Scrapbooks are arranged in chronological order.
Purchase, 2016 February (Accession no. TRI.2016.0015)
[identification of item], Rockettes Collection, SPEC.TRI.RKC, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Processed by Cate Putirskis, 2016 March. Finding aid written by Cate Putirskis, 2016 March.
The Rockettes precision dance troupe was originally formed in 1926 in St. Louis, Missiouri, by Russell E. Markert, and were at that time known as the Missouri Rockets. By 1927, the Missouri Rockets had been brought to New York City by Samuel Rothafel to perform at his Roxy Theatre. Between 1927 and 1934, the dance troupe was known by several different names, reflecting their founder, evolving troupe size, and their primary performance location, including: American Rockets, 16 American Rockets, 32 Roxyettes, Roxyette Dancing Girls, Sixteen Roxyettes, Markert's Roxyettes, 16 Markert Dancers, Markert Girls, Russell E. Markert Dancers, and Radio City Roxyettes.
The dance troupe appeared in several movies shortly after relocating to New York, including:
The Roxyettes performed at the openning of Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932, and in 1934 moved from the Roxy Theatre to Radio City Music Hall, changing their name a final time to Rockettes.
Markert continued to choreograph, direct, and manage the Rockettes until 1971.
The Rockettes Collection contains three original scrapbooks compiled for (and later by) Russell Markert, documenting the activities of the precission dance troupe that eventually became known as the Rockettes. The scrapbooks primarily contain New York City-area newspaper clippings on dancers in the troupe and reviews of troupe performances (all clippings are annotated with date and source). Also present in small amounts are photographs of Markert and troupe dancers; full-length articles from
Scrapbooks are in generally good condition, with some loose items laid in between pages. Most original content remains in the scrapbook, though some original items are no longer present.