In retaliation, Zanuck fired Grable from the next film she had lined upand in so doing, he changed cinema history. Betty Mae Grable passed away on March 20, 2014. Grable's legs were insured by her studio for $1 million as a publicity stunt. The musical Mother Wore Tights is considered her signature film. James was a serial philanderer who simply could not keep it in his pants, married or not. Betty was just 13 but her mother arranged for her false identification papers so that she could perform. Though Grable received no billing, she led the opening number, "Cowboys." Her parents were Lillian Rose and John Conn Grable. Another win for shine theory. Pigskin Parade was supposed to be Betty Grables big break, but what it really did was earn the starlet her first rival. Did she mean-girl the bombshell and let her get photographed with chipped nails? The Farmer Takes a Wife. . Betty Grablewas born onDecember 18, 1916, in St. Louis, Missourias the youngest child of Lillian Rose (ne Hofmann) and John Charles Grable. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. She got so incensed at their refusal, she eventually got her contract out, walked into studio head Darryl Zanucks office, and tore the papers up into shreds right in his face. Housekeepers, nannies and themselves. In 1937, Grable married another famous former child actor, Jackie Coogan. Did you know that Betty Grable responded to every fan letter sent to her by soldiers during World War II, or did you think that her support of the troops was relegated to just her iconic pin-up? Gangster actor George Raft never quite let her go, and when he found out she had taken up with the bandleader, he had one of his cronies tail the pair when they went home together. "If that's not luck I don't know what you'd call it" Grable said. 'Passionate attachments' -- subject(s): Fathers and Grable appeared in several smash-hit musical films in the 1940s like, Down Argentine Way (1940), Moon Over Miami (1941), Springtime in the Rockies (1942), Coney Island (1943), Pin Up Girl (1944), and The Dolly Sisters (1945). Grable entered into a relationship with a dancer, Bob Remick, several years her junior. On Hallowe'en, she and . The shining starlet of Hollywood's Golden Age secured her place as one of America's top pinup . 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. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Betty Grable was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in Saint Louis, Missouri on 18 December 1916. She played college students in most of these films and was thus typecast in this role. Is it any wonder that growing up too fast had grave consequences? Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? In 1946, Grable appeared as Herself in a cameo role in Do You Love Me. Now thiswas an even worse moral quandary for the time, and the minute studio executives found out about the storks package, they started pressuring the actors to marry in a hurry. Soon after James and Grable started seeing each other, she had an unpleasant visit from the Ghost of Boyfriends Past. Birthday: December 18, 1916 (Sagittarius), Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States. her daughters. Career Early career: 1929-1939 Daughter of John Conn Grable and Lillian Rose Grable On set rumors swirled about rivalries, but the truth is actually eye-opening. Grable quickly became an acting, singing and dancing triple threat. 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. What happened to Betty Grable's kids? She requested a higher salary and the option to make only those films she wanted to do. take care of her 7 daughters. Grable appeared in her first film made away from Fox in over 15 years Three for the Show (1955) for Columbia Pictures, and the movie featured up-and-coming talents Jack Lemmon and Marge and Gower Champion. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Walter Sanders The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock Betty Grable getting cold cream applied to her legs by LIFE photographer Walter Sanders as he prepares her for a photo session at studio. Betty finally landed a substantial part in By Your Leave (1934). The film showcased Grable's photo in several brief glimpses. It was a major box-office success, becoming the fourth-most popular movie of the year.[30][31]. At the start of WWII, Hollywood opened up the Hollywood Canteen for enlisted men who were on the verge of service. The film's plot closely followed the story of Grable's earlier hit Coney Island (1943). She tied the knot with actor Jackie Coogan in 1937 and divorced him in 1939. Betty Grable was an adorable, rosy-cheeked, blonde little girl. Huh, I guess its as good as an inspiration as any. Her last film was How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955).She then concentrated on Broadway and nightclubs. 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. Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable (December 18, 1916 July 2, 1973) was an American actress, dancer and singer. In case it isnt clear just how much Betty Grable influenced American culture, get a load of this. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way (1940), the public finally took notice of this shining bright star. All body measurements and statistics of Betty Grable, including bra size, cup size, shoe size, height, hips, and weight. Without Grable's movies, which generated large profits, the studio struggled to stay afloat. Not only did they always deny the rumors of a rivalry, they became lifelong friends. Her funeral occurred two days after her passing away, and both of her ex-husbands, Jackie Coogan and Harry James, attended. Realizing her time was done, Grable stepped away from the limelight in 1955and went straight to her demise. In 1943, Grable starred in two of her most well-known Technicolor musicals, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and the smash-hit Coney Island. Her mother made her attend the Hollywood Professional School and learned dancing from the Ernest Blecher Academy. 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. Betty's father, Conn Grable, lives permanently at the ranch and oversees things. [47][48], After refusing the leading female role in Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Grable again was suspended from her contract. Besides the insatiable womanizing, Grables second husband Harry James had other horrific qualities to round out his nomination for Worst Husband Ever. Grable grabbed her own personal polish and gave Monroe a pedicure herself. The screenplay was based upon two plays by Zoe Akins and Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert. When they asked to get a photo of Monroe in front of Grables name, signaling a transition of stars, Monroe absolutely refused. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1 Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSKgHx6EQVOwNKVz1cR2hKVDo you think you know a lot about TV? 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. B etty Grable was famed more for her shapely legs than for her acting and singing, as the star of dozens of Hollywood musicals was always ready to concede. She starred along with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall as gold-diggers in the 1953 romantic comedy How to Marry a Millionaire. Just kidding, I dont wonder at all. Elizabeth, who later became Betty, was enrolled in Clark's Dancing School at the age of three. At the height of her fame, Betty was being paid around $300,000 a year. He married Ava Gardner and had an affair with Rita Hayworth. She starred along with Dan Dailey as married vaudeville performers whose children are embarrassed of their parents profession. While on set, she met debonair bandleader Harry James, who also starred in the film. The institution can answer questions about this item, assit you with obtaining a hi-res copy, and gather additional information you may have about it. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and produced by William LeBaron, the screenplay was adapted by Robert Ellis, Helen Logan and Earl Baldwin based on a short story titled Imagine Us! While her girl-next-door image has endured through the 21st century, the reality of her dark, dramatic life was anything but ideal. When her contract at Paramount expired, Grable decided to quit acting, being fed up with appearing in college films. AfterPigskin Parade, she suddenly found herself typecast as a naive college student, starring in a series of humdrum roles and even duller films. She was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri to John Conn Grable (18831954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (18891964). She played a vaudeville performer whose daughter is embarrassed of her mothers profession. After Grable left Fox, the studio moved Monroe into her old dressing room, which still had her name on the door. Bettys breakout turn came in the 1940 feature Down Argentine Way, after having been in the entertainment industry for more than a decade.Betty entered into World War II one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and she would become an even bigger name after becoming a military-endorsed pin-up girl whose picture was passed around by American soldiers. During World War II, GI locker doors and warship . Coney Island, released in June 1943, was a Technicolor "gay nineties" period musical and co-starred George Montgomery. After her brief stint as an RKO contract player, Grable signed with Paramount Pictures. They were so popular, they even spawned a lyric in song sung by WWII GI's,"I want a gal, just like the gal, who married Harry . Why do people say that forever is not altogether real in love and relationship. They had two daughters, Victoria Elizabeth "Vicki" Bivens (born 1944) and Jessica Yahner (1947-2016). Most Popular #45061. In 1939, she appeared opposite her then-husband Jackie Coogan in Million Dollar Legs,[14] a B-movie comedy that gave Grable her famous nickname. She was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. She motivated her daughter to sing, dance and act. Yikes. [26] The role had originally been assigned to Alice Faye, Fox's most popular musical film star, but she had to decline the part due to an unspecified illness. That film was the lead role in the classic comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, AKA the part that shot Marylin Monroe to stardom. [1], Grable began her film career in 1929 at age 12, after which she was fired from a contract when it was learned she signed up under false identification. Lillian's dream was to be a dancer. BETTY GRABLE (1916-73) Ascertaining the level of intimacy in many of Betty Grable's relationships is not easy. The plot revolved around two showgirls who witness the murder of their fellow performer but do not want to get involved in the investigation. 2013. Most actors struggle to make it in Hollywood for years, but most actors arent Betty Grable. Her mother was a stubborn and materialistic woman determined to make her daughter a star. Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as: thigh (18.5") calf (12"), and ankle (7.5"). When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Her final movie appearance was in the 1955 comedy How to Be Very, Very Popular which was produced and directed by Nunnally Johnson. Why was the decision Roe v. Wade important for feminists? It was reported that Grable often quarreled with Fairbanks and Preminger and that she nearly walked out on filming, but decided against it on the advice of her agent. However, Grable's next film, When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948), was a smash success; this film again co-starred Dan Dailey. Fox became concerned that Grable might be becoming regarded as pass. Betty Grable really tried her best to make it work after moving to Nevada. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (19421951) she reigned in the Quigley Poll's top 10 box office stars (a feat only matched by Doris Day, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, although all were surpassed by Mary Pickford, who was in for 13 times). Grable's performance of the song "Down Argentine Way" is considered a highlight of the film. [3] As soon as Betty arrived in Lansing, Governor Williams, his spouse and three youngsters referred to as on her. Throughout the 1930s, she did seemingly everything there is to do in show business. The Grable children were of Dutch, English, German, Swiss German, and Irish ancestry. In 1949, although she still placed in the top 10, she slipped from second to seventh place in popularity. Betty Grable was an entertainer for her entire life. Housekeepers, nannies and themselves. too busy making movies and having affairs to care too much about Betty Grable was an American actress and dancer once known as the woman with the most beautiful legs in Hollywood. King Lear's daughters were named Goneril, Regan and The results were scandalous. Following Down Argentine Way's major success, Grable was cast opposite Alice Faye in, Tin Pan Alley. My Blue Heaven, released in December 1950, re-teamed her with Dan Dailey, and was equally successful financially. These films helped to bring Grable's star back to the public but it seemed as if Betty's career was nearing its end. Nicknamed Betty as a child, she was pressured by her mother to become a performer. Thats when it all changed. 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. Her father was a stockbroker. : Betty Grable's youngest daughter at funeral service, : Betty Grable's casket carried out of church, : Betty Grable's daughter at funeral service, : Betty Grable's sister at funeral service, : Jackie Coogan at Betty Grable's funeral, : All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, : Mae Murray and Gilbert Roland say farewell to her, too, : Betty Grable's husband fights for his childhood fortune, : Betty Grable is chosen "Miss Dental Health", : Marion Davies attends Dr. Harry W. Martin's funeral, : From all walks of life, they come to say, 'So Long Al.