Gene Kelly

Re “Gene Kelly Dies; Legendary Dancer Was 83,” Feb. 1:

In the ‘40s and ‘50s I spent numerous Saturday afternoons singing and dancing my way home from the Golden State Theater in East L.A. after Gene Kelly movies.

In the ‘60s, on a trip to Paris, I searched fruitlessly up and down the banks of the Seine for the spot where he danced with Leslie Caron in “An American in Paris” only to realize it must have been the sound stage at MGM.

Thank you, Mr. Kelly, for the magic, the music and the memories.

GLORIA GRAY

West Covina

My father was one of those who was fortunate enough to take dance lessons from Gene Kelly in his basement studio in Pennsylvania. As a young girl I found such joy and magic in dancing with Daddy in the living room (I was Leslie Caron). Watching Kelly’s movies have always returned me to those special times. He was elegant, graceful and yet so down to earth. And he did “dance joy, dance love and dance dreams.” Thanks, Gene, and God bless.

LESLIE DATZ STEWART

West Hollywood

Back in the late ‘70s I took an extension class at Cal State Fullerton that covered the films of Kelly. Gene Kelly himself attended the last meeting, and he was as charming and delightful as his sparkling film persona. The wonderful thing about Kelly? It wasn’t just his feet that danced--those dark Irish eyes danced as well!

JANET WHITCOMB

Rancho Santa Margarita