Bill Robinson's 60th Birthday Tap Dance Down Broadway Robinson, Bill "Bojangles" performer Social Event 1939-05-25 On May 25, 1939, in honor of his 60th birthday, Bill Robinson, who was starring in "The Hot Mikado" on Broadway at the time, danced through the streets, 60 city blocks, one for each year of his life. He began above Columbus Circle, danced down Broadway to 44th Street, and east to the Broadhurst Theatre where his show was playing. Beginning at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Robinson did his 60-block dance and then, after a shower, rubdown and a couple of hours rest, went on for his regular evening performance. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Fletcher, Tom: 100 Years of Negro in Show Business. New York: Burge (1954). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (biography) loc.music.tdabio.154 tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.734