Irene Castle, a renowned ballroom dancer of the early 20th century, was born with her husband Vernon Castle, whose birth name was Vernon Blyth. Together, they operated a series of clubs and studios in the New York City area, toured the country, and were able to command a substantial fee of $1,000 per hour for their dance lessons.
Irene and Vernon Castle gained widespread recognition for their exceptional dance skills, and they even appeared in an Irving Berlin musical, "Watch Your Step," and in the film "The Whirl Of Life," where they played themselves. In addition to her work with Vernon, Irene also appeared in numerous films, including the World War I drama "Patria."
Tragedy struck when Vernon, who was a military flying instructor, was killed in an airplane accident just before the end of World War I. Irene later married Robert Treman, a businessman from Ithaca, New York, but unfortunately, he proved to be untrustworthy, stealing her money and losing it on the stock market.
Irene's third marriage was to Frederic McLaughlin, a man 16 years her senior, whom she married for his wealth. However, the relationship turned out to be abusive, and she divorced him. Her fourth and final husband was George Enzinger, an advertising executive from Chicago.
In the later years of her life, Irene dedicated herself to championing animal rights, leaving behind a legacy that extends beyond her impressive dance career.
