By Tammy Thornton
Sometimes, one seemingly small decision can send you on a path that changes your whole life. For Celeste Mogab Dunion, opportunity knocked when Tony Grant came to her Granville Avenue School in Margate offering dance lessons. Celeste begged her mom to enroll at Grant’s dance studio, and the rest is history. By the time Tony Grant’s “Stars of Tomorrow” were performing on the Atlantic City Steel Pier in the 1940s, Celeste had become a favorite performer, was teaching new students to dance, and was captain of Tony Grant’s Tonyettes. Dunion jokes that she literally took center stage among the dance team because she was the tallest, so Tony placed her front and center.
Tony Grant’s Stars of Tomorrow was the “America’s Got Talent” of its day, giving young amateur performers a stage to feature their talents such as singing, dancing, ventriloquism, and magic acts. Some of these young stars also performed on the Ted Mack Amatuer Hour and Paul Whiteman’s Goodyear Review, two televised variety shows. As they grew up, many of the performers continued to use their talents thanks to their experiences and encouragement from Tony Grant. Some opened their own dance studios, while others continued on the big stage. Stars like Frankie Avalon and Connie Francis are among the Tony Grant Graduates. Dunion remembers Tony Grant as a generous, caring man that inspired young performers to reach their full potential.
Dunion performed with Tony Grant for years, often appearing on stage with him as his partner in acts such as Stardust Review and the Haunted House routine. She remembers him as an incredible dancer who would encourage children and bring out any little talent they had. In addition to performing on the Steel Pier and Ventnor Pier, the Tonyettes also entertained soldiers at the Haddon Hall Hotel which was serving as a soldiers’ hospital during World War II. They also performed for children at the Betty Bacharach Home for Afflicted Children in Longport. Another memorable show was their performance at the 1949 Kiwanis International Convention. She recalls a breathtaking display as she and the other Tonyette dancers climbed ladders decorated like rose trellises that reached to the tall ceiling of Convention Hall, with the fire department providing safety ropes. Rollers were affixed to their waists, and as they climbed, the Canadian flag unfurled on one side, a cannon was fired and the Canadian national anthem was played. As the second canon shot was fired, the girls turned, and like a Venetian blind, the flag flipped to the American flag on the other side, making a striking scene. While the audience was being wowed, a third cannon was fired and as it rang out, thousands of red, white, and blue balloons were dropped from the ceiling, giving a spectacular show to the crowd of just under 10,000 people that attended the convention that year. Celeste’s mother later marveled that the sight gave her goosebumps.
Three of the original Tonyettes, including Dunion, were accepted into the Radio City Rockettes, but Dunion’s father did not want his 18 year old daughter to join. She did, however, continue to work with Tony Grant until 1954 when she got married and moved away. Dunion also had an extensive modeling career spanning 20 years both locally in the Atlantic City area as well as up and down the East Coast. She worked with the Atlantic City Press Bureau and the Philadelphia Models Guild. She appeared in ads for Captain Starn’s Restaurant and Fishing Pier that they used for the next 30 years. She also modeled for Reliance Motors Inc., Yankee Maid Ham, General Electric demonstrating the first colored televisions, and Ford Motor Company advertising features of new cars to dealers. She made television appearances on Paul Whiteman’s Goodyear Review variety show and Ted Mack’s Amatuer Hour, which was filmed in the Ed Sullivan Theatre. Celeste’s younger sister, Sandie Mogab Belitz, followed in her sister’s footsteps and was a member of the Junior Tonyettes. She recalls also performing on the Paul Whiteman show in the 1950s.
In later years, with four children of her own, Mrs. Dunion remembered the opportunities that Tony Grant had given her and so many others. While working at Rose Tree Media School in Media, Pennsylvania, Dunion created a program for students to showcase their acting, singing, modeling, and photography skills among others. She hoped to bring out their hidden talents and provide great memories as Mr. Grant had done for others. After a long career in finance, Dunion retired and began working as Facilitator of Senior Citizens’ Programs at her local YMCA. While there, she organized a talent show and drew from all of her entertainment and performance training and experiences. Though she now lives in a retirement community in Florida, Celeste Dunion cannot be stopped. She even performed a dance routine at her own 80th birthday party proving she’s still “got it”.
She warmly remembers the opportunities that Tony Grant gave her, how he inspired so many, and “was a beacon in their world.” If you were a member of Tony Grant’s Tonyettes or the Stars of Tomorrow, Shore Local News would love to hear your stories and memories. Please share by contacting the: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
