Glenn Turnbull

Steve Virgen

The beat goes on.

Inside the mind and body of Glenn Turnbull there seems to be a

unique rhythm that keeps this vibrant man so refreshed. At 82,

Turnbull, a renowned tap dancer, continues to blend his talent in his

game and in his life. Turnbull has been an avid tennis player

throughout his adult life. His rhythm has been the source for his

success in tennis and his Jimmy Stewart-like life.

“Dancing is just the greatest thing in the world,” said Turnbull,

who lives in Corona del Mar. “My whole world is built around rhythm.

I play tennis with a certain rhythm and I dance with my own rhythm.”

For Turnbull, his dancing days started when he was 11 and he

attended the Fanchon and Marco Dancing School on Sunset Blvd in Los

Angeles. Ever since, he has always tried to become a better dancer.

And, when he found his niche, his career really took off.

In the 1950s, Turnbull became a fascinating feature in, “The

Wayward Way,” a show based on “The Drunkard,” one of the longest

running shows in Los Angeles history. Turnbull played the preacher

and had a captivating dance number when he performed a marriage

ceremony for the heroine.

Turnbull’s tap dancing, known as legomania, was what provided

excitement for the crowd.

“I was strictly a tap dancer, a clacker,” Turnbull said. “I was

actually a legomania dancer, and that’s an eccentric type of tap

dancing, and there wasn’t too many of us around. The greatest was Hal

Leroy. I patterned myself after him. He was a big, tall guy and

weighed practically nothing. He had that art of the loose limb tap

dancing. In other words you don’t direct your feet, but you throw

them out there and you make the people go crazy.”

Turnbull took his act to the Jack Benny Show and also made a

candid appearance on the Groucho Marx Show. While his dance career

was in its prime, Turnbull joined the Balboa Bay Club. He would

commute from L.A. to Newport Beach, just to fulfill his love for the

game of tennis.

When he couldn’t make it to the club, he would play against

Hollywood stars at a nearby tennis court. He would usually play with

or against Johnny Carson.

“I did the Jack Benny Show for about five years,” Turnbull said.

“I danced on all sorts of shows. I choreographed some shows. It was a

very busy time for me. I was working my fanny off. But it was fun.”

While no stranger to work, Turnbull eventually became the tennis

director at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club. Bob Ogle now holds that

position. Next month, Turnbull will be the chairman of the club’s

annual senior tournament.

Four months ago, Turnbull injured his right leg, but he says if he

gets the OK from his doctor he will play. Turnbull said he injured

the leg when he went out for his usual morning jog.

“It’s the first leg injury that I have ever had in my life, but I

keep hoofing [dancing],” Turnbull said. “I was laid up for about 10

days before I got back to teaching tap dancing. But the tennis was a

little too much.”

Turnbull said he has been enjoying retirement. He has been married

to wife, Betty, for 61 years and they have one son, Mark, a musician

and writer, and one daughter, Glenda, who works at the Balboa Bay

Club.

When Turnbull overcomes his injury, he plans to play in at least

three tournaments a year. He has been going through rehabilitation

for the past four months and has been noticing improvements.

“I plan on playing,” said Turnbull, who won many tournaments in

his 60s. “I’ll be back as soon as the doctor gives me the OK on the

right leg. I’ve played in hundreds of tournaments, even after

retiring. I would be playing at least one tournament a week if the

leg was OK.”