Betty Grable

Betty Grable
As Loco Dempsey in 20th Century Fox's comedy blockbuster How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), one of her last films.
Born	Elizabeth Ruth Grable December 18, 1916(1916-12-18) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	July 2, 1973(1973-07-02) (aged 56) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Lung cancer
Other names	Frances Dean
Occupation	Actress, dancer, singer
Years active	1929–1955
Spouse	Jackie Coogan (m. 1937–1939) «start: (1937)–end+1: (1940)»"Marriage: Jackie Coogan to Betty Grable" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Grable) (divorced) Harry James (m. 1943–1965) «start: (1943)–end+1: (1966)»"Marriage: Harry James to Betty Grable" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Grable) (divorced) 2 children
Partner	Bob Remick

Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, dancer and singer.

Her iconic bathing suit photo 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". Grable was particularly noted for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as: thigh (18.5") calf (12"), and ankle (7.5"). 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 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). However, she is best noted for her 1947 film Mother Wore Tights. By the 1950s, Grable was still making films like, Wabash Avenue (1950), Meet Me After the Show (1951), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955), her last film. She retired from the movie industry in 1955, and never returned.

Betty Grable 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

She was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri to John Conn Grable (1883–1954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889–1964). She was the youngest of three children.

Most of Grable's immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of Dutch, Irish, German and English stock. She was propelled into the acting profession by her mother. For her first role, as a chorus girl in the film Happy Days (1929), Grable was only 12 years old (legally underage for acting), but, because the chorus line performed in blackface, it was difficult to tell how old she was. 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 a false identification. When this deception was discovered, however, 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".

Betty Grable in a pin-up publicity photo for her film Million Dollar Legs (1939).

In the late 1930s, Grable signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, starring in several B-movies, mostly portraying co-eds. Despite playing leads, the typecasting proved to hurt her career more than it was helpful. These films included, Pigskin Parade (1936), This Way Please (1937), College Swing (1938), and Man About Town (1939). In 1939, Grable appeared with her then husband, Jackie Coogan (married in 1937), in Million Dollar Legs, a low-budget B-movie. The title Million Dollar Legs, is a name from which her nickname is taken. Grable and Coogan divorced later that same year (October 1939). 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). When her contract at Paramount expired, Grable decided to quit acting, being fed up with appearing in college films.

20th Century Fox & film stardom

In a 1940 interview, she said that she was "sick and tired" of show business and had decided to retire, but changed her mind - she received an unsolicited offer to go on a personal appearance tour, which she accepted and which led to Darryl F. Zanuck offering her a bigger contract, which she accepted, and which was followed by a part in Buddy DeSylva's Broadway show Du Barry Was a Lady and a part replacing the suddenly ill Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way. "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."

Following Down Argentine Way's major success, Grable was cast opposite Alice Faye in, Tin Pan Alley. Some say Grable and Faye had a rivalry, but this has been denied by both actresses. In 1941, she was cast in the Technicolor musical Moon Over Miami, again with Don Ameche, her co-star in Down Argentine Way. 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.

Following the major success of, A Yank in the RAF, Grable was assigned to, I Wake Up Screaming, in 1941, a black-and-white film noir, co-starring Carole Landis and Victor Mature. The film was a moderate box-office success.

In 1942, she was cast in Song of the Islands and Footlight Serenade, two successful motion pictures. However, Grable's biggest hit so far in her career would be Springtime in the Rockies (1942). The film teamed Grable with her future-husband, Harry James; and also featured Carmen Miranda, in a supporting role. In 1943, Grable starred in two of her most well-known Technicolor musicals, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and the smash-hit Coney Island. Both films capitalized Grable tremendously, with Coney Island, ranking one of the top five successful films of the year.

By 1943, with Grable being named one of the "top ten movie-stars" in the world, and becoming 20th Century Fox's top money maker; Darryl F. Zanuck (Fox's chief) soon named Grable his "favorite" contract-player.

Betty Grable's world-famous 1943 pin-up photo, that showed off her "million dollar legs."

Also in 1943, Grable's famous pin-up picture was taken and resulted in Grable being cast in Pin Up Girl (1944). 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 but Grable's next film The Dolly Sisters, co-starring rival June Haver, was Fox's second biggest success of the year; with the first being Leave Her to Heaven.

In 1946, Grable appeared as Herself in a cameo role in Do You Love Me. This proved to be Grable's only film appearance for the year. Grable came back to the spotlight with the 1947 film,The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, but the film was overshawdowed by her succeeding project Mother Wore Tights, with one of her most frequent co-stars Dan Dailey. Mother Wore Tights was a major-success (Fox's most successful film of 1947) and is today known as Grable's "signature film."

Her next film, That Lady in Ermine, (1948), co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; and would become only a moderate success. However, Grable's next film, When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948), was a smash success; this film again co-starred Dan Dailey. In 1949, Grable's film The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend was released but proved to be a critical and box-office flop, which caused Grable's film career to begin to falter.

Motion-picture decline & retirement

In 1950, Grable made two widely successful films; Wabash Avenue and My Blue Heaven. These films helped to bring Grable's star back to the public but it seemed as if Betty's career was nearing its end. Wabash Avenue, was a up-to-date remake of Grable's 1943 film Coney Island, and, she again co-starred with Dan Dailey for My Blue Heaven; both films are known as musical classics.

In 1951, Grable made an up-to-date remake of her 1941 film, A Yank in the RAF, which was now titled, Call Me Mister, which was the last time Grable ever appeared in a film with Dan Dailey. Call Me Mister, proved to bring only moderate box-office success. After the release of the 1951 poorly reviewed musical, Meet Me After the Show, Grable took a break from acting; turning down the lead role in The Girl Next Door, a role that would eventually go to rival June Haver.

In 1953, Grable returned to the silver screen for The Farmer Takes a Wife, with Dale Robertson and Thelma Ritter. The film was a remake of the 1935 film of the same name. The Farmer Takes a Wife, was highly publicized, but, was unfortunately, critically panned and proved to be a 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 but Grable was quoted as saying (to Monroe): "Go and get yours honey! I've had mine!" This was said because Monroe was replacing Grable as 20th Century Fox's leading sex symbol movie-star; with Grable meaning she felt no threat, as she was nearing retirement.

Grable's last musical film appearance was in Three for the Show (1955) with up-and-coming comedian Jack Lemmon. Three for the Show, was released by Columbia Pictures; making the film Grable's first film away from 20th Century Fox, since she signed with them in 1940.

Grable's final film role was in the comedy film, 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. 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.

Personal life

In 1937, Grable married another famous former child actor, Jackie Coogan. 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 22-year marriage that was plagued by alcoholism and infidelity. The couple divorced in 1965. Grable entered into a relationship with a dancer, Bob Remick, several years her junior. Though they did not marry, their romance lasted until the end of Grable's life.

Death

Grable died July 2, 1973, of lung cancer at age 56 in Santa Monica, California. Her funeral was held July 5, 1973, 30 years to the day after her marriage to Harry James — who, in turn, died on what would have been his and Grable's 40th anniversary, July 5, 1983.

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. "I Had the Craziest Dream," the haunting ballad from Springtime in the Rockies, was played on the church organ. This song was introduced in the film by Helen Forrest. Betty Grable was interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery, in Inglewood, California.

Posthumous recognition

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 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

List of acting credits in film, with directors and principal cast members

Title	Year	Role	Director	Co-stars	Notes
Happy Days	1929	Chorus Girl	Stoloff, BenjaminBenjamin Stoloff	Charles E. Evans Marjorie White Richard Keene	Uncredited
Let's Go Places	1930	Chorine	Strayer, Frank R.Frank R. Strayer	Joseph Wagstaff Lola Lane	Uncredited
New Movietone Follies of 1930	1930	Chorine	Stoloff, BenjaminBenjamin Stoloff	El Brendel Marjorie White	Uncredited
Whoopee!	1930	Goldwyn Girl	Freeland, ThorntonThornton Freeland	Eddie Cantor Ethel Shutta Eleanor Hunt	Uncredited
Kiki	1931	Goldwyn Girl	Taylor, SamSam Taylor	Mary Pickford	Uncredited
Palmy Days	1931	Goldwyn Girl	Sutherland, A. EdwardA. Edward Sutherland	Charlotte Greenwood Barbara Weeks Spencer Charters	Uncredited
Greeks Had a Word for Them, TheThe Greeks Had a Word for Them	1932	Hat Check Girl	Sherman, LowellLowell Sherman	Joan Blondell Madge Evans Ina Claire	Uncredited
Probation	1932	Ruth Jarrett	Thorpe, RichardRichard Thorpe	John Darrow Sally Blane	Grable's first credited role
Age of Consent, TheThe Age of Consent	1932	Student at Dormitory	La Cava, GregoryGregory La Cava	Dorothy Wilson Arline Judge	Uncredited
Hold 'Em Jail	1932	Barbara Jones	Taurog, NormanNorman Taurog	Bert Wheeler Robert Woolsey Edna May Oliver
Kid from Spain, TheThe Kid from Spain	1932	Goldwyn Girl	McCarey, LeoLeo McCarey	Eddie Cantor Lyda Roberti Robert Young	Uncredited
Cavalcade	1933	Girl on couch	Lloyd, FrankFrank Lloyd	Diana Wynyard Clive Brook Una O'Connor	Uncredited
Child of Manhattan	1933	Lucy McGonegle	Buzzell, EdwardEdward Buzzell	Nancy Carroll John Boles
Melody Cruise	1933	First Stewardess	Sandrich, MarkMark Sandrich	Charles Ruggles Phil Harris	Uncredited
What Price Innocence?	1933	Beverly Bennett	Mack, WillardWillard Mack	Jean Parker Minna Gombell Willard Mack
Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, TheThe Sweetheart of Sigma Chi	1933	Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito	Marin, Edwin L.Edwin L. Marin	Mary Carlisle Buster Crabbe
Gay Divorcee, TheThe Gay Divorcee	1934	Dance Specialty	Sandrich, MarkMark Sandrich	Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers
Student Tour	1934	Cayenne	Reisner, CharlesCharles Reisner	Jimmy Durante Charles Butterworth Maxine Doyle
By Your Leave	1934	Frances Gretchell	Corrigan, LloydLloyd Corrigan	Frank Morgan Genevieve Tobin
Nitwits, TheThe Nitwits	1935	Mary Roberts	Stevens, GeorgeGeorge Stevens	Bert Wheeler Robert Woolsey
Old Man Rhythm	1935	Sylvia	Ludwig, EdwardEdward Ludwig	Charles 'Buddy' Rogers George Barbier
Collegiate	1936	Dorothy	Murphy, RalphRalph Murphy	Joe Penner Jack Oakie Ned Sparks
Follow the Fleet	1936	Trio Singer	Sandrich, MarkMark Sandrich	Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers
Don't Turn 'em Loose	1936	Mildred Webster	Stoloff, BenjaminBenjamin Stoloff	Lewis Stone James Gleason Bruce Cabot
Pigskin Parade	1936	Laura Watson	Butler, DavidDavid Butler	Stuart Erwin Patsy Kelly Judy Garland
This Way Please	1937	Jane Morrow	Florey, RobertRobert Florey	Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
Thrill of a Lifetime	1937	Gwen	Archainbaud, GeorgeGeorge Archainbaud	The Yacht Club Boys
College Swing	1938	Betty	Walsh, RaoulRaoul Walsh	George Burns Gracie Allen Martha Raye Bob Hope Edward Everett Horton
Give Me a Sailor	1938	Nancy Larkin	Nugent, ElliottElliott Nugent	Bob Hope Jack Whiting Martha Raye
Campus Confessions	1938	Joyce Gilmore	Archainbaud, GeorgeGeorge Archainbaud	Eleanore Whitney William Henry	Grable received top billing for the first time
Man About Town	1939	Susan Hayes	Sandrich, MarkMark Sandrich	Jack Benny Dorothy Lamour
Million Dollar Legs	1939	Carol Parker	Grinde, NickNick Grinde	John Hartley Donald O'Connor Jackie Coogan Dorothea Kent
Day the Bookies Wept, TheThe Day the Bookies Wept	1939	Ina Firpo	Goodwins, LeslieLeslie Goodwins	Joe Penner
Down Argentine Way	1940	Glenda Crawford Glenda Cunningham	Cummings, IrvingIrving Cummings	Don Ameche Carmen Miranda Charlotte Greenwood
Tin Pan Alley	1940	Lily Blane	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	Alice Faye John Payne Jack Oakie
Moon Over Miami	1941	Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	Don Ameche Robert Cummings Carole Landis
Yank in the RAF, AA Yank in the RAF	1941	Carol Brown	King, HenryHenry King	Tyrone Power
I Wake Up Screaming	1941	Jill Lynn	Humberstone, H. BruceH. Bruce Humberstone	Victor Mature Carole Landis	Grable's only straight dramatic role
Song of the Islands	1942	Eileen O'Brien	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	Victor Mature Jack Oakie
Footlight Serenade	1942	Pat Lambert	Ratoff, GregoryGregory Ratoff	John Payne Victor Mature Jane Wyman
Springtime in the Rockies	1942	Vicky Lane	Cummings, IrvingIrving Cummings	John Payne Carmen Miranda Cesar Romero Harry James
Coney Island	1943	Kate Farley	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	George Montgomery Cesar Romero
Sweet Rosie O'Grady	1943	Madeline Marlowe Rosie O'Grady	Cummings, IrvingIrving Cummings	Robert Young Adolphe Menjou
Four Jills in a Jeep	1944	Herself	Seiter, William A.William A. Seiter	Kay Francis Carole Landis Alice Faye Martha Raye Carmen Miranda
Pin Up Girl	1944	Lorry Jones Laura Lorraine	Humberstone, H. BruceH. Bruce Humberstone	John Harvey Martha Raye
Diamond Horseshoe	1945	Bonnie Collins	Seaton, GeorgeGeorge Seaton	Dick Haymes Phil Silvers William Gaxton
Dolly Sisters, TheThe Dolly Sisters	1945	Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly	Cummings, IrvingIrving Cummings	John Payne June Haver
Do You Love Me	1946	Girl in Taxi (cameo)	Ratoff, GregoryGregory Ratoff	Maureen O'Hara Dick Haymes Harry James	Grable had a cameo as a fan of Harry James's character
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim	1947	Cynthia Pilgrim	Seaton, GeorgeGeorge Seaton	Dick Haymes Anne Revere
Mother Wore Tights	1947	Myrtle McKinley Burt	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	Dan Dailey Mona Freeman
Lady in Ermine, ThatThat Lady in Ermine	1948	Francesca Angelina	Lubitsch, ErnstErnst Lubitsch Otto Preminger (uncredited)	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Cesar Romero	Lubitsch died early into production. Preminger finished the film but insisted on Lubitsch receiving full credit.
When My Baby Smiles at Me	1948	Bonny Kaye	Lang, WalterWalter Lang	Dan Dailey Jack Oakie June Havoc
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend	1949	Winifred Jones	Sturges, PrestonPreston Sturges	Cesar Romero Rudy Vallee
Wabash Avenue	1950	Ruby Summers	Koster, HenryHenry Koster	Victor Mature Phil Harris	Remake of Grable's earlier hit Coney Island
My Blue Heaven	1950	Kitty Moran	Koster, HenryHenry Koster	Dan Dailey David Wayne Jane Wyatt Mitzi Gaynor
Call Me Mister	1951	Kay Hudson	Bacon, LloydLloyd Bacon	Dan Dailey Danny Thomas	Remake of Grable's earlier hit A Yank in the RAF
Meet Me After the Show	1951	Delilah Lee	Sale, RichardRichard Sale	Macdonald Carey Rory Calhoun Eddie Albert
Farmer Takes a Wife, TheThe Farmer Takes a Wife	1953	Molly Larkins	Levin, HenryHenry Levin	Dale Robertson Thelma Ritter
How to Marry a Millionaire	1953	Loco Dempsey	Negulesco, JeanJean Negulesco	Marilyn Monroe Lauren Bacall
Three for the Show	1955	Julie Lowndes	Potter, H.C.H.C. Potter	Jack Lemmon Marge Champion Gower Champion
How to Be Very, Very Popular	1955	Stormy Tornado	Johnson, NunnallyNunnally Johnson	Sheree North Robert Cummings Charles Coburn Tommy Noonan

Short subjects

• Crashing Hollywood (1931)
• Ex-Sweeties (1931)
• Once a Hero (1931)
• Lady! Please! (1932)
• Hollywood Luck (1932)
• The Flirty Sleepwalker (1932)
• Hollywood Lights (1932)
• Over the Counter (1932)
• Air Tonic (1933)
• School for Romance (1934)
• Love Detectives (1934)
• Elmer Steps Out (1934)
• Business Is a Pleasure (1934)
• Susie's Affairs (1934)
• Ferry-Go-Round (1934)

• This Band Age (1935)
• The Spirit of 1976 (1935)
• A Night at the Biltmore Bowl (1935)
• Drawing Rumors (1935)
• A Quiet Fourth (1935)
• Screen Snapshots Series 15, No. 11 (1936)
• Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (1936)
• Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 7 (1937)
• Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 10 (1937)
• Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 4 (1938)
• Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1 (1941)
• The All-Star Bond Rally (1945)
• Hollywood Park (1946)
• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Shower of Stars (1955)

External links

• Betty Grable at the Internet Movie Database
• Betty Grable at the TCM Movie Database
• Betty Grable at the Internet Broadway Database
• Betty Grable | PlaybillVault.com
• BettyGrable.net
• Betty Grable Basics
• Betty Grable Photo Tribute
• Betty Grable Portraits
• St. Louis Walk of Fame
• Photographs and literature