Before The Fame
Eugene Curran Kelly also known as Gene Kelly was born on August 23, 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He became the middle son of five children; Harriet, James, Eugene, Louise, and Frederic (Shown in the picture above). At the age of fifteen, Kelly played semi-professional hockey, but also played football, baseball, and participated in gymnastics. His mother, Harriet later enrolled him and his brother Fred into dance instead of playing sports. At first like many boys in that era he didn't want to dance but after he became popular with the girls he decided to stick with it. After graduating high school Gene left for Pennsylvania State College, but because of the Great Depression, he moved back home and attended the University of Pittsburgh in order to save the cost of room and board. Gene had odd jobs to pay for his tuition: he dug ditches, worked at a soda fountain, and pumped gas, then worked at his family owned dance studio where he taught for six years. In 1937 he left for New York City after being there for a week he got his first job working in theater. After working three years at the theater, he got his big break when he became the lead in Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey. Little did he know that, that play would change his life since Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) executive Louis B. Mayer was seating in on the play and witnessed Kelly's astronomical enactment. After his performance Louis B. Mayer offered Gene a movie contract with his studio. From that moment he embarked in a journey of a life-time.