23 Fascinating Facts About Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow Who Danced Into ‘Wizard of Oz’ History

Remembering Ray Bolger, The Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz,' Who Passed from Bladder Cancer in 1987

A stunningly, superb look at true friendship, with #JudyGarland and Ray Bolger performing and talking together on The Judy Garland Show. | Michael Feinstein

Comment RAY and I’ll send you the full ep! ▶️ Ray Bolger is immortalized as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. But the dance story behind that performance is far deeper, stranger, and more hard-won than most people realize. This episode traces his path from a premature baby in Dorchester, Massachusetts…�to a teenager studying eccentric dancers on Boston sidewalks…�to a vaudeville performer who built his entire vocabulary out of instinct, rubber-limbed comedy, and sheer invention. How did a boy w

We love a good tap break! Here we have Ray Bolger, Bing Crosby, and Marvin Hamlisch promoting the 1976 movie “The Entertainer” on Johnny Carson. | Tap Dance Archive Productions

Ray Bolger is on the Mount Rushmore of comedic tap dancing. His unique dancing style and his comedic timing make for a really entertaining routine. Here we have Ray Bolger jamming with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in 1953’s April in Paris. Check out the full clip on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance #raybolger | Tap Dance Archive Productions