Castle, Irene (c 1893–1969)
Castle, Irene (c 1893–1969)
American dancer. Born Irene Foote, April 7, 1893, in New Rochelle, NY; died in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Jan 25, 1969; studied dance with Rosetta O'Neill; m. British-born Vernon Blythe Castle (dancer), 1911 (killed in aviation accident in Texas, Feb 15, 1918); m. Robert E. Treman; m. Frederick McLaughlin; m. George Enzinger, 1946; children: 2.
With 1st husband, invented modern social dancing, becoming one-half of the most famous and admired couples of the day; developed and introduced the fox trot, turkey trot, one-step, and Castle Walk, which became standards in ballrooms throughout the nation; performed in Irving Berlin's 1st musical Watch Your Step (1914); after husband's death (1918), continued to perform on stage and in films; was a popular figure on the vaudeville circuit (1920s) and started the bobbed-hair fad.
See also memoir, My Memories of Vernon Castle (1918); (film) The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; and Women in World History.