Spoiler : Ruby Keeler began appearing as a singer and dancer in nightclubs when she was 13 years old, after dropping out of the sixth grade at Catholic school. She would work at two or three clubs a night, making a minimum of $150 a week. Her iceman father, Ralph, had costly medical problems, and she became the Keeler family breadwinner.

Spoiler : Ruby Keeler (1909 ~ 1993) Keeler was an early musical favorite - tap dancing (and teaming often with Dick Powell) in Warner Bros. musicals such as: "42nd Street" (1933), "Gold Diggers of 1933" (33), "Footlight Parade" (33), "Dames" (34), "Flirtation Walk" (34), "Go Into Your Dance" (35), "Shipmates Forever" (35), "Colleen" (36), "Ready, Willing and Able" (37) and "Sweetheart of the Campus" (41). She appeared in a total of only 14 films, basically retiring early. Ruby was married to Al Jolson from 1928 to 1940. She passed in 1993 at age 83.

Spoiler : She was quite a tap dancer.

Spoiler : Loved her instantly since the first time I watched 42nd Street (1933).

Spoiler : Happy heavenly birthday to Ruby Keeler, born on August 25, 1909! A self-taught dancer from a young age, Ruby scored her first job in the chorus of a George M. Cohan production in 1923 - - the 13 year old lied about her age as dancers were to have been at least 16 years old. Her $45 weekly salary helped her financially strapped parents and five siblings.

Spoiler : At 14 years old, Ruby was hired by the publicity manager for Loews Theaters, where she was noticed by Broadway producer Charles B. Dillingham. It was while she was appearing on Broadway that famed producer Florenz Ziegfeld sent her roses along with a request to make her a star.

Spoiler : In the meantime, she had met "The World's Greatest Entertainer" Al Jolson when she was sent to L.A. by Lowes Theaters to assist in the marketing campaign for THE JAZZ SINGER. Jolson, then 42, and the hottest property in Hollywood was immediately smitten with the 18 year old Ruby and love bombed her with attention and gifts, that included a reported $1 million dowry. The couple married in September of 1928 and were accompanied on their honeymoon by Broadway columnist Mark Hellinger, who chronicled the event for the NY Daily News . It was Jolson's third marriage and while Ruby's career was on the upswing, his was on the downturn.

Spoiler : Ruby made a brief cameo appearance on film in 1930 but hit paydirt in 1933 with appearances in 42ND STREET, GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 and FOOTLIGHT PARADE. Paired with Dick Powell, she became known as the world's fastest tapper, thanks to her expert dancing.

Spoiler : She and Jolson would remain married for over 11 years, despite his poor treatment of her. When they divorced, Ruby elected to retire from show business until an appearance on THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW in the 1950s and a few television appearances in 1964. She returned to Broadway in 1971 and made her last screen appearance in BEVERLY HILLS BRATS in 1989.

Spoiler : She remarried in 1941 and had four children with her second husband (she and Jolson had adopted a son during their marriage.) She co-presented the Oscar for Best Song at the 1979 awards ceremony, where she received a standing ovation.

Spoiler : Back in her New York days, as a chorus girl, Ruby had been looked after and protected by a gangster named Johnny Irish, an ally of the infamous Dutch Schultz. It was reported the relationship was platonic but Irish took an interest in her due to her young age, naivete and Irish background, like his own. It was Johnny Irish to whom Al Jolson went to when he asked Ruby to marry him and it was Irish who told Jolson that if he ever mistreated Ruby, he would pay for it with his life. Despite Jolson's poor treatment of Ruby, the threat never came to pass.

Spoiler : Happy heavenly birthday, Ruby Keeler! (born August 25, 1909)

Spoiler : This sweet entertainer aged naturally and gracefully. She was a very gifted and strong dancer! Ruby Keeler was a real entertainer.