Peg Leg Bates facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peg Leg Bates
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Peg Leg Bates performing at the Muscular Dystrophy Marathon, December 1954, Denver, Colorado Colosseum
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| Born |
Clayton Bates
October 11, 1907 |
| Died | December 8, 1998 (aged 91) Fountain Inn, South Carolina
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Tap dancer |
| Awards | Order of the Palmetto |
Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates (October 11, 1907 – December 6, 1998) was an amazing African-American entertainer. He was famous for his unique tap dance style. He danced with a wooden peg leg after losing his own leg as a child.
Contents
The Life of Peg Leg Bates
Early Years and Learning to Dance
Clayton Bates was born on October 10, 1907. His hometown was Fountain Inn, South Carolina. His mother was a sharecropper, working on farms. From a very young age, Clayton loved to dance. By the time he was five, he was already dancing on the streets. People would give him pennies and nickels for his performances.
When he was 12, a sad accident happened. He lost one of his legs in a cotton gin machine. This could have stopped his dancing dreams. But Clayton was determined. His uncle, Wit, made him a simple wooden "peg leg." Clayton then taught himself to tap dance with this new leg. It was a truly remarkable achievement.
By age 15, he was good enough to enter talent shows. He began working for the Theater Owners Booking Association. This group helped Black entertainers find jobs across the United States.
A Star on Stage and Screen
When Peg Leg Bates was 20, he was already dancing on Broadway. He became known for his exciting performances. One famous act was his "Jet Plane" finale. He would leap across the stage and land on his wooden leg. Then he would do a series of backward hops. Trumpet blasts from the band would play along.
Once, at the Paradise Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey, his leg went right through the wooden stage floor! It took half an hour to get him out. After that, the stage was made stronger with metal.
Peg Leg Bates was a very popular performer. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show over 22 times. This was a very famous TV show back then. He also performed for the King and Queen of the United Kingdom twice. This happened in 1936 and again in 1938. During a USO tour for soldiers, he danced with Dixie Roberts. She said he danced better with one leg than others could with two! He also toured Britain with the famous musician Louis Armstrong in the 1950s.
Owning a Country Club
Peg Leg Bates was not just a dancer. He also owned his own business. From 1951 to 1987, he ran the Peg Leg Bates Country Club. It was located in Kerhonkson, New York. He owned it with his wife, Alice E. Bates.
This made him the first Black resort owner in Ulster County. This area was known for its many resorts. He started with just four rooms at his club. By 1985, it had grown to 110 rooms for guests. He leased the resort to others in 1989 after his wife passed away in 1987.
Later Life and Legacy
Peg Leg Bates stopped performing full-time in 1989. But he still loved to dance for people. He performed for senior citizens, children, and people with disabilities. He was also active in the local Ellenville Lions Club.
In his last 10 years, he visited many schools and nursing homes. He would show a video about his life. He also shared his amazing life experiences with everyone. He even helped start a Senior Citizens Center in his area.
In 1992, a documentary film was made about him. It was called The Dancing Man: Peg Leg Bates. It was shown on PBS.
Peg Leg Bates passed away on December 6, 1998. He was 91 years old. He had just performed at an award ceremony in his honor. He was about to receive the Order of the Palmetto. This is the highest award given to a civilian in South Carolina.
Family
Peg Leg Bates was married to Alice E. Bates. They had a daughter named Melodye Bates-Holden.
Honors and Recognition
Peg Leg Bates received many awards for his talent and contributions.
- In 1991, he won the Flo-Bert Award. This award honors great tap dancers.
- In December 1998, he received the Order of the Palmetto. This is the highest civilian award in South Carolina.
- In 2005, he was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame.
His hometown of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, honors him. There is a life-size statue of him in front of the city hall. Signs at the city entrance say "Peg Leg Bates' home town." Also, a road in Ulster County, New York, is named the "Clayton Peg Leg Bates Memorial Highway."
A children's book was also written about him. It is called Knockin' On Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates. It was written by Lynne Barasch and published in 2012.
Images for kids
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Peg Leg Bates performing at the Muscular Dystrophy Marathon, December 1954, Denver, Colorado Colosseum
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Peg Leg Bates backstage after performing at the Denver Muscular Dystrophy Marathon, December 1954
