This little 2" x 3" picture has been in my family for many years. It is a picture of a young Frederick Austerlitz who was known to the world as Fred Astaire! No, he's not a relative. Fred was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 10, 1899. His father, Fritz E. Austerlitz, worked for the Storz Brewery in Omaha and would travel throughout the midwest on his sales calls. My great-uncle, Edward Stanton, owned a tavern in Ravenna, Nebraska and the senior Austerlitz would often bring his son along with him as he traveled. Young Frederick would sometimes be a guest at my great-aunt and great-uncle's home in Ravenna. This picture appears to be taken at my aunt's home. Unfortunately, the identity of the boy on the right is unknown. We believe he is a relation (a distant cousin, perhaps), but his identity is lost. The picture was probably taken in 1904 or 1905 when Frederick would have been 5 or 6. According to a number of Internet sites, his show business career began in November 1905 when he and his older sister, Adele, began dancing in vaudeville together. There are a number of great Fred Astaire sites including FredAstaire.net and Dance on Air.
I don't think this is a photo of Fred Astaire. Pick up a copy of his autobiography on the first page of photographs (following page 88) there is a photo of him at the age of 5 (Astaire certainly wrote or at least approved these captions himself). He looks nothing like this boy. This boy's face is much thinner. There are some other photos of Astaire in his own book from early his early vaudeville work up until about age 11, and this boy doesn't resemble Astaire in any of those photos. Sure his ears ma have stuck out, but not like that! I'd do a bit more research before I do anything. Plus, Robin Smith Astaire has total control of all images of her late husband...I take it no matter who took them. So, may be it would be better for you all if you don't claim that it is Astaire anyway.
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