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’