Among the luminaries attending her funeral were her ex-husband Harry James, Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Booth, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Alice Faye and Dan Dailey. Betty Grable was a beloved Hollywood actress that became the highest-paid star of her time after working her way up for years in the entertainment industry.Contents of this video00:00 - Intro00:32 - Body06:56 - OutroLike this content? She was then married to trumpeter Harry James in 1943. Grable's last mainstream success for Fox was in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. Not every starlet was so eager to fall into bed with Marilyn. She once admitted, People talk about my legs as if I were a centipede, ardently wishing that the public would focus more on her acting than her physical assets. [22], In 1932, she signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures, and she was assigned to a succession of acting, singing, and dancing classes at the studio's drama school. [35], After five years of constant work, Grable was allowed time off for an extended vacation. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. With her mother's guidance, Betty studied ballet and tap dancing.Betty and her mother set out for California with the hopes of stardom. December 18 Actress #11. Among them were Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Booth, Mitzi Gaynor, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Alice Faye, Johnnie Ray, and Dan Dailey. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. She played the title role in the musical film, Sweet Rosie OGrady in 1943. Afterward, Grable wanted the role of Miss Adelaide in the 1956 film Guys and Dolls, but the role went to Vivian Blaine after Grable skipped a meeting with the film's producer, due to the fact that her pet dog was sick. While working on How to Marry a Millionaire, Grable was under no illusions that her star was fading, or that Monroe and her ample bosom were about to replace her and her legs in the public consciousness. Betty's father, who went by the name Conn, was a stockbroker, and her mother focused her energy on show business aspirations for her daughters. She struggled to make it in movies for years. She had German, English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. Grable might have been a successful child performer around her local area, but eventually all this stress caused multiple issues for the little girl. King Lear's daughters were named Goneril, Regan and In retaliation, Zanuck fired Grable from the next film she had lined upand in so doing, he changed cinema history. The lavish musical used the pin-up photograph in many scenes, which boosted the photo's sales. She led the opening number, Cowboys. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". Her father was a stockbroker. Betty Grables sly smile turned toward the camera is one of the most iconic images in history. Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe. Although she received no on-screen credit for her performance, she led the film's opening musical number, titled "Cowboys". Google Search Trends of Betty Grable. Fox, being a bunch of money-grubbing men, staunchly denied Grables request. Despite her success, she suffered from having a fear of crowds and sleepwalking. One way to cheer up the servicemen was through pin-up photographs of famous actresses, which they made into posters and shipped overseas. However, she changed her mind and decided to take her chance on Broadway; she accepted Buddy DeSylva's offer to star in his musical DuBarry Was a Lady, starring Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr. Many Hollywood stars came to the funeral as well. Grable, Betty,--1916-1973--Family All Saints' Episcopal Church (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Daughters--California--Los Angeles Funeral rites and ceremonies--California--Beverly Hills Undertakers and undertaking--California--Beverly Hills Church buildings--California--Beverly Hills Anglican church buildings--California--Beverly Hills The beauty of her legs was so famous that her studio got her legs insured for $1,000,000, giving her the nickname, The girl with the million dollar legs. While her girl-next-door image has endured through the 21st century, the reality of her dark, dramatic life was anything but ideal. When the counting part begins, the rope is swung overhead. Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on December 18, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Lillian Rose (Hofmann) and John Conn Grable, a stockbroker. Paramount lent her to 20th Century-Fox to co-star in the adolescent comedy Pigskin Parade (1936). Betty Grable really tried her best to make it work after moving to Nevada. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Yeah, she wasthat big. We want our readers to trust us. She requested a higher salary and the option to make only those films she wanted to do. She played Ruby Summers in the Wabash Avenue in 1950. For all her immense fame, this girl just couldnt seem to catch a casting break. She, therefore, enrolled to participate in beauty contests winning most of them. Sister of Victoria Elizabeth James. [12] [7] Personal life [62], Her iconic pin-up image was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential Photographs of All Time. The second movie, I Wake Up Screaming, released in November, had Grable receiving top billing as Jill Lynn, the sister of a young model who is murdered. Grable was irresistible to studios from almost her first role, and when she starred in 1936s Pigskin Parade, it was under an unusual agreement. Betty had two children with her ex-husband Harry James, named Victoria Elizabeth 'Vicki' Bivens, and Jessica Yahner. She portrayed a burlesque queen in a dance hall in Chicago. Stardom came in such comedies as Coney Island (1943) and Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943).The public was enchanted with Betty. Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on December 18, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of three children of Lillian Rose (ne Hofmann; 1889-1964) and John Conn Grable (1883-1954), a stockbroker.Her siblings were Marjorie Lucille Arnold (nee Grable; 1909-1980) and John Karl "Jackie" Grabel (1914-1916). The film was a remake of the 1935 film of the same name. Entertainment - Actress. The film's success led to Grable's casting in Tin Pan Alley (1940), co-starring Faye. She was propelled into the acting profession by her mother. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . In 1949, although she still placed in the top 10, she slipped from second to seventh place in popularity. First Name Betty #9. The release of the film was surrounded by a massive publicity campaign, but despite the promotion, the film failed to fulfill its hype, and many critics complained of the lack of chemistry between Grable and North. This led to a heartbreaking habit. Betty Grable Popularity. town. The film was an immediate hit, Grable's biggest success to date, grossing more than $2 million. Soon after James and Grable started seeing each other, she had an unpleasant visit from the Ghost of Boyfriends Past. 'Daughters and mothers: mothers and daughters' -- subject(s): See our terms of use for more tips. The results were scandalous. As the starlet once quipped, I became a star for two reasons, and Im standing on them.. My mom never told me how her best friend died. She retired from the movie industry in 1955, and never returned. [12] [7] Personal life [ edit] Birthday: December 18, 1916 (Sagittarius), Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States. They briefly toured on vaudeville and his success boosted hers, but they divorced in 1940. It may be hard to believe considering the stature of Grables talent and fame, but she was incredibly insecure about her abilities. It was 1916 - Marjorie was 6 and their little son John had just died. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Why Famous: World War II Era Pin-Up Girl. At the time of its release, the film received positive reviews, with many critics singling out the obvious on-screen chemistry between Grable and Power. In 1941, she was cast in the Technicolor musical Moon Over Miami, again with Don Ameche, her co-star in Down Argentine Way. Zanuck tried, on multiple occasions, to cast her in films that challenged her acting abilities, but Grable was reluctant; she felt insecure about her talent and this made her unwilling to accept roles she felt required too much of her. Page 18. Was she really a model wife and. In the 1960s, Grable found herself broke and out of the Hollywood studio system that had once rocketed her to fame. Or there is the 6-bedroom 4,000 square foot Betty Grable Estate. Grable entered into a relationship with a dancer, Bob Remick, several years her junior. Both films capitalized Grable tremendously, with Coney Island, ranking one of the top five successful films of the year. Variety wrote that the film "makes no pretenses of ultra-realism", but also called it "very pleasing and pleasant". Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. See all Betty Grable's marriages, divorces, hookups, break ups, affairs, and dating relationships plus celebrity photos, latest Betty Grable news, gossip, and biography. She was entered in multiple beauty contests, many of which she won or for which she achieved considerable attention. Later, she starred in big Las Vegas stage productions such as Hello, Dolly. The plot only thickened from there. On Feud, Shipka portrays a young version of B.D. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. Her father, John C. Grable, was the son of German and Dutch immigrants. Once they saw Bettys face, producers were all too happy to believe it. Grables lack of belief in her acting abilities came back to haunt her in 1947. She had German, English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. Cordelia. In was in 1940 that she landed her first leading roleshe was chosen to play Glenda Crawfordin the musical film Down Argentine Way which also had Don Ameche, Charlotte Greenwood and Carmen Miranda in the star cast. Grable came to prominence in the Broadway musical DuBarry Was a Lady (1939), which brought her to the attention of 20th Century-Fox. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Wabash Avenue was released in May 1950, and was a box-office hit. Although Fox Studios originally signed on Grable, it didnt take them long to find out that she was much younger than she was pretending to be, and much younger than the law allowed. [15][16], Grable entered into a relationship with dancer Bob Remick, 27 years her junior, with whom she remained until she died in 1973. What happened to Betty Grable's kids? When they were together, they starred in the comedic picture Million Dollars Legs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By now, you, your parents, your grandparents, and most of the world for that matter have seen Betty Grables pin-up photo, even if you dont remember it. The movie was about a Broadway actress who is so successful that her husband considers her more of an asset than a wife. Also in 1943, Grable's famous pin-up picture was taken and resulted in Grable being cast in Pin Up Girl (1944). One of her big roles was in College Swing (1938). Betty Grable, byname of Elizabeth Ruth Grable, (December 18, 1916 - July 2, 1973) was an American actress and dancer who was one of the leading box office draws of the 1940s. On slow days, Lillian would present Betty at casual gatherings and demand that the girl perform for the adults on command. 1943 was a massive year for Betty Grable: She was the most valuable Hollywood star, ending the year as the top earner at the box office. Most actors struggle to make it in Hollywood for years, but most actors arent Betty Grable. He was under considerable stress from a lawsuit against his parents over his childhood earnings and the couple divorced in 1939. Critics, though, were not as accepting of the film. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. The two reportedly remained friends until Grable's death. The film was a major success, as was Grable's next film A Yank in the RAF, a World War II film; that was her first serious leading role in a major Hollywood film. Before he was a magazine mogul, Hugh Hefner served in WWII and, like practically all of his comrades, fell in love with Grables pin-up photo. Her two daughters She preferred to star in up-beat and outlandish musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story tack. Uh. Report abuse. Betty Grable earned the nickname Million Dollar Legs, and she didnt get it for nothing. Like many manipulative stage mothers, she lied about Bettys age to producers, saying the tween had just turned 15. The film has her as a hostess for a USO canteen who also provides entertainment for the troops during their time there. He was also a rabid gambler and drinker, and as time wore on, he began to use Grables hard-earned success as his meal ticket. She starred along with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall as gold-diggers in the 1953 romantic comedy How to Marry a Millionaire. Grable's star continued to rise when she starred in Song of the Islands (1942), co-starring Victor Mature and Jack Oakie. After a string of super hit films like 'Moon over Miami', 'Springtime in the Rockies', and 'Coney Island', she posed for a photograph in her bathing suit showing off her shapely legsthis picture soon achieved iconic status. [28] Over the years, rumors have circulated that a rivalry existed between Grable and Faye during filming, but this has been said to be entirely untrueboth actresses denied all accusations of a feud, and each often expressed their admiration for the other. It received favorable reviews from most critics and was a box-office success.[42][43]. During production, Grable and Monroe falsely were rumored to be at odds with each other. The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Extravagant Facts About Josephine Baker, The Black Pearl Of Paris, Unveiled Facts About Anne Of Cleves, Henry VIII's Mysterious Wife, Nefarious Facts About Ferdinand VII of Spain, The Felon King, Extravagant Facts About Gloria Vanderbilt, The All-American Heiress. After Lubitsch's death early in production, Otto Preminger took over. In fact, grossly enough, he was known for his endurance and his indiscriminate taste. And that wasnt all. When Grable showed up to the shoot, she was actually seven months pregnant. Betty Grable's pinup snap made LIFE magazine's "100 Photos that Changed the World." (Getty Images) Grable set a record of 12 consecutive years in the top 10 of box office stars. From 1937 to 1939, she was married to child star Jackie Coogan; his career success helped hers by landing her a major role in the film, "Down . [49], Grable thereafter found a new career starring in her own act in Las Vegas hotels and with her then husband, musician Harry James. The story was about a singer who hopes for a better future when she marries an English duke. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at [email protected]. I've had mine! Her funeral was held two days later and was attended by ex-husbands Jackie Coogan and Harry James as well as Hollywood stars Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Booth, Mitzi Gaynor, Don Ameche, Cesar Romero, George Raft, Alice Faye, Johnnie Ray and Dan Dailey. She often worried about starring opposite well-known leading men. It has been estimated that five million pin-ups were circulated featuring Betty, and she came out of the war the highest-paid movie star in America. In 1937, Grable married another famous former child actor, Jackie Coogan. Did this stop Lillian? She had Dutch, English, German, and Irish ancestry. Immediate Family: Daughter of Harry James and Betty Grable. "If that's not luck I don't know what you'd call it" Grable said. Born 18 Dec 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States Ancestors Daughter of John Conn Grable and Lillian Rose Hoffman Sister of Marjorie Lucille (Grable) Arnold [half] Wife of John Leslie Coogan married 20 Nov 1937 in Los Angeles, California, United States Wife of Harry Haag James married 1943 [location unknown] [children unknown] She was in a relationship with the much younger dancer Bob Remick which lasted till her death. View source image Mothers and daughters. She starred primarily in musicals with formulaic plots that embraced her wholesome, good-natured screen image and featured athletic dance numbers which showed off her . This rhyme begins with the rope being swung back and forth instead of overhead. What happened to Betty Grable's kids? Amenities include bicycles, barbecue grills, and a basketball court. Grables pin-up photo was so popular during WWII that approximately 5 million men serving overseas had it. Betty made her debut as a chorus girl in the film Happy Days in 1929 when she was 12 years old. I feel so sorry for Hollywood children. After small parts in countless low-budgeted B-Hollywood-movies through the 1930s, Grable finally gained national attention for her stage role in the Cole Porter Broadway hit Du Barry Was a Lady (1939). [21], In 1930, at age 13, Grable (under the pseudonym Frances Dean) signed with producer Samuel Goldwyn; she thereby became one of the original Goldwyn Girls, along with Ann Sothern, Virginia Bruce, Claire Dodd and Paulette Goddard. Grable, whose career was declining, was assumed to be jealous of Monroe because she was being groomed as Fox's newest star and possibly as Grable's unofficial successor. Hosiery specialists and retailers often cited her gams as having the perfect proportions for stockings, and Grable was under no illusions about what brought in the big bucks. The film showcased Grable's photo in several brief glimpses. They looked after each other. When the film was released, it received mixed reviews; it was referred to as "a bright and beguiling swatch of nonsense" and it did not generate the revenue Fox had hoped. Betty Grable was in relationships with John F. Kennedy (1943), George Raft (1942), Victor Mature (1941), Robert Stack (1940 - 1941), Mickey Rooney (1940), Artie Shaw (1939), George Stevens (1935), Alexis Thompson, Peter Lawford and Oleg Cassini. . The resulting movie was Springtime in the Rockies (1942), directed by Irving Cummings, and the featured actors included Payne, Cesar Romero, Carmen Miranda, and her future husband, bandleader Harry James. Housekeepers, nannies and themselves. In 1929, she premiered in her first film. In Chicago the hopes of stardom after Lubitsch 's death century, the reality of her,... Was actually seven months pregnant the article title a casting break into the acting profession by her mother set for... 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