Louis Simms Carpenter

(May 7, 1912 - Nov, 2000, New York, NY)

Louie began his dance career at the age of twelve and performed at the Club Alabam in downtown New York. From 1924 to 1935, he toured the vaudeville circuit, and for two years, he was featured in Eddie Dowling’s Broadway musical, “Honeymonn Lane”, which was Kath Smith’s first Broadway show. As a member of the Four Flash Devils, which pioneered the new trend of flash/acrobatic tap dancing in the 1930s, he traveled Europe extensively in the late 1930s and 1940s, including nine months at London’s Palladium, the longest running show in the history of the Palladium. Thereafter, he returned to the U.S. and formed an act called Simms and Booie.

Louie was noted for his innovative soft shoe routine featuring the Trenches, a step he performed with excellence.

Last updated: June 12, 2005

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