Okla-homey
12/18/2007, 07:44 AM
...attached to Betty Grable.
December 18, 1916: Betty Grable born
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/36360/2002773585610283653_rs.jpg[/URL]
91 years ago today, Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Grable, trained as an actress and dancer, began appearing in Hollywood musicals in her teens.
She was propelled into acting by her mother, who insisted that one of her daughters become a star. For her first role, as a chorus girl in the movie Happy Days (1929), Grable was only 13 years old (legally underage for acting), but, because the chorus line performed in blackface, it was impossible to tell how old she was. Her mother Lillian soon gave her a make-over which included dying her hair platinum blonde.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37667/2002827476187016984_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002827476187016984)
She signed with the Radio Keith Orchestra studio (RKO,) where she played in B movies until she moved to Paramount in 1937. During World War II, she suddenly became a top box office draw and was voted "favorite pin-up girl" by American servicemen.
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/37065/2002860028749587411_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002860028749587411)
In fact, the famous photo of her derriere and gorgeous legs graced more foot lockers, barracks squad bays, tents, ship bulkheads, hospital wards and aircraft than any other human in history.
http://aycu09.webshots.com/image/36328/2002073512056255878_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002073512056255878)
The famous photo
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/36360/2002775531014284805_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002775531014284805)
Paramount famously insured her legs for $1 million and featured her in movies titled "Million Dollar Legs" and "Pin-Up Girl." Miss Grable continued to make movies until the mid 1950s and later appeared in nightclubs and Broadway musicals.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/37607/2002861539278486743_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002861539278486743)
(L-R) Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable
She died of lung cancer in 1973 at age 56 in Santa Monica, California. Betty had been a heavy smoker, and often smoked three packs of cigarettes a day.
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/36830/2002818855000366198_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002818855000366198)
In an ironic twist, Betty was featured in Chesterfield ciggy ads throughout the 40's.
Her funeral was held July 5, 1973, thirty years to the day after her marriage to Harry James. She is interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/37215/2002704645959330199_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002704645959330199)
Harry James was a popular 40's/50's bandleader and trumpet player
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37667/2002860471356495758_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002860471356495758)
Betty Grable's remains rest here in the mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery
Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.
Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy noted on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on April 23, 2007, in an interview with Terry Gross that Betty Grable was his inspiration for founding the Playboy empire.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/36515/2002895245468790012_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002895245468790012)
December 18, 1916: Betty Grable born
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/36360/2002773585610283653_rs.jpg[/URL]
91 years ago today, Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Grable, trained as an actress and dancer, began appearing in Hollywood musicals in her teens.
She was propelled into acting by her mother, who insisted that one of her daughters become a star. For her first role, as a chorus girl in the movie Happy Days (1929), Grable was only 13 years old (legally underage for acting), but, because the chorus line performed in blackface, it was impossible to tell how old she was. Her mother Lillian soon gave her a make-over which included dying her hair platinum blonde.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37667/2002827476187016984_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002827476187016984)
She signed with the Radio Keith Orchestra studio (RKO,) where she played in B movies until she moved to Paramount in 1937. During World War II, she suddenly became a top box office draw and was voted "favorite pin-up girl" by American servicemen.
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/37065/2002860028749587411_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002860028749587411)
In fact, the famous photo of her derriere and gorgeous legs graced more foot lockers, barracks squad bays, tents, ship bulkheads, hospital wards and aircraft than any other human in history.
http://aycu09.webshots.com/image/36328/2002073512056255878_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002073512056255878)
The famous photo
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/36360/2002775531014284805_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002775531014284805)
Paramount famously insured her legs for $1 million and featured her in movies titled "Million Dollar Legs" and "Pin-Up Girl." Miss Grable continued to make movies until the mid 1950s and later appeared in nightclubs and Broadway musicals.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/37607/2002861539278486743_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002861539278486743)
(L-R) Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable
She died of lung cancer in 1973 at age 56 in Santa Monica, California. Betty had been a heavy smoker, and often smoked three packs of cigarettes a day.
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/36830/2002818855000366198_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002818855000366198)
In an ironic twist, Betty was featured in Chesterfield ciggy ads throughout the 40's.
Her funeral was held July 5, 1973, thirty years to the day after her marriage to Harry James. She is interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/37215/2002704645959330199_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002704645959330199)
Harry James was a popular 40's/50's bandleader and trumpet player
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37667/2002860471356495758_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002860471356495758)
Betty Grable's remains rest here in the mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery
Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.
Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy noted on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on April 23, 2007, in an interview with Terry Gross that Betty Grable was his inspiration for founding the Playboy empire.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/36515/2002895245468790012_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002895245468790012)