Texaco Star Theatre with The Rockets Rockets performer Roberts, Henry "Phace" performer Jackson, Andrew performer Thomas, John performer Television/Video 1949-04-19 One in a series of variety comedy programs hosted by Milton Berle and featuring Martha Raye, Basil Rathbone. Following Berle's opening monologue, highlights include dancing by The Rockets, a tap dance trio. Most recognizably, this team has got to be the same steppers as the Four Blazes who performed the one-man dance in Duke Ellington's "Black and Tan": as they take steps directly from that film. All in synchrony; a very swinging arrangement and swinging tapping style: but the moves even include some pirouettes and great breaks. But the unison stepping is right back to "Black and Tan": all hold hands and Phace Roberts straddles between them; a swinging, sliding rhythm dance. In the second change of tune in the nonstop number, each of the dancers solos: slip steps, slides; Phace Roberts slides between them. This is the best and clearest example of the Rockets' work in the forties and attests to their twenty-year career as a precision team. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Museum of Television and Radio Broadcasing: Museum of Television and Radio Broadcasing. (). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.2198