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Life
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Parents, Died
Parents of Bill, Maria and Maxwell Robinson died and Bill was taken in by his grandmother, Bedilia, who had been a slave. -
Quit School
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Early Tapping
In 1886, at the age of 9, he joined Mayme Remington's touring troupe. -
First Job
He got his first professional job in 1892, performing as a member of the pickaninny chorus for Mayme Remington with The South Before the War -
Challenging the stars
When Robinson arrived in New York in 1900, he challenged the In Old Kentucky star tap dancer Harry Swinton to a Buck-dancing contest and won. -
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Two-Colored Rule
From 1902-1914, he teamed with George W. Cooper. Bound by the "two-colored" rule in vaudeville, which restricted blacks to performing in pairs, they performed together on the Keith and Orpheum circuits, but did not wear blackface makeup that performers customarily used. -
Break from Career
In 1908, Robinson met Marty Forkins, who became his manager. Forkins urged Robinson to develop his solo act in nightclubs. Robinson took a break from performance to serve as a rifleman in World War I. Along with fighting in the trenches, Robinson was also a drum major who led the regimental band up Fifth Avenue upon the regiment's return from Europe. -
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Orpheum Circuit
Hailed as "The Dark Cloud of Joy" on the Orpheum Circuit, he performed in vaudeville from 1914-1927 without a single season's layoff. -
Going Solo
In 1915, Bill Robinson split with George and begin his solo career. -
Married
In 1922, he married Fannie Clay who became his business manager, secretary, and partner in efforts to fight the barriers of racial prejudice. -
Broadway
Broadway fame came with the all-black revue, Blackbirds of 1928, in which he sang and danced "Doin' the New Low Down." Success was instantaneous. He was hailed as the greatest of all dancers by at least seven New York newspapers. -
First Film
His first film, Dixiana (1930) had a predominantly white cast. -
Mayor of Harlem
A founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America, Robinson was also named "Mayor of Harlem" in 1933. -
First all Black Film
Harlem is Heaven (1933) was the first all-black film ever made. -
Films Made
Other films include Hooray For Love (1935), In Old Kentucky (1935), The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935) -
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple came his way and in 1935, costarred with and coached her in “The Little Rebel” which was a huge success. Robinson would continue to make over 17 Movies in all. -
Death
When Robinson died in 1949, newspapers claimed that almost one hundred thousand people turned out to witness the passing of the funeral procession. -
National Museum of Dance
He was inducted into the National Museum of Dance, New York in 1987. -
National Tap Dancing Day
the US Congress named his birth date as National Tap Dancing Day. -
Hall of Fame
Bill Robinson was inducted into the tap dance hall of fame.
