Early Life and the Birth of a Dance Empire

From New York’s ballrooms to a worldwide dance legacy

In 1950, Arthur and Kathryn Murray debuted The Arthur Murray Party on national television — a groundbreaking variety show that brought the elegance and energy of ballroom dancing into living rooms across America. At a time when most TV was limited to sitcoms and static formats, the Arthur Murray Party was revolutionary. It blended real-life dance instruction, celebrity appearances, and lighthearted competitions in front of a live studio audience.

With Kathryn as the radiant host and Arthur as the calm instructor, the show helped demystify dancing and turned it into a form of accessible, weekly entertainment. Her signature sign-off line — “Put a little fun in your life, try dancing!” — became an iconic invitation to viewers coast to coast.

The show’s popularity skyrocketed. Over the years, it featured notable guests like Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Milton Berle — helping boost not only ratings, but also the public’s appetite for dance culture. It ran on major networks (DuMont, CBS, and ABC) from 1950 through 1960, a remarkable feat for a non-scripted series at the time.

As their fame grew, Arthur and Kathryn Murray became household names. They appeared as celebrity guests on game shows like What’s My Line?, The Name’s the Same, and To Tell the Truth. They published books, endorsed consumer products, and became ambassadors of dance during the golden age of television. The show didn’t just entertain — it ignited a movement.

The Arthur Murray Party laid the groundwork for today’s hit dance shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, making it one of the most influential — and perhaps underappreciated — programs in the history of American television.