Betty Grable: Difference between revisions
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| caption = Grable's iconic pose taken in 1943. The famous pose was a [[World War II]] bestseller, that was made to show off Grable's "million dollar legs". |
| caption = Grable's iconic pose taken in 1943. The famous pose was a [[World War II]] bestseller, that was made to show off Grable's "million dollar legs". |
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| birth_name = Elizabeth Ruth Grable |
| birth_name = Elizabeth Ruth Grable |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date| |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|7|18|mf=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[St. Louis, Missouri]], U.S. |
| birth_place = [[St. Louis, Missouri]], U.S. |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1973|7|2| |
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1973|7|2|1908|7|18|mf=y}} |
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| death_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
| death_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
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| death_cause = [[Lung cancer]] |
| death_cause = [[Lung cancer]] |
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'''Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable''' ( |
'''Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable''' (July 18, 1908 – July 2, 1973) was an [[United States|American]] [[actress]], [[dancer]], and [[singer]].<ref>Obituary ''[[Variety Obituaries|Variety]]'', July 4, 1973, page 63.</ref> |
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Grable was celebrated for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. Her [[Cultural icon|iconic]] bathing suit poster made her the number-one [[pin-up girl]] of the [[World War II]] era. It was later included in the ''[[Life magazine|Life]]'' magazine project "[[100 Photos that Changed the World]]". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as thigh (18.5"), calf (12"), and ankle (7.5").<ref>Pin-up, The Tragedy of Betty Grable. Spero Pastos; 1983;.pg. 47</ref> Grable's legs were famously insured by her [[movie studio|studio]] for $1,000,000 with [[Lloyds of London]]. |
Grable was celebrated for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. Her [[Cultural icon|iconic]] bathing suit poster made her the number-one [[pin-up girl]] of the [[World War II]] era. It was later included in the ''[[Life magazine|Life]]'' magazine project "[[100 Photos that Changed the World]]". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as thigh (18.5"), calf (12"), and ankle (7.5").<ref>Pin-up, The Tragedy of Betty Grable. Spero Pastos; 1983;.pg. 47</ref> Grable's legs were famously insured by her [[movie studio|studio]] for $1,000,000 with [[Lloyds of London]]. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born in [[St. Louis, Missouri]] to John Conn Grable (1883–1954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889–1964), the |
Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born in [[St. Louis, Missouri]] on July 18, 1908 to John Conn Grable (1883–1954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889–1964), the oldest of three children, they were June(1909-1999), George(1910-1989) & Ted(1912-2010).Most of her immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of [[Dutch people|Dutch]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[German people|German]] and [[English people|English]] stock.<ref>[http://grableonline.tripod.com/faq-2.html http://grableonline.tripod.com/faq-2.html] ''Grableonline.tripod.com''</ref> |
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Grable was propelled into the acting profession by her mother, making her debut at 12 years old as a [[Chorus line|chorus girl]] in the film ''[[Happy Days (1929 film)|Happy Days]]'' (1929). Her mother soon gave her a make-over which included dyeing her hair platinum blonde. |
Grable was propelled into the acting profession by her mother, making her debut at 12 years old as a [[Chorus line|chorus girl]] in the film ''[[Happy Days (1929 film)|Happy Days]]'' (1929). Her mother soon gave her a make-over which included dyeing her hair platinum blonde. |
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Revision as of 06:56, 7 July 2012
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2011) |
Betty Grable | |
|---|---|
 Grable's iconic pose taken in 1943. The famous pose was a World War II bestseller, that was made to show off Grable's "million dollar legs". | |
| Born | Elizabeth Ruth Grable July 18, 1908 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 1973 (aged 64) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Other names | Frances Dean |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, dancer, singer |
| Years active | 1929–1955 |
| Spouse(s) |
(divorced) (divorced) 2 children |
| Partner | Bob Remick (till her death) |
Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable (July 18, 1908 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, dancer, and singer.[1]
Grable was celebrated for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. Her iconic bathing suit poster made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was later included in the Life magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as thigh (18.5"), calf (12"), and ankle (7.5").[2] Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London.
Grable appeared in several smash-hit musical films in the 1940s, most notable: Mother Wore Tights in 1947, with frequent co-star Dan Dailey. She came to prominence in 1939 when she signed with Twentieth Century-Fox and signed on to appear opposite Ethel Merman in the Broadway musical Du Barry Was a Lady. But it was not until she was called back to Hollywood to replace Fox's musical queen, Alice Faye, in Down Argentine Way, that she became a household name. Throughout her career, Grable was typecast in her stereotype-musical film roles, and when her career faltered in the 1950s, she found it hard to reinvent herself as a serious-trained actress.
During her heyday in the 1940s, had several nicknames during her career like: "the girl with the million dollar legs", "the quick-silver blonde", "the queen of the Hollywood musical", and "the darling of the forties". Grable died in 1973 at age 56 of lung cancer.
Early life
Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 18, 1908 to John Conn Grable (1883–1954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889–1964), the oldest of three children, they were June(1909-1999), George(1910-1989) & Ted(1912-2010).Most of her immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of Dutch, Irish, German and English stock.[3]
Grable was propelled into the acting profession by her mother, making her debut at 12 years old as a chorus girl in the film Happy Days (1929). Her mother soon gave her a make-over which included dyeing her hair platinum blonde.
Career
Early career
For her next film, her mother got her a contract using false identification. When this deception was discovered, Grable was fired. Grable finally obtained a role as a Goldwyn Girl in Whoopee! (1930), starring Eddie Cantor. Though Grable received no billing, she led the opening number, "Cowboys". Grable then worked in small roles at different studios for the rest of the decade, including the Academy Award-winning The Gay Divorcee (1934), starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where she was prominently featured in the number "Let's K-nock K-nees".
In the late 1930s, Grable signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, starring in several B-movies, mostly portraying co-eds. These films included Pigskin Parade (1936), This Way Please (1937), College Swing (1938), and Man About Town (1939).[4] Despite playing leads, the typecasting proved to hurt her career.
In 1939, Grable appeared with her husband Jackie Coogan in Million Dollar Legs, a low-budget B-movie from whose title Grable's nickname was taken. Grable and Coogan divorced later that same year. When her contract at Paramount expired, Grable decided to quit acting, having grown tired of appearing in college films.
Film stardom at Twentieth Century-Fox
In a 1940 interview, Grable said that she was "sick and tired" of show business and had decided to retire. Later she received an unsolicited offer to go on a personal appearance tour, which she accepted. The tour led to Darryl F. Zanuck's offering her a long-term contract with Twentieth Century-Fox. "If that's not luck I don't know what you'd call it" Grable said. "I've had contracts with four studios in 10 years and each time I left one or was dropped, I stepped into something better."[5] She played a part in Buddy DeSylva's Broadway show Du Barry Was a Lady (with Ethel Merman) and a part replacing Fox's suddenly ill leading musical star, Alice Faye, in Down Argentine Way.
Following Down Argentine Way's positive reviews and major success, Grable was cast opposite Alice Faye in Tin Pan Alley. In 1941, she was cast in the Technicolor musical Moon Over Miami with Don Ameche. The film was a major success,
Grable's next film was A Yank in the RAF, a World War II film, in which she co-starred with Tyrone Power, in her first serious leading role in a major Hollywood film. Following the success of this film, Grable was assigned to I Wake Up Screaming, in 1941, a black-and-white film noir co-starring Carole Landis and Victor Mature. Despite receiving critical acclaim especially for Grable's performance, the film was only mildly successful.
In 1942, Grable made three back-to-back musicals: Song of the Islands, Footlight Serenade and her biggest hit to date, Springtime in the Rockies. This film musical teamed Grable with her future husband, Harry James, and also featured Carmen Miranda in a supporting role. 1943 proved even more successful as Grable starred in two of her best-known Technicolor musicals, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and Coney Island. Coney Island was one of the five most successful films of the year.
In 1943, Grable was named by movie exhibitors as the most popular box office draw in the country. She was 20th Century Fox's top money maker, and Darryl F. Zanuck (Fox's chief) named Grable his "favorite" contract player.
Also in 1943, Grable's pin-up picture was taken and resulted in her being cast in Pin Up Girl. The film showcased Grable's photo in several brief glimpses. Pin Up Girl received poor reviews but was a tremendous box-office success. In 1945, she made Diamond Horseshoe with Dick Haymes. The film was a success, and Grable's next film The Dolly Sisters, co-starring June Haver, was one of Fox's biggest hits of the year.
In 1946, Grable appeared as herself in a cameo role in Do You Love Me, her only film appearance that year. Grable came back into the spotlight with the 1947 film, The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, but it was overshadowed by her succeeding project Mother Wore Tights, with one of her most frequent co-stars, Dan Dailey. Mother Wore Tights was Fox's most successful film of 1947 and came to be known as Grable's "signature film".
Her next film, That Lady in Ermine (1948), co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and was only a moderate success. However, Grable's next film, When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) (again co-starring Dan Dailey), was very successful. In 1949, Grable's film The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend was released but was a critical and box-office failure, and Grable's film career began to falter.
Motion picture decline & retirement
In 1950, Grable made two successful films, Wabash Avenue and My Blue Heaven. Wabash Avenue was a remake of Grable's 1943 film Coney Island, and she again co-starred with Dan Dailey in My Blue Heaven.
In 1951, Grable made a film version of Call Me Mister, the 1946 Broadway revue about returning soldiers. A plot was added and new songs by Sammy Fain and Mack Gordon supplemented three Harold Rome songs retained from the revue. This was the last time Grable appeared in a film with Dan Dailey. Call Me Mister had only moderate box-office success. After the release of the 1951 musical Meet Me After the Show, for which she received good reviews for her comedic talent, Grable took a break from acting; she turned down the lead role in The Girl Next Door, a role that eventually went to June Haver.
In late 1952, Grable returned to acting, hoping to star with Jane Russell in Fox's film version of the Broadway musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. However, Fox decided not to use Grable for the picture, in favor of newcomer Marilyn Monroe. She was then placed in a remake of The Farmer Takes a Wife, with Dale Robertson, a critically panned box-office failure.
Grable's last mainstream success for Fox was in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. Some thought Grable and Monroe wouldn't get along, believing Grable was angered that Monroe had replaced her in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. However, Grable and Monroe got along extremely well. Grable was quoted as saying (to Monroe): "Go and get yours honey! I've had mine!" The picture had unusual billing: Grable was first in the film credits, Monroe first in the advertising.
Grable's last musical film appearance was in Three for the Show (1955) with Jack Lemmon. Three for the Show was released by Columbia Pictures, making the film Grable's first motion picture away from Fox since she signed with them fifteen years earlier.
Grable's final film role was in the comedy How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) with newcomer Sheree North. This film was meant to reunite Grable with Marilyn Monroe, but Monroe turned it down, complaining the script was poor. Afterward, Grable wanted the role of Miss Adelaide in the 1956 film Guys and Dolls, but it went to Vivian Blaine.
Personal life
Grable married former child actor Jackie Coogan in 1937. He was under considerable stress from a lawsuit against his parents over his childhood earnings and the couple divorced in 1939.
In 1943, she married trumpeter Harry James. The couple had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica. They endured a tumultuous alcoholism- and infidelity-plagued 22-year marriage before divorcing in 1965. Grable entered into a relationship with dancer Bob Remick, several years her junior, with whom she remained for the rest of her life.
Death
Grable died of lung cancer at age 56 in Santa Monica, California, on July 2, 1973. Her funeral was held two days later and attended by her ex-husband Harry James and Hollywood stars Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Booth, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Alice Faye and Dan Dailey. "I Had the Craziest Dream," the haunting ballad from Springtime in the Rockies, was played on the church organ. Grable was interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery, in Inglewood, California.
Legacy
Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard. She also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and she was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 2009.
Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy, noted on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on April 23, 2007, in an interview with Terry Gross, that Grable was his inspiration for founding the Playboy empire.
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Director | Co-stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Days | 1929 | Chorus Girl | Benjamin Stoloff | Uncredited | |
| Let's Go Places | 1930 | Chorine | Frank R. Strayer | Uncredited | |
| New Movietone Follies of 1930 | 1930 | Chorine | Benjamin Stoloff | Uncredited | |
| Whoopee! | 1930 | Goldwyn Girl | Thornton Freeland | Uncredited | |
| Kiki | 1931 | Goldwyn Girl | Sam Taylor | Mary Pickford | Uncredited |
| Palmy Days | 1931 | Goldwyn Girl | A. Edward Sutherland | Uncredited | |
| The Greeks Had a Word for Them | 1932 | Hat Check Girl | Lowell Sherman | Uncredited | |
| Probation | 1932 | Ruth Jarrett | Richard Thorpe | Grable's first credited role | |
| The Age of Consent | 1932 | Student at Dormitory | Gregory La Cava | Uncredited | |
| Hold 'Em Jail | 1932 | Barbara Jones | Norman Taurog | ||
| The Kid from Spain | 1932 | Goldwyn Girl | Leo McCarey | Uncredited | |
| Cavalcade | 1933 | Girl on couch | Frank Lloyd | Uncredited | |
| Child of Manhattan | 1933 | Lucy McGonegle | Edward Buzzell | ||
| Melody Cruise | 1933 | First Stewardess | Mark Sandrich | Uncredited | |
| What Price Innocence? | 1933 | Beverly Bennett | Willard Mack | ||
| The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi | 1933 | Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito | Edwin L. Marin | ||
| The Gay Divorcee | 1934 | Dance Specialty | Mark Sandrich | ||
| Student Tour | 1934 | Cayenne | Charles Reisner | ||
| By Your Leave | 1934 | Frances Gretchell | Lloyd Corrigan | ||
| The Nitwits | 1935 | Mary Roberts | George Stevens | ||
| Old Man Rhythm | 1935 | Sylvia | Edward Ludwig | ||
| Collegiate | 1936 | Dorothy | Ralph Murphy | ||
| Follow the Fleet | 1936 | Trio Singer | Mark Sandrich | ||
| Don't Turn 'em Loose | 1936 | Mildred Webster | Benjamin Stoloff | ||
| Pigskin Parade | 1936 | Laura Watson | David Butler | ||
| This Way Please | 1937 | Jane Morrow | Robert Florey | Charles 'Buddy' Rogers | |
| Thrill of a Lifetime | 1937 | Gwen | George Archainbaud | The Yacht Club Boys | |
| College Swing | 1938 | Betty | Raoul Walsh | ||
| Give Me a Sailor | 1938 | Nancy Larkin | Elliott Nugent | ||
| Campus Confessions | 1938 | Joyce Gilmore | George Archainbaud | Grable received top billing for the first time | |
| Man About Town | 1939 | Susan Hayes | Mark Sandrich | ||
| Million Dollar Legs | 1939 | Carol Parker | Nick Grinde | ||
| The Day the Bookies Wept | 1939 | Ina Firpo | Leslie Goodwins | Joe Penner | |
| Down Argentine Way | 1940 |
|
Irving Cummings | ||
| Tin Pan Alley | 1940 | Lily Blane | Walter Lang | ||
| Moon Over Miami | 1941 | Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer | Walter Lang | ||
| A Yank in the RAF | 1941 | Carol Brown | Henry King | Tyrone Power | |
| I Wake Up Screaming | 1941 | Jill Lynn | H. Bruce Humberstone | Grable's only straight dramatic role | |
| Song of the Islands | 1942 | Eileen O'Brien | Walter Lang | ||
| Footlight Serenade | 1942 | Pat Lambert | Gregory Ratoff | ||
| Springtime in the Rockies | 1942 | Vicky Lane | Irving Cummings | ||
| Coney Island | 1943 | Kate Farley | Walter Lang | ||
| Sweet Rosie O'Grady | 1943 |
|
Irving Cummings | ||
| Four Jills in a Jeep | 1944 | Herself | William A. Seiter | ||
| Pin Up Girl | 1944 |
|
H. Bruce Humberstone | ||
| Diamond Horseshoe | 1945 | Bonnie Collins | George Seaton | ||
| The Dolly Sisters | 1945 | Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly | Irving Cummings | ||
| Do You Love Me | 1946 | Girl in Taxi (cameo) | Gregory Ratoff | Grable had a cameo as a fan of Harry James's character | |
| The Shocking Miss Pilgrim | 1947 | Cynthia Pilgrim | George Seaton | ||
| Mother Wore Tights | 1947 | Myrtle McKinley Burt | Walter Lang | ||
| That Lady in Ermine | 1948 |
|
|
| |
| When My Baby Smiles at Me | 1948 | Bonny Kaye | Walter Lang | ||
| The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend | 1949 | Winifred Jones | Preston Sturges | ||
| Wabash Avenue | 1950 | Ruby Summers | Henry Koster | Remake of Grable's earlier hit Coney Island | |
| My Blue Heaven | 1950 | Kitty Moran | Henry Koster | ||
| Call Me Mister | 1951 | Kay Hudson | Lloyd Bacon | Remake of Grable's earlier hit A Yank in the RAF | |
| Meet Me After the Show | 1951 | Delilah Lee | Richard Sale | ||
| The Farmer Takes a Wife | 1953 | Molly Larkins | Henry Levin | ||
| How to Marry a Millionaire | 1953 | Loco Dempsey | Jean Negulesco | ||
| Three for the Show | 1955 | Julie Lowndes | H.C. Potter | ||
| How to Be Very, Very Popular | 1955 | Stormy Tornado | Nunnally Johnson |
Short subjects
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References
- ^ Obituary Variety, July 4, 1973, page 63.
- ^ Pin-up, The Tragedy of Betty Grable. Spero Pastos; 1983;.pg. 47
- ^ http://grableonline.tripod.com/faq-2.html Grableonline.tripod.com
- ^ "Hollywood Overlooks a Best Bet In Betty Grable; Others Don't" by Jimmie Fidler, St. Petersburg Times, August 2, 1940, p. 13
- ^ "Betty Grable Says She's 'Plain Lucky'", Spokane Daily Chronicle, August 29, 1940, p. 16
External links
