Remembering Tap Dancer Jeni LeGon (1916-2012)

Tribute and fan site honoring actress and tap dancer Jeni LeGon.

About Jeni LeGon
FULL NAME: Jeni Bell Ligon
STAGE NAME: Jeni LeGon
DATE OF BIRTH: August 14, 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH: Chicago, Illinois, United States
DATE OF DEATH: December 7, 2012 (age 96)
PLACE OF DEATH: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
FATHER: Hector Ligon
MOTHER: Harriet Bell Ligon
OLDER SISTER: Mary Belle Ligon
HALF SISTER: Willa Mae Lane (dancing partner)
HUSBAND: Married Phil Moore in 1943, they later divorced
COMPANION LATER IN LIFE: Frank Clavin, Vancouver drummer

Videos of Jeni Jeni LeGon Dancing

Timeline of the Life of Jeni LeGon
1916: Born in Chicago, Illinois
1928: Graduated from Sexton Elementary School
1930: Auditioned for Count Basie's chorus line at age 13.
1931: Became member of "Whitman Sisters" dance troupe.
1933: Formed "LeGon and Lane" tap duo with half sister Willa Mae Lane
1935: Discovered by Earl Dancer, former manager of Ethel Waters
1935: Danced with Bill Robinson in "Hooray for Love"
1943: Married Phil Moore, composer and arranger
1969: Moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1999: Doumentary Film "Jeni LeGon: Living in a Great Big Way"
2002: American Tap Dance Foundation Hall of Fame
2012: Died in Canada at age 96

More Photos of Jeni Jeni LeGon
- Jeni LeGon 1937 "Flash Magazine" Cover
- Jeni LeGon in 2009 (credit Joe Mabel / Century Ballroom)

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Honors Received by Jeni Jeni LeGon

2002 Dr. of Performing Arts
Jeni LeGon was presented with an honorary " Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance " degree from Oklahoma City University in 2002.

1999 Documentary Film

In 1999 the National Film Board of Canada released a 48 minuite documentary film about her life entitled "Jeni Le Gon: Living in a Great Big Way". The film was directed by Grant Greshuk and produced by Selwyn Jacob.
National Film Board of Canada's 2007 Catalog
(The Jeni LeGon DVD is ID EB-9199-086. For more information contact the NFBC store's customer service department at customerserviceusa at nfb.ca.

Also Honored By:
- Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
- National Congress of Black Women

Film Appearances of Jeni Jeni LeGon

More About Jeni LeGon
- Appeared in Fat's Waller's musical "Early to Bed"
- Studied African Dance with Katherine Dunham
- Appeared in Amos and Andy TV Series in the 1950's
- Founded a Los Angeles school of dance in the 1950's with a Russian ballet teacher
- Toured with dance troupe "Jazz Caribe" in the 1960's
- Settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Worked with Troupe One" i the 1970's
- Traveled to london with the "Pelican Players" in the 1980's

1930's Filmography of Jeni LeGon
1935: "Hooray for Love" (first film, danced with Bill Robinson)
1936: "Dishonour Bright" (played a cabaret dancer)
1936: "Broadway Melody of 1936" (her scenes were cut from the film)
1937: "Ali Baba Goes to Town" (starred Eddie Cantor)
1937: "The Adventerous Blond" (uncredited role as a maid)
1938: "Fools for Scandal" (played herself)
1939: "Double Deal" (played Nita)

1940's Filmography of Jeni LeGon
1940: "I Can't Give You Anything But Love Baby" (played Annie)
1940: "While Thousands Cheer" (played Myra)
1940: "Glamour for Sale" (uncr3edited role as a maid)
1941: "Sundown" (played Miriami)
1941: "Birth of the Blues" (uncredited role as black girl in jail)
1941: "Bahama Passage" (uncredited role as Mary's maid)
1942: "This Was Paris" (uncredited role as cabaret dancer)
1942: "Take My Life" (played Helen Stanley)
1941 or 1942: "Arabian Nights" (played a dresser)
1943: "My Son, The Hero" (Lambie)
1943: "I Walked With a Zombie" (danced as herself)
1943: "Stormy Weather" (uncredited dancer)
1047: "Hi De Ho" (played Minnie)
1948: "Easter Parade" (uncredited maid, felt snubbed by Fred Astaire)
1949: "I Shot Jessie James" (played Veronica)

1950's Filmography of Jeni LeGon
1952: "Somebody Loves Me" (uncredited role as a maid in "Rosie's Room")
1953: "Bright Road" (uncredited role as teacher Martha Swife)

Most Recent Jeni LeGon Film Roles
1987: "Home Is Where the Hart Is (played Wanda Fuchn)
2001: "Bones" (played Window Granny)

Resources

ATDF "Jeni LeGon" Article

History Makers "Jeni LeGon" Article

Wikipedia "Jeni LeGon" Article

Vancouver Sun Jeni LeGon Obituary

Washington Post Jeni LeGon Obituary