Astaire, Fred, 1899-1987, American dancer, actor, and singer, b. Omaha, Nebr., as Frederick Austerlitz. After 1911 he and his sister Adele formed a successful Broadway vaudeville team. After his sister retired, Astaire became a film actor (1933). He became known as a debonair song-and-dance man, particularly in the films he made with Ginger Rogers, which elevated the tap dance to an elegant, disciplined art. He also danced in movies with Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth, and Cyd Charisse, and on television with Barrie Chase. Among his most notable films are The Gay Divorcée (1934), Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936), Easter Parade (1948), Funny Face (1956), and Silk Stockings (1957). A number of classical dancers, notably Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov, have acknowledged an artistic debt to him.

(born Jan. 22, 1890, Louisa, Ky., U.S.—died Sept. 8, 1953, Washington, D.C.) U.S. jurist. He served in Congress for all but two years during the period 1923 to 1938. After serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals (1938–43), he held high executive positions, including secretary of the treasury under Pres. Harry Truman. He helped establish the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund. From 1946 to 1953 he was chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. During his tenure he favoured Truman's internal security policies and upheld the equal-protection rights of racial minorities.

Learn more about Vinson, Fred(erick Moore) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born June 24, 1915, Bingley, Yorkshire, Eng.—died Aug. 20, 2001, Bournemouth, Dorset) British mathematician and astronomer. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he became a lecturer in 1945. Within the framework of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, Hoyle formulated a mathematical basis for the steady-state theory of the universe, making the expansion of the universe and the creation of matter interdependent. Controversy about the theory grew in the late 1950s and early '60s. New observations of distant galaxies and other phenomena supported the big-bang model and weakened the steady-state theory, which has since generally fallen out of favour. Though forced to alter some of his conclusions, Hoyle persistently tried to make his theory consistent with new evidence. He is known also for his popular science works and fiction.

Learn more about Hoyle, Sir Fred with a free trial on Britannica.com.

known as Mr. Rogers

(born March 20, 1928, La Trobe, Pa., U.S.—died Feb. 27, 2003, Pittsburgh, Pa.) U.S. television host and producer. He produced the local public-television show The Children's Corner (1954–61) and later created a similar program, Mister Rogers, for Canadian television (1963–64). In 1968 he developed it into Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Known for his gentleness and his desire to educate, Rogers, who was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1962, used puppets, music, and guests to teach his viewers about various subjects and emotions. His show, the longest-running U.S. children's television program, garnered many honours. In 2002 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honour.

Learn more about Rogers, Fred (McFeely) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born June 24, 1915, Bingley, Yorkshire, Eng.—died Aug. 20, 2001, Bournemouth, Dorset) British mathematician and astronomer. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he became a lecturer in 1945. Within the framework of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, Hoyle formulated a mathematical basis for the steady-state theory of the universe, making the expansion of the universe and the creation of matter interdependent. Controversy about the theory grew in the late 1950s and early '60s. New observations of distant galaxies and other phenomena supported the big-bang model and weakened the steady-state theory, which has since generally fallen out of favour. Though forced to alter some of his conclusions, Hoyle persistently tried to make his theory consistent with new evidence. He is known also for his popular science works and fiction.

Learn more about Hoyle, Sir Fred with a free trial on Britannica.com.

known as Mr. Rogers

(born March 20, 1928, La Trobe, Pa., U.S.—died Feb. 27, 2003, Pittsburgh, Pa.) U.S. television host and producer. He produced the local public-television show The Children's Corner (1954–61) and later created a similar program, Mister Rogers, for Canadian television (1963–64). In 1968 he developed it into Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Known for his gentleness and his desire to educate, Rogers, who was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1962, used puppets, music, and guests to teach his viewers about various subjects and emotions. His show, the longest-running U.S. children's television program, garnered many honours. In 2002 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honour.

Learn more about Rogers, Fred (McFeely) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Frederick Austerlitz

(born May 10, 1899, Omaha, Neb., U.S.—died June 22, 1987, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. dancer and singer of stage and movies. At age seven he began his popular vaudeville dance act with his sister Adele, and they made their Broadway debut in 1917; they continued dancing in stage hits until Adele retired in 1932. Astaire's successful film appearances with Ginger Rogers began with Flying Down to Rio (1933) and continued until 1939. In the 1940s and 1950s he danced on-screen with Eleanor Powell, Cyd Charisse, and Judy Garland. His singing, though untrained, was admired by the finest songwriters of his time. He retired in 1971 but occasionally appeared in films and on television. His combination of sophisticated, seemingly effortless grace and technical virtuosity revolutionized popular-dance performance.

Learn more about Astaire, Fred with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Frederick Austerlitz

(born May 10, 1899, Omaha, Neb., U.S.—died June 22, 1987, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. dancer and singer of stage and movies. At age seven he began his popular vaudeville dance act with his sister Adele, and they made their Broadway debut in 1917; they continued dancing in stage hits until Adele retired in 1932. Astaire's successful film appearances with Ginger Rogers began with Flying Down to Rio (1933) and continued until 1939. In the 1940s and 1950s he danced on-screen with Eleanor Powell, Cyd Charisse, and Judy Garland. His singing, though untrained, was admired by the finest songwriters of his time. He retired in 1971 but occasionally appeared in films and on television. His combination of sophisticated, seemingly effortless grace and technical virtuosity revolutionized popular-dance performance.

Learn more about Astaire, Fred with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Fred. Olsen & Co. is a large shipping company based in Oslo, Norway.The company was founded by Petter Olsen in 1848. Today it is the holding company that controls the Olsen family's interest through Bonheur and Ganger Rolf.

History

The company was founded by Petter Olsen (1821-1899) in 1848 and, by his death, the company had 16 ships with offices in Hvitsten. Petter's son Thomas Fredrik "Fred" Olsen (1857-1933) or Fred. Olsen, whom the company is named after, took the company from a small business with a few boats into a powerful multinational shipping and ship building business. He had a vision of providing high quality service on a network of lines, at first domestically and, afterwards, internationally. To do this required steam ships, of which the first was acquired in 1897. By 1914 the first motor ship was put in use on the South America line. During the First World War 23 of the companies 44 ships sank.

After the first Fred. Olsen's death, his sons Rudolf Olsen and Thomas Olsen took over the company. During their leadership, the company expanded, even entering the aviation business with its own airline Fred. Olsen Flyselskap in addition to later partial ownerships of Det norske luftfartsselskap, Scandinavian Airline Systems, Widerøe and Sterling Airlines. During the second world war the company's ships were in Allied service, though 28 were lost – about half the fleet. Rudolf died in 1951 and Thomas suffered ill-health from 1955, eventually dying in 1969.

Thomas's son, also named Fred. Olsen (born January 1, 1929), is now in control of the company, after becoming director in 1955. In the early 1970s Fred. Olsen entered the offshore business, with Dolphin drilling rigs and part of Saga Petroleum. The Saga shares were sold in 1991 while Dolphin is now part of Fred. Olsen Energy. Fred. Olsen also had a major share in the construction and engineering company Aker and currently owns Timex Corporation.

The company has also periodically entered the tanking business, operating a total of 40 ships since 1920. In 1973 it sold its tanking interests but reentered the industry again in 1986, creating the publicly listed company First Olsen Tankers in 1993 that was repurchased in 1999. Fred. Olsen Renewables has been involved in wind power since 1997 with wind farms in Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In 1980, it was involved in Nimslo, a company making 3D cameras, which later went bankrupt.

Fred. Olsen is today owned by Anette S. Olsen, the fifth generation of the family and daughter of Fred. Olsen. She took over ownership of Fred. Olsen & Co. in 1995 and has since been CEO, though Fred. Olsen has remained Chairman.

Companies in the Fred. Olsen Group

• Bonheur
• Comarit
• First Olsen Tankers
• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
• Fred. Olsen Energy
• Fred. Olsen Express
• Fred. Olsen Lines (defunct)
• Fred. Olsen Production
• Fred. Olsen Renewables
• Ganger Rolf
• IT Fornebu (minority ownership)
• Norges Handels og Sjøfartstidende (minority ownership)
• Tusenfryd
• Timex

External links

• FredOlsen.co.uk in English
• Olsen and Burns look alike?
• Olsen Spanish interests