Vernon Castle

Vernon Castle (1887 – 1918) and his wife Irene were the best known ballroom dancers of the early 20th Century. Vernon was born in Norwich in 1887, emigrating to New York in 1906. From 1906 through 1913 he appeared in nine Broadway musicals. Vernon (as a military flying instructor) fought in World War I, but was killed in an airplane accident shortly before the end of the War.  Vernon and Irene were the subjects of the movie The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.