Follow the Fleet

Ralph Allen Massey (b. 1938, California) “Follow the Fleet” (2013) Acrylic painting and gouache on a wood panel, signed and dated 12-28-13 in white on the blue painted lower right side of the panel (not part of the image). The work of art measures 31 x 26 inches. It is an original pop art painting based on a poster for the 1936 RKO musical comedy film titled, “Follow the Fleet” starring dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The image features Ginger Rogers (singing!) with her backup trio of Jeanne Gray, Betty Grable, and Joy Hodges performing a number called “Let Yourself Go” wearing satiny sailor suits at the Paradise Ballroom in a show-within-a-show dance contest routine. The film contained music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and Lucille Ball had a supporting role. See the black and white photo from the movie on which Massey’s artwork is based.
‘Follow the Fleet’ is a 1936 American RKO musical comedy film with a nautical theme starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their fifth collaboration as dance partners. It also features Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard, and Astrid Allwyn, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Lucille Ball and Betty Grable also appear, in supporting roles. The film was directed by Mark Sandrich with script by Allan Scott and Dwight Taylor based on the 1922 play Shore Leave by Hubert Osborne. Also memorable was the delightful show-within-a-show dance contest routine in the Paradise Ballroom titled Let Yourself Go (pictured) with Ginger Rogers wearing a satiny sailor suit - in the number (pictured), Rogers also sang the tune (her one solo singing performance in the entire set of Astaire/Rogers films) while backed by a trio of Jeanne Gray, Betty Grable, and Joy Hodges.