Rockettes 100 - No. 2 - Russell Markert

Russell Markert founded the Missouri Rockets in 1925 and remained the chief choreographer. image-preserver and resident father-figure of the famous troupe until his retirement in 1971. In the era when the Music Hall played to full houses every day of the year, he trained and rehearsed 2,500 Rockettes, young women who had to be 5’5’’ to 5’8’’ tall.

Markert began his professional career on Broadway, graduated from the chorus to dance director of the annual revue ‘Early Carroll’s Vanitites’ and, in St. Louis, in 1925, founded a women’s precision troupe called the Missouri Rockets. While playing in Nw York City, the group was spotted by the impresario “Roxy” Rothoafel, who headlined them at the Roxy Theater as the “The Roxyettes.” They moved to the Music Hall for its 1932 opening and soon became the Rockettes.

Russell's Obituary in the New York Times

(center) Markert with Emily Sherman

(right) 1950s

(left) Russell with Violet Holmes, his successor

(center and right) Russell's retirement party in 1971.