[6] Her bathing suit poster made her the number-one pin-up girl of World War II, surpassing Rita Hayworth. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Most of Grable's immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of Dutch, Irish, German and English stock. Grable might have been a successful child performer around her local area, but eventually all this stress caused multiple issues for the little girl. Both films capitalized Grable tremendously, with Coney Island, ranking one of the top five successful films of the year. Pigskin Parade was supposed to be Betty Grables big break, but what it really did was earn the starlet her first rival. The law at that time required the girls to be over 15 to dance in the chorus. We want our readers to trust us. If only this didnt come back to bite her. She was chosen for the chorus in Lets Go Places. In the late 1930s, Grable signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, starring in several B-movies, mostly portraying co-eds. Nose art featuring her is painted on the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey. Victoria and Jessica were brought up by anyone available. From the moment it came out it was iconic, and immediately became the most popular pin-up poster. The film's success led to Grable's casting in Tin Pan Alley (1940), co-starring Faye. Her mother Lillian was a pushy stage momager who forced her daughter into dance lessons and countless child beauty contests in search of fame. In 1965, Grable finally worked up the courage to stand up for herself again, and divorced James on the grounds of extreme cruelty. Yep, sounds about right. [2] To get her daughter jobs, Lillian Grable lied about her daughter's age, claiming she was 15 to movie producers and casting agents. The No.1 pin-up girl of the World War II era, her photograph in a bathing suit pose went on to achieve iconic status and was included in the project "100 Photographs that Changed the World" by the Life magazine. 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. She motivated her daughter to sing, dance and act. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. July 2 1973 - Los Angeles, California, USA, Dec 18 1916 - St. Louis, Missouri, United States, John Conn Grable, Lillian Rose Grable (born Hoffman), Marjorie Arnold (born Grable), John Karl 'jackie' Grable, Jessica Yahner (born James), Victorie Elizabeth Bivins (born James), Cause of death: Lung cancer - July 2 1973 - Santa Monica, Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, United States, Between 1946 and 1959 - 603 N Sangamon, Lincoln, Illinois, USA, July 2 1973 - Santa Monica, United States, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, United States, Inglewood Park Cemetery, Plot: Mausoleum of the Golden West, Sanctuary of Dawn, Crypt A78, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, United States, http://www.house.mo.gov/famous.aspx?fm=52, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, United States. Learn more about the collections in Calisphere. Harry James (1943-1965) - Betty tied the knot with musician and trumpeter, Harry James, in 1943 and then gave birth to 2 daughters named Victoria Elizabeth James (born March 3, 1944) and Jessica James (born May 20, 1947-March 20, 2016). Once they saw Bettys face, producers were all too happy to believe it. Her husband is Harry James (5 July 1943 - 9 October 1965) ( divorced) ( 2 children), Jackie Coogan (20 November 1937 - 8 October 1940) ( divorced) Betty Grable Net Worth Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. It just simply wasnt enough. on 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 contribute@factinate.com. During the shoot, she took several photos in a tight, one-piece bathing suit. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". The Farmer Takes a Wife, was highly publicized, but, was unfortunately, critically panned and proved to be a box-office failure. Despite their lack of quality, Grable's movies were immensely popular and Fox regularly channeled the profits it received from Grable's movies into their more prestigious movies. 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. Betty Grable was a Sagittarius and was born in the G.I. One of her big roles was in College Swing (1938). Which caused bitterness that did not end with her Was she really a model wife and. She played a vaudeville performer whose daughter is embarrassed of her mothers profession. She attended the Hollywood Professional school but Lillian lied about her daughter's age and Betty (real age 13), landed several minor parts as a chorus girl in early musicals (Whoopee! Her next film, That Lady in Ermine, (1948), co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; and would become only a moderate success. I've had mine!" Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Thats when it all changed. jim martin death couples massage class san diego beaver falls football betty grable daughters now. Original caption: "Betty poses the legs for a still shot on a studio beach set. But in response, Grablereally hit her stride. Write by: . Grable was kind and loving at heart, and she eventually reconciled with Zanuck. betty grable daughters now betty grable daughters now (No Ratings Yet) . The screenplay was based upon two plays by Zoe Akins and Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert. Her funeral occurred two days after her passing away, and both of her ex-husbands, Jackie Coogan and Harry James, attended. She opted to play the role of Miss Adelaide, but was passed over in favor of Vivian Blaine, who had played the role on Broadway. Soon after James and Grable started seeing each other, she had an unpleasant visit from the Ghost of Boyfriends Past. The U.S. Treasury Department in 1946 and 1947 listed her as the highest-salaried American woman; she earned more than $3 million during her career. The studio put their waning star in How to Marry a Millionaire alongside none other than Monroe and the equally new and shiny Lauren Bacall. Grable was irresistible to studios from almost her first role, and when she starred in 1936s Pigskin Parade, it was under an unusual agreement. They The Gay Divorcee. 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. But there is a twist that many people dont know about the photo. Despite her success, she suffered from having a fear of crowds and sleepwalking. Name variations: acted under the name of Frances Dean; made a recording under the name of Ruth Haag. Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943), her follow-up feature, was equally successful at the box office, but it failed to obtain the same critical favor. Grable's performance was reviewed favorably by most critics, and the film enjoyed reasonable financial success. She reportedly earned about $300,000 a year at the time. At the height of her fame, Betty was being paid around $300,000 a year. She has made more such leg art stills than any other actress.". The couple had two daughters. [59], In the Our Miss Brooks episode "Lulu, the Pin-Up Boat", Mitchell mistakes the pin-up photo of Grable that Conklin confiscated from Walter and put into his desk drawer with Connie and Conklin's discussion about Conklin's boat Lulu. 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. In 1930, she made her first film appearance as a Goldwyn Girl in Whoopee!. Her second marriage was to trumpeter Harry James in 1943. [8] Describing her film career, Grable said "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them. She briefly returned to filming to make a cameo in Do You Love Me (1946), in which she appeared as a fan of her husband Harry James' character. Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as: thigh (18.5") calf (12"), and ankle (7.5"). When Lillian couldnt find any new dance class or pageant to enrol Betty in, she turned to her own friends to get her fame fix. Her two daughters Victoria and Jessica were brought up by anyone available. Previous to this, she was doing bit parts appearing with Lucille Ball and Paulette Goddard, also Goldwyn Girls, in other Cantor films titled Palmy Days and The Kid From Spain. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. After reviewing her screen test, Zanuck cast Grable as Faye's replacement in the movie. 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] After time off to give birth to her daughter, Grable returned to Fox to star in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945), co-starring Dick Haymes and Phil Silvers. Fox then began to develop Philip Wylie's short story "Second Honeymoon", into a script suited for Grable's talents. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way (1940), the public finally took notice of this shining bright star. Back in 1953, Betty Grable and Marilyn joined Lauren Bacall for 1953's "How to Marry a Millionaire." Betty later went public about her co-star's love for women, saying Marilyn essentially stalked her and added that the relentless pursuit was "sometimes scary!" It enjoyed reasonable success at the box office, particularly overseas. Some say Grable and Faye had a rivalry, but this has been denied by both actresses. Reportedly, one US fighter perished with Grables famous photograph clutched right in his hand, as if Americas Sweetheart could somehow save him. That film was the lead role in the classic comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, AKA the part that shot Marylin Monroe to stardom. [38], Grable had been placed in the "Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll" every year, beginning in 1942. When adjusted for inflation, this still remains a fairly exuberant sum to this day.While many other stars that delved into pin-up work around the same time as Betty went on to regret it, she never did. Adult film star Jessica Jaymes ' cause of death has been revealed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Grable#Filmography. 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 . But this led to one utterly harrowing story. Harry James, proud parent of Vicki and Jessica. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. [13] Grable's photograph sold millions of copies, eventually surpassing the popularity of Rita Hayworth's famous 1941 photo.[33]. In 1941, she was cast in the Technicolor musical Moon Over Miami, again with Don Ameche, her co-star in Down Argentine Way. [12] [7] Personal life [24], Grable died of lung cancer on July 2, 1973 at the age of 56 in Santa Monica, California.[14][58]. In 1946-1947, the Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid woman in America, receiving $300,000 a year. Google Search Trends of Betty Grable. 25 Feb/23. Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, but she continued to perform on the stage and on television. Zanuck relented to Grable's own request not to tamper with her successful screen formula. However, the couple parted ways in 1965 after around 22 years of being married to one another. Every item on Calisphere has been contributed to the site by a California institution. Closing the decade, Grable starred in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949), an oddball movie that unevenly mixed musical numbers with Western clichs. Not only did they always deny the rumors of a rivalry, they became lifelong friends. In 1942, she was cast in Song of the Islands and Footlight Serenade, two successful motion pictures. Although the press hinted that a tense behind-the-scenes rivalry existed between the two actresses, they both denied it, claiming to be good friends. Betty decorates the dinner table to suit the occasion, whether it is a birthday or Valentine's Day. Grable and James, naughty couple that they were, were in the middle of a big bedroom romp when all of a sudden, they heard a load THUMP and a series of groans from outside their window. She led the opening number, Cowboys. Ex-wife of Harry James and John Leslie "Jackie" Coogan Uh. She had Dutch, English, German, and Irish ancestry. View our statement on digital primary resources. She agreed to make How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) for Fox on the assurance Marilyn Monroe would be her co-star. 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 Down Argentine Way. Stardom came in such comedies as Coney Island (1943) and Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Grable was voted the number-one box-office draw by American movie exhibitors in 1943; she outranked Bob Hope, Gary Cooper, Greer Garson, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable in popularity. her daughters. 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. The Dolly Sisters earned more than $4 million at the box office and was Fox's second-highest earning movie of the year, behind Leave Her to Heaven. Betty White has three step-children, two step daughters and a step son. Lorry signs photos for the boys. In 1947, she starred in the highly popular film, Mother Wore Tights in which she was cast opposite Dan Dailey. Nicknamed Betty as a child, she was pressured by her mother to become a performer. 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. She was the third child born to Lillian Hofman and John Conn Grable. She had to resort to drastic measures. Marilyn was allegedly afraid of having children and passing on a potential genetic mental illness. Betty would go on to be signed by RKO Pictures, but wouldnt find much success with the studio after being given her contract.In 1937, Betty married former child star, Jackie Coogan. Page 18. [35], After five years of constant work, Grable was allowed time off for an extended vacation. Betty Grable was born on December 18, 1916. They don't accommodate pets or children under the age of 18. [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. Though Grable received no billing, she led the opening number, "Cowboys." 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