Bob Fosse Then
Born in June of 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, Bob Fosse was quickly drawn to dance. He took lessons as a child, performing professionally at the tender age of 13 before being recruited into the US Navy for the end of World War II. He was part of a variety show, touring and performing at various military bases around the Pacific.
Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, and Kurt Kasznar in ‘Give A Girl A Break,’ 1953. Photo by MGM / Kobal / Shutterstock
After the war, Fosse decided to move to NYC to pursue his dreams of being a world-renowned dancer. He appeared on screen and in several Broadway productions, before moving into choreography and filmmaking. His first film, Sweet Charity, was released in 1969 and was a commercial failure. There was, therefore, a lot of pressure on Fosse to succeed with Cabaret.