TONI SEVEN, AMERICAN COVER GIRL ,ACTRESS BORN 1922 JULY 6 - 1991,MAY 21

 

TONI SEVEN, AMERICAN COVER GIRL ,ACTRESS 

BORN 1922 JULY 6 - 1991,MAY 21

June Elizabeth Millarde (July 6, 1922 – May 21, 1991), better known as Toni Seven, was an American cover girl and actress.

Early life

Millarde was born in July 1922 in New York City, the only child of actress June Caprice and film director Harry F. Millarde. She was eight years old when her father died and fourteen when her mother died. She was latterly raised by her grandparents, the Peter Lawsons, in Long Island, New York. The June 17, 1949 issue of Time magazine reported she was the heiress to an estimated $3,000,000 fortune.[citation needed]

Actress

In the early 1940s she appeared in minor roles in three films. Her screen debut came in Miss Seventeen, a production of Producers Releasing Corporation. With the advent of World War II, she was one of the many volunteers at the Hollywood Canteen.

She changed her name to Toni Seven in June 1944 so that she could sign her name Toni 7. Publicity man Russ Birdwell conceived the Seven name. Seven was accompanied to Los Angeles Superior Court by attorney Jerry Giesler, when she petitioned that her name be changed. Seven was tested for a contract by film producer Hunt Stromberg and received a large buildup in military service publications. In August 1944 Seven was receiving five hundred letters weekly from fans.

Model

Seven was part of the first pin-up exhibition ever held in the United States. She was joined by screen stars Jane Russell and Martha Tilton in an event which included life-size photos of the actresses. The show, which included autograph sessions and personal appearances, began on November 26, 1944. The locale was the Hollywood U.S.O. at 1531 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

The Society of Photographic Illustrators voted Seven's legs the best among actresses' anatomical features, which when combined, would compose the perfect model. Actresses who were selected in the poll included Miriam Hopkins (lips), Paulette Goddard (bust), and Betty Grable (hips). The cameramen announced their choices in May 1946.

Theater

In 1946, Broadway producer W. Horace Schmidlapp planned a revival of Accent On Youth by Samson Raphaelson. The theatrical presentation was to feature Seven in a leading role. In 1947, Seven sold her Benedict Canyon home and moved to New York City.

Personal life

In January 1949 newspapers linked her romantically with U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson. The Washington senator was forty-three years old and described as the most eligible bachelor in the United States Capitol.[1] Seven was pursued in Paris, France by Peruvian playboy Alfredo Carreo, in 1949. She reassumed the name June Millarde in 1959. That year she planned a June wedding to Eric Stanley of Washington, D.C..

Seven died on May 21, 1991 at the age of 68.[2][3]

Toni Seven is proof that a girl who lands in Hollywood, has money to burn, a great press agent and more than enough beauty, can still end up a complete unknown. Toni tried to attain stardom several times, and the second time, an extensive campaign to catapult her to stardom was coined by PR guru Russell Birdwell, but she just crashed and burned pretty soon. What a waste! Toni truly was a beautiful woman and probably had some talent in her. Too bad too much publicity killer her.

EARLY LIFE

June Elizabeth Millarde was born on July 6, 1922, in New York City, to Henry F. Millarde and Helen Elizabeth Lawson. Her mother was professionally known as June Caprice, an actress of major prominence in Hollywood, and her father was an successful movie director. His most famous movie was If Winter comes, from 1916. By the time she was born, her parents had amassed quite a fortune and retired from active movie work. June grew up in Long Island, and attended school at Great Neck, Long Island.

On November 2, 1931, June’s father died from a heart attack, aged only 45. June was raised by her mother form them on, but sadly the elder June succumbed to a heart attack while fighting cancer in 1936. The 14 year old June was left in the care of her maternal grandparents in Long Island.

While June was materially well of, as a heiress of a considerable fortune (rumored to have been 3 million dollars), she wanted to act not for the fortune but for the fame. She moved to the West Coast after graduating from high school, and undertook extensive dramatic training before deciding to crash movies.

June signed with MGM in 1941, owning of course to her late parents friendship with producer Bob Leonard. Unfortunately, she left Metro after just a month, unhappy how they only posed her to leg art. She signed with Warner Bros and started her career anew.

CAREER

Pretty slim! Toni appeared in only five movies, although I have to say they are 5 decent movies at least! Her first movie was We Were Dancing, based on a Noel Coward play. When i say based on a Noel Coward play, it means it’s a witty, sparkling, lightweight fare. And this movie is just that. don’t look for deeper, hidden meanings and something profound. Norma Shearer is delightful int he leading role. Coward + Norma = a good combo. Some people would disagree with me, but heck, Norma was perfect for sophisticated, drawing room comedies. Here she is ably supported by Mervyn Douglas, Gail Patrick and Lee Bowman.

She then followed it with Yankee Doodle Dandy, one of the best musicals to come out of her 1940s. Jimmy Cagney, what more do you need? Toni’s last movie under her Warner Bros contract was Wings for the Eagle, a love triangle set amidst  Southern California aircraft production in WWII. The lovers? Ann Sheridan, Denis Morgan and Jack Carson. What ca I say, I’m a sucker for Ann, she was such a luminous actress, but I am not a fan of either Crason or Morgan, so for me, it’s a skip.

Aware that her career went nowhere fast, Toni hired Russel Birdwell and tried anew (again!). The result were only two movies – Ladies Courageous and Once Upon a Time. While not the bottom of the waist basket quality, they are far from good solid movies that Toni needed to build a career. Ladies courageous is a weird, weird, anti feminist movie (despite the more than a decent cast – ). Once upon a time is one of the lesser Cary Grant movies – it’s a movie with a strange kind of charm, unusual story (A cash-strapped theater producer promotes a nine-year-old boy’s dancing caterpillar) and features the stunning Janet Blair as Cary’s leading lady, but it’s not top tier movie making and it did little favors to anyone involved.

Toni gave up her career and publicity campaign and settled in Washington DC after this.  

PRIVATE LIFE

This is where Toni shines. If she is at all remembered today, it is because of her private life, not her slim movie career.

Toni was 5 feet, four and a half inched tall, weighted about 108 lbs, was a great horsewoman who rode frequently, and was also a good swimmer and tennis player. She disliked gossipy women, bad movies and prize fights.

In march 1943, she was just one of the many girls that dated Errol Flynn. She also banked heavily on her parents’ fame. A quote from a newspaper:

“Director Al Hall is giving June Millarde a break in “My Client Curly,” the Cary Grant-Janet Blair . The person who gave Al his first acting role role was Harry Millarde, June’s ‘ father, who was king bee on the old ‘Fox lot and frequently directing June Caprice (June’s mother). As time went by Al gave up his acting ambitions and became a director, but he never forgot the Millardes. So when their ‘ daughter June was up for a role in ; “Curly,” Al directed the test and saw she got the best cameraman at Columbia.”

In 1944, Toni hired Russell Birdwell to become her press agent. Birdwell was a wildly oscillating guy. While he had major success with Jane Russell (and her bust and bra) and the search for Scarlett O’Hara (he was the brain behind this superb publicity stunt) most of his other “finds” ended up complete unknowns after a period of intense publicity frenzy. And he really tried with Toni, he really did. It just didn’t pay. For instance, Toni posed with a mama cat that gave birth to a litter of kitten with 7 toes on their paws. She also posed with a man’s black shirt, claiming she uses them as nightgowns. On the right ear she wears nothing; on the left, a large gold loop, and in the center of it, a cut out 7! She made bread with exactly 7 ingredients. She wore earrings with 7 precious stones dangling from them. Her phone number ended in 7. You get the picture…

She was supposed to star in a revue by Fort Ord, but nothing came out of it. She was very active in the war effort, going to rallies, signing pictures. Birdwell sent thousands of her pictures to the GI-as around the world – she was named the most popular pin up for the boys in the European Theater in 1945. Her photos could be found on obscure Pacific islands where there was literary nothing else!

Toni Seven has bought herself a little house in Benedict canyon. By her own admission, she knows nothing about antiques, yet is furnishing it exclusively in early American stuff.

In March 1945, Toni and five other starlets staged a strip poker session at the United National Clothing Drive. The other starlets were Ann Miller, Evelyn Ankers, Nina Foch and Renee de Marco. They all had better careers than Toni (even De Marco, who did not have a great movie career). She was also good friend with starlet Frances Vorne, who also posed for Yank. They often threw big dinner parties for their swains.

In early 1946, Toni went back to her old moniker, but still remained an active pin up girl – her legs were claimed to have been “perfect” by a lieu of eminent photographers.

By 1948, June was out of Hollywood, out of movies, and living of her inheritance. She entered a hospital in October 1948 for a serious operation, and was recuperating in November 1948 in Hollywood.

Then, she was again back in the newspaper fold. How? Love! In January 1949, a certain senator Warren Magnuson, the famous lothario of Washington and a very sought after bachelor, missed the opening of Congress. Why? Because he was allegedly with Toni! There was much press furor re over the fact. His friend kindly noted to the press that Warren had been doing the Seattle nightspots with Toni for some time now. However, in September 1949 she sailed for Europe, and was beaued by Peruvian playboy, Alfredo Carreo.

More about Warren, who ended one of the most meaningful men in Toni’s life. He was born on April 12, 1905, in Minnesota, and was adopted by the Magnuson family (due to his surname, he was known as Maggie to friends). He attended college in Seattle, Washington, and settled there permanently. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1937–1944) and a U.S. Senator from 1944. In 1928, he was married to Eleanor Peggy “Peggins” Maddieux, but they divorced in 1935. Warren dated all around the States from then on, escorting women like actress Carole Parker and Austine McDonnell.

Toni and the senator dated on off from 1948 until 1953, although some papers pin them together in 1955. It is known that the senator married in 1964 to a Seattle widow, Jermaine Peralta, and thus he obviously never married Toni. Toni gave up her career (which is not saying much) to cater to Warren. She acted as his hostess at social functions, they traveled around a great deal, often visiting Hawaii. Warren’s close friends said that Toni was absolutely loyal to Warren, but liked to drink to much. Warren also had a weakness for vodka – it seems they were well matched here (sadly!).

I sympathize with Toni on this one. She obviously wanted to get married and talked constantly to the press about her upcoming nuptials, but the senator  rebuffed her every time, until they were done. I have no idea why they broke up – but I can only guess. Maybe Toni had had enough? Maybe Warren passed onto another woman? He later romanced Monique van Vooren, another luscious starlet. He died on May 20, 1989 in Seattle, Washington. His wife died in 2011.

In 1952, Toni was seen with Hank Fisher, of the “Joe Palooka” fame.

In 1959, it was reported that June was to marry Eric Stanley, prominent in the art circles, that June. I could not find any information that proved this as a fact. She then completely falls of the radar.

June Elizabeth Millarde died in 1991.

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HEMAMALINI DREAM GIRL BORN1948 OCTOBER 16

 

HEMAMALINI DREAM GIRL

BORN1948 OCTOBER 16

ஜன்னலுக்கு வெளியே விளையாடி மகிழும் சக வயதினரைப் பார்க்கும்போதெல்லாம் அந்தச் சிறுமிக்கு ஏக்கம் பொங்கும். ஆனபோதும், விளையாட்டைப் புறக்கணித்த அவரது பெரும்பொழுதுகள், பரதநாட்டியப் பயிற்சியில் கழியும். அந்தச் சிறுமியின் தாயார், பிஞ்சு மனத்தில் தனியான கனவொன்றை விதைத்திருந்தார்.

திரையில் மின்னலென நாட்டியமாடும் வைஜெயந்திமாலாவைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டி, ‘பரதநாட்டியத்தில் வென்றால் நீயும் இவர்போல் புகழ் பெறலாம்’ என்று கூறியிருந்தார். ஹேமமாலினி என்ற அப்பெண்ணின் மனத்தில் ஆழப்பதிந்த அந்த பால்யத்துக் கனவு, அடுத்து வந்த ஆண்டுகளில் நனவானபோது, அவர் பாலிவுட்டின் ‘கனவுக் கன்னி’ என்ற பெருமைக்கு உரியவரானார்.

காவிரிக் கரையில் முளைத்த கனவு

தஞ்சை அருகே காவிரியின் மடியிலிருந்த கிராமமொன்றில் பிறந்த ஹேமமாலினி, தாயார் ஜெயாவின் அரவணைப்பால் 14 வயதுக்குள் பரதக் கலையில் தேறியிருந்தார். அவரது நடன ஆற்றல் சில தமிழ், தெலுங்குப் படங்களில் நடனமணியாகத் தலைகாட்ட உதவியது. அதற்கு அப்பால் சினிமா வாய்ப்புகள் எதுவும் கிடைக்கவில்லை. ‘பெண்ணின் நீளமான முகவெட்டு கதாநாயகிக்குத் தோதுப்படாது’ என எடுத்த எடுப்பில் நிராகரித்தார்கள்.

இயக்குநர் தர் படத்தில் தருவதாக உறுதி அளிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த வாய்ப்பும் கடைசி நேரத்தில் காரணமின்றித் தட்டிப்போனது. தாயும் மகளும் தங்களது கனவு தகர்ந்ததாகச் சோர்ந்தபோது, பம்பாயிலிருந்து அழைப்பு வந்தது. அதுவும் ராஜ்கபூருக்கு ஜோடியாகும் வாய்ப்பு! ஹேமமாலினியின் தாயார் மகளை ஒருமுறை கிள்ளிப் பார்த்துக்கொண்டார்.

‘ட்ரீம் கேர்ள்’

‘சங்கம்’ திரைப்பட வெற்றியைத் தக்க வைப்பதற்கான முயற்சியில் ராஜ்கபூர் அப்போது மும்முரமாக இருந்தார். அப்படத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து அவருடன் ஜோடியாக நடிக்க ஒப்பந்தமாகி இருந்தார் வைஜெயந்திமாலா. திடீரென அவர் விலகிக்கொண்டது ராஜ்கபூருக்கு ஏமாற்றமளித்தது. வைஜெயந்தியைப் போன்றே நடனம் அறிந்த தென்னிந்திய முகத்துக்கு வலைவீசுமாறு தனது குழுவினரைப் பணித்தார். முதல் பார்வையிலேயே ஹேமமாலினியை ராஜ்கபூருக்குப் பிடித்துப்போனது.

16 வயது ஹேமமாலினி தன்னைவிட சுமார் 30 வயது மூத்த ராஜ்கபூரின் ஜோடியாக ‘சப்னோ கா சௌதாக’ரில் (1968) தனது திரை வாழ்க்கையைத் தொடங்கினார். படம் பெரிதாகப் போகாவிட்டாலும், படத்தின் பாடல்களும் அவற்றுக்கு உயிர்கொடுத்த புதுமுக நடிகையின் நடனமும் அழகும் ரசிகர்களைக் கிறுகிறுக்க வைத்தன.

படத்துக்கான விளம்பர வாசகங்களை வடிவமைக்கையில், நாயகிக்கு ‘ட்ரீம் கேர்ள்’ என்ற அடைமொழியைப் படத்தின் தயாரிப்பாளர் பி.அனந்த சுவாமி பரிந்துரைத்தார். அவரது வாய் முகூர்த்தம், அடுத்த இருபதாண்டுகளுக்கு பாலிவுட்டின் கனவுக் கன்னியாக வலம் வந்தார் ஹேமமாலினி.

அறுபதுகளுக்கே உரிய ஒருசில மசாலா படங்களில் தலைகாட்டிய ஹேமமாலினிக்கு, அடுத்து தேவ் ஆனந்தின் ஜோடியான ‘ஜானி மேரா நாம்’ (1970) படம் திருப்புமுனையானது. தொடர்ந்து எழுபதுகள் நெடுக அவருக்கு ஏற்றம்தான். சுழன்றாடும் நடனத் திறமையும் கவர்ந்திழுக்கும் அழகுப் பதுமையுமாகச் சக நடிகையர் மத்தியில் தனி அடையாளம் வாய்த்தது. நடிப்பிலும் ஜொலிப்பதற்கான வாய்ப்புகளைத் தேடி அமைத்துக்கொண்டார் ஹேமமாலினி. இளம் விதவையாக ‘அந்தாஸ்’ (1971), எதிர்மறையான கதாபாத்திரத்தில் ‘லால் பதார்’ (1971), சிறந்த நடிகைக்கான ஃபிலிம்பேர் விருதை வாங்கித்தந்த ‘சீதா ஔர் கீதா’ (1972) என தனது தொடக்ககாலப் படங்களிலே நடிப்பில் வித்தியாசம் காட்டினார்.

இந்தத் தனித்தன்மை பாலிவுட்டின் வெற்றிகரமான வணிகப்படங்களின் கதாநாயகியாக அவரை நிலைநிறுத்தியதுடன், ஸ்மிதா படீல், சப்னா ஆஸ்மி என மாற்றுத் திரைப்படங்களின் வழியே களமிறங்கிய திறமை மிக்க நாயகிகளின் போட்டியையும் சமாளிக்க உதவியது. கலைவாழ்வின் உச்சமாக, தனது பெயரின் முன்னொட்டாக இருந்த ‘ட்ரீம் கேர்ள்’ (1977) என்ற தலைப்பிலான படத்திலும் நடித்து கனவுக் கன்னி அடையாளத்தைத் தக்கவைத்தார்.

ஈடேறிய கனவுகள்

ஐம்பதுகளிலும், அறுபதுகளின் தொடக்கத்திலும் தனது அழகும், நடிப்பும் ஒருசேர மிளிர்ந்த மதுபாலா ரசிகர்களால் பெரிய அளவில் கொண்டாடப்பட்டார். நடிப்புலகின் உச்சத்திலிருந்த அவரின் அகால மரணம் ரசிகர்களை வெகுவாகப் பாதித்தது. மதுபாலா மறைந்த வேளையில் திரையுலகில் கால்வைத்த ஹேமமாலினி, மதுபாலாவின் வெற்றிடத்தை ஆக்கிரமித்தார். வைஜெந்திமாலாவை இலக்காக வரித்திருந்த ஹேமமாலினி, அவரையும் தாண்டி வெற்றிப்பாதையில் நடைபோட்டார். தமிழில் தன்னை நிராகரித்த இயக்குநர் தரின் புதிய இந்திப் படத்தில், அமிதாப் பச்சன் ஜோடியாக ஹேமமாலினி ஒப்பந்தமானதும் பின்னர் நடந்தது.

பட வாய்ப்புக்காகத் தவமிருந்தனர்

பெரும் நட்சத்திரங்கள் திரண்ட ‘ஷோலே’ (1975) பட வாய்ப்பை ஏற்பதில் ஹேமமாலினி ஏகமாகத் தயங்கினார். ‘அந்தாஸ்’ வெற்றியைத் தந்த ரமேஷ் சிப்பிக்காக அரைமனதுடன் ஒத்துக்கொண்டார். தனது ‘பஸந்தி’ என்ற வாயடிக்கும் பெண்ணின் கதாபாத்திரத்தை மெருகேற்றி, படத்தின் பெரும் வெற்றிக்கு இணையாகக் கொண்டாடப்பட்டார். ‘மெஹ்பூபா (1976), ஹாலிவுட் பாணியிலான ‘சரஸ்’ (1976) ஆகிய படங்கள் ஹேமமாலினியின் திறமைக்குத் தீனிபோட்டன. ‘கினரா’ (1977) அவரது பரதநாட்டிய திறமைக்கு மேடை தந்தது.

ஹேமமாலினி சேலை உடுத்தும் விதம், கண் மையிடுதல் போன்ற பாணி பிரபலமானது. தமிழைத் தாய்மொழியாகக் கொண்டவரின் இந்தி உச்சரிப்பு தொடக்கத் திரைப்படங்களில் பரிகசிப்புக்கு ஆளானபோதும், பின்னர் சரளம் பயின்று அதன் வித்தியாசமான வேகத் தொனிக்காகவே ரசிகர்களைக் கொள்ளைகொண்டார். சக நடிகையரைவிட ஊதியத்தில் உச்சம் தொட்டதுடன், பாலிவுட்டில் தனது தனித்துவ நிபந்தனைகளை வீசும் முதல் நடிகையாக உருவெடுத்த ஹேமமாலினிக்காகப் படத் தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் காத்திருந்தது நடந்தது. ரசிகர்கள், தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் மட்டுமல்ல; உடன் நடித்த நடிகர்கள் மத்தியிலும் ஹேமமாலினியை முன்னிறுத்திக் கடும் போட்டி மூண்டது.

கனவுகளை வென்றார்

ஜிதேந்திரா, சஞ்சீவ் குமார், தர்மேந்திரா என ஒரே நேரத்தில் மூன்று முன்னணி நடிகர்கள் ஹேமமாலினியுடன் ஜோடி சேரத் துடித்தனர். திரைக்கு வெளியே இவர்களில் ஒருவருடன் காதல், ரகசியத் திருமணம் என்றெல்லாம் ஹேமமாலினி அடிக்கடி செய்தியானார். இந்தப் பட்டியலில் இறுதியாகச் சேர்ந்த தர்மேந்திரா, படப்பிடிப்பின் ‘ரீடேக்’ உட்பட சில பல ரசிக்கத்தக்க தகிடுதத்தங்களைச் செய்து ஹேமமாலினியின் மனத்தை வென்றார்.

ஏற்கெனவே திருமணமாகி சன்னி, பாபி என 2 மகன்களைக் கொண்டிருந்த தர்மேந்திரா, ஹேமமாலினியை மணந்து இஷா, அஹனா என 2 மகள்களுக்கும் தந்தையானார். கணவரின் துணையுடன் திருமணத்துக்குப் பின்னரும் பாலிவுட் வாய்ப்புகளில் சறுக்காதிருந்தார் ஹேமமாலினி. எண்பதுகளில் ராஜேஷ் கன்னா, அமிதாப் பச்சன் ஆகிய நடிகர்களின் பல வெற்றிப் படங்களுக்கு அவரும் காரணமானார். அடுத்த பத்தாண்டுகளில் நடிப்புடன் படங்களைத் தயாரித்து, இயக்கவும் செய்தார். தொடர்ந்து அரசியலில் கால்வைத்தவர், பாஜகவின் மாநிலங்களவை (2003), மக்களவை (2014) உறுப்பினராகவும் ஒரு சுற்று வலம் வந்தார்.

அக்டோபரில் தனது 71-ம்பிறந்தநாளைக் கொண்டாடிய ஹேமமாலினி, அரசியலைக் குறைத்துக்கொண்டு மகள்களுடன் மரபான நடனக்கலைகளை வளர்க்க விரும்புவதாகத் தெரிவித்தார். நாட்டியம், நடிப்பு என ஹேமமாலினியின் பதின்மத்துக் கனவுகள் ஈடேறியதுடன், ஒரு தலைமுறை இளைஞர்களின் கனவுக் கன்னியாகவும் நீடித்துள்ளார். இவற்றுக்கு அப்பால், சினிமாவில் கால் வைக்கும் பெண்களின் இலட்சியக் கனவாகவும் ஹேமமாலினி தொடர்கிறார்.

TEN YEAR OLD GIRL SAVED HER FRIEND FROM SHARK IN FLORIDA

TEN YEAR OLD GIRL SAVED HER FRIEND

 FROM SHARK IN FLORIDA

..சுறா மீன் தாக்கியபோதும் கடலில் குதித்து தோழியை தைரியமாக காப்பாற்றிய 10 வயது சிறுமி

மியாமி, ஆக. 22-

அமெரிக்காவில் சுறா மீன் தாக்கியதையும் பொருட்படுத்தாத 10 வயது சிறுமி தனது தோழியை தைரியமாக காப்பாற்றியுள்ளார்.

அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள புளோரிடா மாநில கடற்கரையில் கடந்த புதன்கிழமை, காலே ஷர்மாக் (10) என்ற சிறுமி தனது 6 வயது தோழியுடன் குளித்து விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தார்.

அப்போது காலே ஷர்மாக்கின் வலது கால் பகுதியை சுறா மீன் கடித்துள்ளது. இதில் படுகாயமடைந்த அந்த சிறுமி, கால் முழுவதும் கிழிந்த நிலையில் ரத்தம் வழிய மிகவும் கஷ்டப்பட்டு தண்ணீரில் இருந்து வெளியே வந்து தனது தோழியை தேடி பதற்றத்துடன் கூச்சலிட்டார்.

ஆனால், அவரது தோழி கடலில் இருந்து வெளியே வரவில்லை. அந்த சுறா மீன் அப்பகுதியிலேயே சுற்றி வருவதை பார்த்த காலே, தைரியமாக மீண்டும் கடலுக்குள் சென்று தனது தோழியை காப்பாற்றி, அவருடன் கரைக்கு வந்தார்.

இதைத்தொடர்ந்து, ஆஸ்பத்திரியில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட காலேவின் வாலது கால் பகுதியில் மட்டும் 90 தையல்கள் போடப்பட்டுள்ளன. தற்போது குணமடைந்து வரும் காலே, விரையில் பூரண குணமடைந்து எப்போதும்போல் மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் ஓடியாடி விளையாடுவாள் என அவளது தந்தை நம்பிக்கை தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

A brave 10-year-old girl is being hailed a hero after being attacked by a shark, setting herself free, then heading back into the danger waters to rescue her 6-year-old friend.

Friends and family say Kaley Szarmack was enjoying a day at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, when a three-foot-long shark bit her leg as she was leaving the surf.

She walked herself out of the ocean and she realized that the 6-year-old was still in the water, so she turned around and went back and got the 6-year-old and took her out of the water, her father, Dave Szarmack, told WJXT-TV.

Kaley was rushed to the hospital, where she received 90 stitches to repair a four-inch gash on two sides of her leg, below the knee.

Dave, who’s also a firefighter, told the station, You see all kinds of things as a fireman, but when you see your baby, even if it was a little blood, but this was, to see it, I was just, it was really difficult to see. It was just tough. That’s my little girl.”

Kaley is expected to make a full recovery.

RAHUL GANDHI RAPPED 24 AGED GIRL,SUKANYADEVI OF AMETHI

RAHUL GANDHI RAPPED 24 AGED GIRL,SUKANYADEVI OF AMETHI
On 3rd December 2006, Rahul Gandhi was camping at Amethi along with 7 others including 4 foreigners (two from Britain and other two from Italy, names not known).Around 9 P.M all of them were drinking liquor at a V.I.P. guest house in a high security zone. They had an uninvited guest, a young girl named Sukanya Devi, 24 years of age, a staunch follower of Nehru-Gandhi family and daughter of Congress worker Balram Singh.

Sukanya was looking for an opportunity to meet Rahul Gandhi since last two years and on that fateful night she able to meet him. Sukanya's family has been supporting the Congress party since the time of Nehru.

When she met Rahul he spoke to her for a couple of minutes and later he and his friends offered here liquor. Sukanya was amazed seeing all this, she was not feeling comfortable, she refused to have liquor and took permission to leave, but she was forced to stay back and drink. She kept resisting, but they raped her one by one. She cried for help, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Even the security personnel preferred to remain as mute spectators.

She kept weeping all along and was threatened and asked to keep her mouth shut. She was given Rs.50,000 /-. She straightaway went to the local police station. The police refused to book any complaint and asked her to go home.

Before she could reach home, Congress workers had gathered at her house and gave a different version of the incident to her father. They accused her of trying to seduce Rahul Gandhi. Her father Balram Singh, without giving her a chance to explain what had happened to her beat her up mercilessly. Balram Singh learnt the facts from others who were witness to the crime, but he preferred to remain quite as he did not want to challenge Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party.

Sukanya's mother Sumitra Devi, who learnt about the whole incident immediately went with her daughter to Police HQ in Amethi. The Police officials refused to book any complaint and advised her to remain quite. She went from pillar to post pleading for justice, but no one heard her pleas.

Sumithra Devi gave a statement in a press conference with a very thin attendance and there she was confronted by Congressmen who physically assaulted both mother & daughter. On 27th December 2006 Sumithra Devi went to New Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi. Sonia refused to meet her. With no options left she went to Human Rights Commission who just noted down her complaint and asked her to leave.

The Congressmen have threatened to kill both Sumithra Devi and her daughter Sukanya if she makes the rape issue public. Both the mother and daughter are in despair trying to seek justice. Both mother and daughter were camping in New Delhi for over a fortnight to get an appointment with the President of India. They have not got an appointment either with the President or with the Chief Justice.


Both mother and daughter are now in hiding. If the Congressmen don’t kill her, the Opus Di (secret service of the Vatican) definitely will. It is important that we locate Sumanthra Devi and Sukanya, offer them protection 

The following Reporters who were present on 4th December,2006 to cover Rahul's Trip in Amethi and who were given information about the incident. These reporters were informed about the incident, none of them took interest to look into the matter

a) IBN7
b) Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar
c) Punjab Kesari
d) Hindusthan Times (Hindi)
e) Times of India & Times now
f) NDTV (Hindi)
g) Aaj Tak
h) Star News
i) Nav bharath times.

BETTY GRABLE ,THE PIN-UP GIRL,ACTRESS TOP BOX OFFICE FOR CONSECUTIVE 12 YEARS BORN 1916 DECEMBER 18- 1973 JULY 2

BETTY GRABLE ,THE PIN-UP GIRL,ACTRESS 

TOP BOX OFFICE FOR CONSECUTIVE 12 YEARS

BORN  1916 DECEMBER 18- 1973 JULY 2

Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million, and she set a record of 12 consecutive years in the top 10 of box office stars. 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.[1]
Career
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. She had contracts with RKO and Paramount Pictures during the 1930s, and appeared in a string of B movies, mostly portraying college students. Grable came to prominence in the Broadway musical DuBarry Was a Lady (1939), which brought her to the attention of 20th Century-Fox.

She replaced Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way (1940), her first major Hollywood film, and became Fox's biggest film star throughout the remaining decade. Fox cast Grable in a succession of Technicolor musicals during the decade that were immensely popular, co-starring with such leading men as Victor Mature, Don Ameche, John Payne, and Tyrone Power. In 1943, she was the number-one box-office draw in the world and, in 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States. Two of her biggest film successes were the musical Mother Wore Tights (1947) and the comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), one of her last films. Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, although she continued to perform on the stage and on television.[2]

Throughout her career, Grable was a celebrated sex symbol. Her bathing suit poster made her the number-one pin-up girl of World War II, surpassing Rita Hayworth. It was later included in the Life magazine project "100 Photographs that Changed the World". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as thigh (18.5 in (47 cm)), calf (12 in (30 cm)), and ankle (7.5 in (19 cm))[3] Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1 million as a publicity stunt.[4]


Early life

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Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on December 18, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the youngest of three children born to Lillian Rose (née Hofmann; 1889–1964) and John Charles Grable (1883–1954), a stockbroker.[5] She had Dutch, English, German, and Irish ancestry. Nicknamed "Betty" as a child, she was pressured by her mother—a stubborn and materialistic woman—to become a performer. She was entered in multiple beauty contests, many of which she won or for which she achieved considerable attention. Despite her success, she suffered from a fear of crowds and sleepwalking.

Career


Early career: 1929–1939

A 12-year-old Grable and her mother traveled to Hollywood in 1929, shortly after the infamous stock market crash, hoping to achieve stardom. To get her daughter jobs, Lillian Grable lied about her daughter's age, claiming she was 15 to movie producers and casting agents. The same year, she made her uncredited film debut as a chorus girl in the Fox Studios all-star revue Happy Days (1929). This eventually led to her having chorus girl jobs in Let's Go Places (1930) and New Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930).[6]

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, Lucille Ball and Paulette Goddard. As a member of the ensemble group of attractive young chorines, Grable appeared in a series of small parts in movies, among them the mega-hit Whoopee! (1930), starring Eddie Cantor. Although she received no on-screen credit for her performance, she led the film's opening musical number, entitled "Cowboys".

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. Her first film for the studio, Probation (1932), provided the 14-year-old Grable with her first credited screen role. Over the next few years, however, she was again relegated to uncredited minor roles in a series of films, many of them that became worldwide successes, like the 1933 hit Cavalcade. She received larger roles in The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Follow the Fleet (1936).

After her brief stint as an RKO contract player, Grable signed with Paramount Pictures, which lent her to 20th Century-Fox to co-star in the adolescent comedy Pigskin Parade (1936), the studio's effort to introduce Grable to the mainstream movie audience, but her performance was overlooked by audiences and critics in favor of newcomer Judy Garland. When she returned to Paramount, she began a new phase in her career; the studio began casting her in a series of college-aimed movies, the majority of the time having her portray a naive student. These films included the moderately popular This Way Please (1937) and College Swing (1938). Though Grable played the leading roles in these films, they led to her being typecast as an innocent and not-so-bright college student.

In 1939, she appeared opposite her then-husband Jackie Coogan in Million Dollar Legs, a B movie comedy from whose title Grable's famous nickname was taken. When the film did not become the hit Paramount had hoped for, the studio released her from her contract, and Grable began preparing to leave Hollywood for a simpler life. 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.[7] The play was an instant critical and audience success, and Grable was branded a new-found star.

Stardom at Fox: 1940–1949

Grable in the film Tin Pan Alley (1940)

In a 1940 interview, Grable stated she was "sick and tired" of show business and that she was considering retirement. Soon thereafter, she was invited to go on a personal appearance tour, which she readily accepted. The tour brought Grable to the attention of Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century-Fox, who offered her a long-term contract. "If that's not luck, I don't know what you'd call it", Grable said in her first interview after signing with the studio. Zanuck, who had been impressed by Grable's performance in DuBarry Was a Lady, was, at the time, in the midst of casting the female lead in the musical film Down Argentine Way (1940). The role had originally been assigned to Alice Faye, Fox's reigning musical star, but she had to decline the part due to an unspecified illness. After reviewing her screen test, Zanuck cast Grable as Faye's replacement in the movie. The film was a lavish Technicolor musical and co-starred Don Ameche and Carmen Miranda. Grable's performance of the song "Down Argentine Way" is considered a highlight of the film.

Down Argentine Way was a critical and box office success at the time of its release, and many critics proclaimed Grable to be the successor to Alice Faye. The film's success led to Grable's casting in Tin Pan Alley (1940), co-starring Faye. As the Lily sisters, both Grable and Faye received favorable reviews for their performances and the film recouped its financial investment. Over the years, rumors have circulated that a rivalry existed between Grable and Faye during filming, but this has been said to be entirely untrue—both actresses denied all accusations of a feud, and each often expressed their admiration for the other. The two reportedly remained friends until Grable's death.[citation needed] After Tin Pan Alley, Grable was again teamed with Ameche in the hit musical Moon Over Miami (1941), which also co-starred up-and-coming actress Carole Landis.

In 1941, Fox attempted to broaden Grable's acting and audience range by casting her in two films with more serious tones than those in which she had starred previously. The first, A Yank in the R.A.F., released in September, co-starred heartthrob Tyrone Power, and cast her as Carol Brown, who works in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the day, but is employed as a nightclub singer in the evening. The film followed along the lines of other movies of the era, but it was not considered a propaganda movie by the studio. 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. It was a major box-office success, becoming the fourth-most popular movie of the year.

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. The film offered Grable her second teaming with Carole Landis, and it also co-starred Victor Mature. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, the movie was a traditional black-and-white film noir, containing a combination of suspense and romance. Grable's performance was favorably reviewed by most critics, and the film enjoyed reasonable financial success.


Grable and Carmen Miranda in hit Springtime in the Rockies (1942)
Grable's star continued to rise when she starred in Song of the Islands (1942), co-starring Victor Mature and Jack Oakie. The success of the movie led to her re-teaming with Mature in Footlight Serenade (1942), also co-starring John Payne, in which she played a glamorous Broadway star. Fox then began to develop Philip Wylie's short story, "Second Honeymoon", into a script suited for Grable's talents. The resulting movie was Springtime in the Rockies (1942), directed by Irving Cummings and pairing Grable opposite Payne, Cesar Romero, Carmen Miranda, and her future husband, bandleader Harry James. The film was an immediate hit, Grable's biggest success to date, grossing more than $2 million. The film's success led to Fox upping her salary and to her having a wider choice over the films she would make.

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. Grable's next movie, Coney Island, released in June 1943, was a Technicolor "gay nineties" period musical and co-starred George Montgomery. The film earned more than $3.5 million at the box office and was well received by critics. Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943), her follow-up feature, was equally successful at the box office, although it failed to obtain the same critical favoritism.

The Frank Powolny's poster

Grable's iconic pose from 1943 was a World War II bestseller, showing off her "Million Dollar Legs".
In 1943, she collaborated with photographer Frank Powolny for a regular studio photo session. During the shoot, she took several photos in a tight, one-piece bathing suit. One particular pose consisted of Grable's back being to the camera as she playfully smiled looking over her right shoulder. The picture was released as a poster and became the most requested photo for G.I.s stationed overseas. Grable's photograph sold millions of copies, eventually surpassing the popularity of Rita Hayworth's famous 1941 photo.

Grable's success as a pin-up girl furthered her career as a mainstream movie star. As her star continued to ascend, Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck expressed interest in broadening Grable's range as an actress. Zanuck attempted, on multiple occasions, to cast her in films that challenged her acting abilities, but Grable herself was reluctant; she felt insecure about her talent which rendered her unwilling to accept roles she felt required too much of her. Throughout her career, she was very cautious; she often worried about starring opposite well-known leading men, fearing they may squander her success. She preferred to star in up-beat and outlandish musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story tack. In fact, many of her movies were thin when it came to their stories, but they were high on energy during their song-and-dance sequences. Despite their lack of quality, Grable's movies were immensely popular, and Fox regularly channelled the profits it received from Grable's movies into their more prestigious movies.

Zanuck relented to Grable's own request not to tamper with her successful screen formula. As a result, the studio prepared a film called Pin Up Girl for her. The film has her as a hostess for a USO canteen, who also provides entertainment for the troops during their time there. The lavish musical used her famous pin-up photograph in many scenes, which boosted the photo's sales. Many of the film's later scenes had to be rewritten to hide Grable's pregnancy. Pin Up Girl co-starred comedians Martha Raye and Joe E. Brown and was released in April 1944 to overwhelming success at the box office. Critics, though, were not as accepting of the film. Variety said the film "makes no pretenses of ultra-realism", but also called it "very pleasing and pleasant". After time off to give birth to a healthy daughter, Grable returned to Fox to star in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945), co-starring Dick Haymes and Phil Silvers. Though the film earned more than $3 million at the box office, it struggled to make a profit because of its high production costs. The Dolly Sisters (1945), her next film, teamed her with newcomer June Haver, an actress Fox was promoting as Grable's successor. 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. 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.

After five years of constant work, Grable was allowed time off for an extended vacation. She did, however, briefly return to filming to make a cameo appearance in Do You Love Me (1946), in which she appeared as a fan of her husband Harry James' character. Grable was reluctant to continue her film career, but Fox was desperately in need of her return. Without Grable's movies, which generated large profits, the studio struggled to stay afloat. The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) was her first film back at Fox. She played Cynthia Pilgrim, a college student who graduated at the top of her typewriting class during the first year of the Packard Business College. Although critics acknowledged that the film "momentarily achieved" brilliance, they also felt that the movie's music was like "sticky toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube". The film also suffered from indifferent ticket sales, and Fox failed to re-gain their financial investment. Grable next starred in Walter Lang's Mother Wore Tights, released in September 1947, co-starring Dan Dailey. The film told the story of two aging vaudeville performers as they look back on their heyday through a series of flashbacks. It received critical acclaim from critics, and was a box-office hit, earning an estimated $5 million.

In 1948, she was cast in That Lady in Ermine, a film that had previously been considered for either Jeanette MacDonald or Gene Tierney. It co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and was originally directed by Ernst Lubitsch. After Lubitsch's death early into production, he was replaced by Otto Preminger. It was widely reported that Grable often quarreled with Fairbanks and Preminger, and that she nearly walked out on filming, but decided against on the advice of her agent. When the film was finally released, it received mixed reviews; it was referred to as "a bright and beguiling swatch of nonsense", and it did not generate the revenue for which Fox had hoped. Grable immediately thereafter began filming When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948), co-starring Dan Dailey, which became a blockbuster, cementing Grable and Dailey's status as a bankable movie duo. Closing out the decade, Grable starred in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949), an oddball movie that unevenly mixed musical numbers with Western clichés. Despite a casting consisting of Cesar Romero and Rudy Vallee, the film was universally panned by critics, but contrary to popular belief, it was a reasonable box-office success.

Decline and last films: 1950–1955
Grable had been consistently placed in the "Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll" every year, beginning in 1942. She ranked at the top of the poll in 1943, and ranked second in 1947 and 1948. In 1949, although she still placed in the top ten, she slipped from second to seventh place in popularity. Fox became concerned that Grable might gradually be becoming regarded as a movie passé. Darryl F. Zanuck had the film Wabash Avenue tailored to fit Grable's talents. The film's plot line closely followed the story of Grable's earlier 1943 hit, Coney Island. Despite the similarities, they had new songs written and dances choreographed to modernize the film. Wabash Avenue was released in May 1950, and was a box office hit. Her following film, My Blue Heaven, released in December 1950, re-teamed her with Dan Dailey, and was equally successful financially. In 1950, Grable had re-gained her status as the most-popular female at the box office; she ranked fourth overall, just behind John Wayne, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby.

Although, by the early 1950s, Grable was searching for originality in the scripts offered to her, she had no luck in finding the movies she wanted to do. She reluctantly agreed to make Call Me Mister (1951) with Dan Dailey, a loose Technicolor musical remake of A Yank in the R.A.F.. The film was only moderately successful, and was quickly followed by Meet Me After the Show (1951), co-starring Macdonald Carey, Rory Calhoun, and Eddie Albert. It received favorable reviews from most critics, and was a box-office success.

In 1952, Grable began re-negotiating her contract with Fox. She requested an upped salary and the option to make only those films she wanted to make. The studio refused, and she went on strike. She was replaced by Marilyn Monroe in the movie adaptation of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). In late 1952, she was scheduled to begin filming The Girl Next Door, a light-weight musical comedy, but when she failed to show up to work, Fox suspended her. She was eventually replaced by June Haver in the film.

Betty Grable with Marilyn Monroe (left) and Lauren Bacall (right) in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
After a year off from filming, Grable reluctantly reconciled with Fox and agreed to star in a musical remake of The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953). The film was an attempt by Fox to recapture Grable's heyday as the studio's biggest star, and though she was paired with the popular Dale Robertson, the film was a critical and box-office flop.

She next starred in How to Marry a Millionaire, a romantic comedy about three models plotting to marry wealthy men, co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. During production, Grable and Monroe were rumored wrongly as not getting along. 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. In fact, Grable and Monroe got along famously; Grable reportedly told Monroe: "Go and get yours honey! I've had mine!" How to Marry a Millionaire was a box-office triumph when released, grossing an estimated $8 million.

After refusing the leading female role in Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Grable was again suspended from her contract. Grable appeared in her first film made away from Fox in over 15 years Three for the Show (1955) for Columbia, and paired her with up-and-coming talents Jack Lemmon and Marge and Gower Champion. Critics called the film a "slight, but cheerful, item", and proclaimed it "does serve to bring Betty Grable back to the screen". It enjoyed reasonable success at the box office, particularly overseas. She agreed to make How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) for Fox, on the assurance Marilyn Monroe would be her co-star. When Monroe dropped out of the production, she was replaced with Sheree North. The release of the film was surrounded by a massive publicity campaign promotion, but despite the promotion, the film failed to live up to its hype, with many critics complaining of the lack of chemistry between Grable and North. It was, however, a box-office hit, earning more than $3.7 million. It proved to be Grable's final film appearance. In 1955, she did attempt to return to acting in Samuel Goldwyn's film version of Guys and Dolls (1955). 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. She then officially retired from motion-picture acting.

Grable thereafter found a new career starring in her own act in Las Vegas hotels, as well as alongside her then husband, musician Harry James. Later, she starred in big Las Vegas stage productions such as Hello, Dolly. She also appeared on Broadway in Hello Dolly in 1967.[7]

Personal life

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Betty Grable's daughters Victoria Elizabeth and Jessica watch her rehearse for her TV debut on
Shower of Stars (1954)
Grable married former child actor Jackie Coogan in 1937. 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.

They had two daughters, Victoria Elizabeth (born 1944) and Jessica (born 1947). Their marriage, which lasted for 22 years, was rife with alcoholism and infidelity before they divorced in 1965. Grable entered into a relationship with dancer Bob Remick, several years her junior, with whom she remained until she died in 1973.

Death

Grable's crypt at Inglewood Park Cemetery

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On July 2, 1973, Grable died of lung cancer at age 56 in Los Angeles, California. Her funeral was held two days later and was attended by ex-husband Harry James and Hollywood stars 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 ballad from Springtime in the Rockies, was played on the church organ. She was entombed at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Legacy

Grable's handprint/signature in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre
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.[8] She was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians.

Her iconic pin-up image was recently named one of Time 's 100 Most Influential Photographs of All Time.[9] She was included in the list of 100 Photographs that Changed the World, by Life.[10]

Born December 18, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Died July 2, 1973 in Santa Monica, California, USA  (lung cancer)
Birth Name Elizabeth Ruth Grable
Nicknames The Girl With the Million Dollar Legs
The Pin-Up Girl
America's Ideal Girl
The Quicksilver Blonde
Height 5' 4" (1.63 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on December 18, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Lillian Rose (Hofmann) and John Charles Grable, a stockbroker. She had German, English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. Her mother was a stubborn and materialistic woman who was determined to make her daughter a star. Elizabeth, who later became Betty, was enrolled in Clark's Dancing School at the age of three. With her mother's guidance, Betty studied ballet and tap dancing. At age 13, Betty and her mother set out for Hollywood with the hopes of stardom. Lillian lied about her daughter's age, and Ruth landed several minor parts in films in 1930, such as Whoopee! (1930), New Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930), Happy Days (1929) and Let's Go Places (1930). In 1932, she signed with RKO Radio Pictures. The bit parts continued for the next three years. Betty finally landed a substantial part in By Your Leave (1934). One of her big roles was in College Swing (1938). Unfortunately, the public did not seem to take notice. She was beginning to think she was a failure. The next year, she married former child star Jackie Coogan. His success boosted hers, but they divorced in 1940. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way (1940), the public finally took notice of this shining bright star. Stardom came through comedies such as Coney Island (1943) and Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). The public was enchanted with Betty. Her famous pin-up pose during World War II adorned barracks all around the world. With that pin-up and as the star of lavish musicals, Betty became the highest-paid star in Hollywood. After the war, her star continued to rise. In 1947, the United States Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid star in America, earning about $300,000 a year - a phenomenal sum even by today's standards. Later, 20th Century-Fox, who had her under contract, insured her legs with Lloyds of London for a million dollars. Betty continued to be popular until the mid-1950s, when musicals went into a decline. Her last film was How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955). She then concentrated on Broadway and nightclubs. In 1965, she divorced band leader Harry James, whom she had wed in 1943. Betty Grable died at age 56 of lung cancer on July 2, 1973 in Santa Monica, California. Her life was an active one, devoid of the scandals that plagued many stars in one way or another. In reality, she cared for her family and the family life more than stardom. In that way, she was a true star.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson

Spouse (2)
Harry James (5 July 1943 - 9 October 1965) ( divorced) ( 2 children)
Jackie Coogan (20 November 1937 - 8 October 1940) ( divorced)
Trade Mark (4)

Platinum blonde hair and pale skin
Blue eyes
Her sexy legs
Voluptuous figure
Trivia (28)
Ex-husband Harry James died on what would have been their 40th anniversary.
In the late 1940s, 20th Century Fox insured her legs with Lloyds of London for a quarter million dollars.
In 1946-1947, the Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid woman in America, receiving $300,000 a year.
Following her death, she was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Was one of the 20 original The Goldwyn Girls, among whom were Lucille Ball, Virginia Bruce, Ann Dvorak and Paulette Goddard.
Voted Best Figure of 1941.
Suffered from "demophobia" (fear of crowds) and was a somnambulist (sleepwalker).
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
Did Playtex 18-hour Shortie commercials in the 1960s using her famous pin-up pose -- purportedly because she needed the money after her husband had spent her savings.
Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka's song "Betty Grable" was totally dedicated to her memory.
Portrayed by Jayne Mansfield in the biography The George Raft Story (1961). However, at the time she was not public domain so the character's name was changed to Lisa.
She and Harry James had two daughters: Victoria Elizabeth James (born March 3, 1944) and Jessica James (born May 20, 1947).
In How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), her character makes a pointed reference to Harry James while listening to the radio at the lodge (Grable was married to him at the time). The song playing on the radio is "You'll Never Know", from Hello Frisco, Hello (1943), and was sung in the film by Alice Faye. It won the Academy Award as Best Song in 1943 (Source: AMPAS).
In Italy, her films were often dubbed by Rosetta Calavetta and Dhia Cristiani. She was occasionally dubbed by Lydia Simoneschi and Clelia Bernacchi.
Her stepson, Tim James, was an attorney working with the then Attorney General of Texas and became responsible for enticing television personality Marvin Zindler of Houston to investigate the famous Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, Texas - eventually closing it down. The story became the basis of the Broadway and movie musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982).
Inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1990 and the Hall of Famous Missourians in 2009.

She was a lifelong Republican and conservative.
Betty's famous pin-up pose (in bathing suit, back to the camera, smiling over her right shoulder) was taken that way because she was pregnant and it showed. They felt that showing her from the front would not be in good taste.
She appeared with former Fox co-star Dick Haymes as presenters at the 1972 Oscar ceremony.
When Shelley Winters bowed out of Pickup on South Street (1953), a pregnant Grable turned down the offer of starring in the film noir, and the role went to Jean Peters.
Samuel Goldwyn considered her seriously for Guys and Dolls (1955), but when her dog broke its leg, Grable canceled an appointment with him. A miffed Goldwyn then gave the original Adelaide, former Fox co-worker Vivian Blaine, the role.
Made her film debut at age 13 in a Fox quickie, "Let's Go Places" in 1930. She lied about her age, stating she was 15.
While attending Hollywood Professional School, she developed a musical act with friend Emlyn Pique, who later took the name Mitzi Mayfair.
Very early in her career, she sang with the Ted Fiorito Band. According to Grable: "The only trouble was I couldn't sing.".
At one point during the 1940s, Grable reportedly earned $300,000 a year, making her one of the world's highest paid women. Her films earned over $15 million for 20th Century Fox.
She was offered the Anne Baxter role in The Razor's Edge (1946) but turned it down. Baxter ultimately won an Oscar as Sophie MacDonald.
Had appeared with John Payne in five films: College Swing (1938), Tin Pan Alley (1940), Footlight Serenade (1942), Springtime in the Rockies (1942) and The Dolly Sisters (1945).
Died five days before Veronica Lake.
Personal Quotes (17)
The woman's vision is deep-reaching, the man's far-reaching. With the man the world is his heart, with the woman the heart is her world.
You're better off betting on a horse than betting on a man. A horse may not be able to hold you tight, but he doesn't wanna wander from the stable at night.
There are two reasons why I am successful in show business and I am standing on both of them.
It's loud, it's cheap, it's gaudy. It's like everything I've ever done - I LOVE IT!
I'm strictly an enlisted man's girl.
I'm a song-and-dance girl. I can act enough to get by. But that's the limit of my talents.
The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.
[on Alice Faye] Alice is a darling. Everybody loves her.
There's nothing mysterious about me.
My legs made me.

[on Marilyn Monroe] It may sound peculiar to say so, because she is no longer with us, but we were very close. Once when we were doing that picture How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) together, I got a call on the set: my younger daughter had had a fall. I ran home and the one person to call was Marilyn. She did an awful lot to boost things up for movies when everything was at a low state; there'll never be anyone like her for looks, for attitude, for all of it.
[Concerning her and other stars' status as World War II pin-up queens] A lot of these kids don't have any women in their life to fight for - I guess what you would call us girls is kind of their inspiration. It is a grave responsibility.
[When asked if her status as new mother threatened her image] I never thought of it. If they don't like it, the devil with 'em. Fact is, I've more fan mail since, especially from servicemen telling me about their wives and babies.
[on her November 19, 1937 marriage] I want to be Mrs. Jackie Coogan for life. [They divorced three months later]
Grable played the only two straight roles of her career in 1941, "A Yank in the R.A.F." and "I Wake Up Screaming".
[In 1942] Maybe it's a wholesome quality or an American girl quality. People write to me as if I were a sister or friend.

She was everything to him (Desi Arnaz). It was always Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. She was his life