bubbles, while also honoring another great tap dancer, Bill Robinson.
Movie and TV Appearances
John W. Bubbles appeared in several Hollywood movies in the late 1930s and 1940s. These included Varsity Show in 1937, Cabin in the Sky in 1943, and A Song Is Born in 1948.
Later in his life, he also made appearances on television. One of his last TV performances was on a musical episode of The Lucy Show, which also featured singer Mel Tormé. He also had a special performance on Barbra Streisand's 1967 TV show, The Belle of 14th Street, which celebrated the old days of vaudeville (a type of stage entertainment).
Later Years and Legacy
During the Vietnam War, John Bubbles toured the war zone with the USO. The USO provides entertainment to American troops serving overseas. In 1965, he toured with singer Eddie Fisher, visiting many military bases. In 1967, he performed with Judy Garland in her concerts at the Palace Theatre in New York City, singing "Me And My Shadow." Sadly, that same year, he had a stroke which caused him to be partly paralyzed.
In 1978, John Bubbles spoke at an event in Los Angeles about vaudeville. Someone asked him who the best tap dancer was. Bubbles famously replied, "You're looking at him." Then he added, "Honestly, if I had to name the best dancer, it would be Fred Astaire. He could tap. He had a good teacher. But he could ballroom dance, dance with a partner. All in all, he's the best."
John W. Bubbles performed at the Newport Jazz Festival in New York in 1979. This was one of his last public performances. He passed away on May 18, 1986, at his home in Baldwin Hills, California.
The Father of Rhythm Tap
John W. Bubbles is known as the "father of rhythm tap." This is a special style of tap dance. Before him, many tap dancers, like Bill Robinson, focused on clean, light steps using mostly their toes. But Bubbles added percussive heel drops to his tap style. This made his dancing sound richer and more rhythmic.
He kept the traditional eight-bar rhythm in his dances but allowed for more freedom in the sounds he made. He mixed the creative, unplanned style of jazz music with classic tap techniques. This created a unique sound and look. He would often invent new steps and change his routines to keep them fresh and to make sure audiences loved them.
Awards and Tributes
In 1980, John W. Bubbles received the Life Achievement Award from the American Guild of Variety Artists. In 2002, he was honored by being added to the Tap Hall of Fame.
Many famous people remembered John W. Bubbles. His funny catchphrase, "Shoot the liquor to me, John Boy," was even quoted in songs by artists like The Manhattan Transfer, The Ink Spots, and Louis Armstrong. The pop superstar Michael Jackson greatly admired Bubbles' dancing. Jackson studied his steps for inspiration. In the mid-1980s, Michael Jackson even named his beloved pet chimpanzee "Bubbles" in memory of John Sublett!
Filmography
- Varsity Show (1937)
- Cabin in the Sky (1943)
- Laff Jamboree (1945)
- A Song Is Born (1948)
- The Lucy Show, guest appearance
See also
- List of dancers
