Vernon Castle, a renowned ballroom dancer of the early 20th century, shared the spotlight with his wife Irene Castle as the most celebrated ballroom dancing duo of their time. Beginning around 1914, they managed a cluster of clubs and studios in the New York City metropolitan area, embarked on nationwide tours, and were able to command a substantial fee of up to a thousand dollars per hour for their lessons.
Prior to his dancing career, Vernon Castle had a successful stint on the Broadway stage, appearing in nine musical productions between 1906 and 1913. These included "The Sunshine Girl", "The Lady of the Slipper", "The Hen-Pecks", "The Summer Widowers", "Old Dutch", "The Midnight Sons", "The Mimic World", "The Girl Behind the Counter", and "About Town". In 1914, he shared the stage with Irene in the Irving Berlin musical "Watch Your Step".
Vernon Castle's life was tragically cut short when he was killed in an airplane accident shortly before the end of World War I, while serving as a military flying instructor.
Vernon and Irene Castle's remarkable story was immortalized in the 1939 movie "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle", showcasing their remarkable partnership and achievements in the world of ballroom dance.
