Betty Grable facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Betty Grable
Grable's famous pin-up poster
Born	Elizabeth Ruth Grable (1916-12-18)December 18, 1916 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	July 2, 1973(1973-07-02) (aged 56) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Lung cancer
Resting place	Inglewood Park Cemetery, California, US
Nationality	American
Other names	Frances Dean
Occupation	Actress, dancer, singer
Years active	1929-1956
Spouse(s)	Jackie Coogan ​ (m. 1937⁠–⁠1939)​ (divorced) Harry James ​ (m. 1943⁠–⁠1965)​ (divorced)
Partner(s)	Bob Remick (?-1973, her death)
Children	2 daughters
Parent(s)	John Grable Lillian (née Hoffmann)

Elizabeth Ruth Grable (born December 18, 1916 – died July 2, 1973), known as Betty Grable, was a famous American actress, dancer, and singer. She was also a popular pin-up girl during World War II.

Her movies made over $100 million, which was a huge amount of money back then. For ten years, from 1942 to 1951, she was one of the top 10 biggest box office stars. In 1946 and 1947, the U.S. government said she was the highest-paid woman in America. She earned more than $3 million in her career.

Betty Grable started her film career in 1929 when she was just 12 years old. She signed contracts with big studios like RKO and Paramount Pictures. She became very well-known after starring in the Broadway musical DuBarry Was a Lady in 1939. This led her to sign with 20th Century-Fox.

She became Fox's biggest movie star in the 1940s. She starred in many popular Technicolor musicals. She often worked with famous actors like Victor Mature, Don Ameche, and Tyrone Power. In 1943, she was the number-one movie star in the world. In 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the U.S. Her big hits included Mother Wore Tights (1947) and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). Betty Grable stopped making movies in 1955 but continued to perform on stage and TV.

Her famous bathing suit poster made her the top pin-up girl during World War II. This picture was even included in Life magazine's "100 Photographs That Changed the World." Her studio even insured her legs for $1 million as a publicity stunt! Betty Grable once joked, "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them."

Early life

Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on December 18, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the youngest of three children. Her parents were Lillian Rose and John Conn Grable, who was a stockbroker.

From a young age, her mother wanted Betty to be a performer. Betty entered many beauty contests and often won or got a lot of attention. Even with her success, she sometimes felt nervous in large crowds.

Career

Starting out: 1929–1939

In 1929, when Betty was 12, she and her mother moved to Hollywood. They hoped she would become a star. Betty studied at the Hollywood Professional High School and a dance academy. To help her get jobs, her mother told movie producers that Betty was 15.

That same year, Betty appeared as a chorus girl in the movie Happy Days. She also had chorus girl roles in Let's Go Places (1930) and New Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930).

In 1930, at age 13, Betty signed with producer Samuel Goldwyn. She became one of the original Goldwyn Girls, a group of young dancers. She had small parts in movies like Whoopee! (1930). Even though she wasn't named in the credits, she led the opening song "Cowboys."

In 1932, she signed with RKO Radio Pictures. She took acting, singing, and dancing classes. Her first credited movie role was in Probation (1932). For a few years, she mostly had small, uncredited roles. She got bigger parts in The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Follow the Fleet (1936).

After RKO, Betty signed with Paramount Pictures. Paramount loaned her to 20th Century-Fox for the comedy Pigskin Parade (1936). This movie helped introduce her to more people. However, a new actress named Judy Garland got more attention in that film.

When Betty returned to Paramount, she started playing innocent college students in movies. These films included This Way Please (1937) and College Swing (1938). While she was the main actress, these roles made her seem like only a sweet, not-so-smart college girl.

In 1939, she starred with her husband, Jackie Coogan, in Million Dollar Legs. This comedy gave her the famous nickname. When the movie wasn't a big hit, Paramount ended her contract. Betty thought about leaving Hollywood. But she changed her mind and decided to try Broadway. She starred in the musical DuBarry Was a Lady. The play was a huge success, and Betty became a new star.

Becoming a star at Fox: 1940–1949

Grable in a scene from Down Argentine Way (1940)

In 1940, Betty Grable said she was tired of show business. But then, she was asked to go on a tour. This tour caught the eye of Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century-Fox. He offered her a long-term contract.

Zanuck was impressed by her performance in DuBarry Was a Lady. He was looking for the main actress for the musical film Down Argentine Way (1940). The role was meant for Alice Faye, Fox's most popular musical star. But Alice Faye had to drop out. After seeing Betty's screen test, Zanuck chose her. The movie was a colorful musical with Don Ameche and Carmen Miranda. Betty's singing of "Down Argentine Way" was a highlight.

Down Argentine Way was a big success. Many critics said Betty Grable was the next Alice Faye. This led to Betty starring in Tin Pan Alley (1940) with Alice Faye. They played the Lily sisters and both got good reviews. There were rumors of a rivalry between them, but both actresses said they were good friends. They reportedly stayed friends until Betty's death. After Tin Pan Alley, Betty starred again with Don Ameche in Moon Over Miami (1941).

In 1941, Fox tried to give Betty more serious roles. First, she starred in A Yank in the R.A.F. with Tyrone Power. She played a woman who worked for the air force and sang in a nightclub. The movie was a big hit and one of the most popular films that year.

Her second serious movie was I Wake Up Screaming (1941). Betty played Jill Lynn, whose sister is murdered. This was a mystery film with suspense and romance. Most critics liked Betty's performance, and the movie did well.

Grable and Carmen Miranda in hit Springtime in the Rockies (1942)

Betty Grable's fame grew even more. She starred in Song of the Islands (1942) and Footlight Serenade (1942). Then came Springtime in the Rockies (1942). This movie paired Betty with John Payne, Cesar Romero, Carmen Miranda, and her future husband, Harry James. The film was an instant hit, making over $2 million. This success led Fox to pay her more and give her more choice in her films.

In 1943, Betty Grable was voted the number-one box-office star in America. She was more popular than stars like Bob Hope and Clark Gable. Her next movie, Coney Island (1943), was a colorful musical. It made over $3.5 million and was liked by critics. Her next film, Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943), also did well at the box office.

The famous pin-up poster

Grable's iconic over-the-shoulder pose from 1943. She was pregnant at the time, which is why she posed this way. This photo was a World War II bestseller, showing off her "Million Dollar Legs."

In 1943, Betty Grable had a photo shoot with photographer Frank Powolny. She took many pictures in a tight bathing suit. In one famous pose, she had her back to the camera and smiled over her right shoulder. She posed this way because she was pregnant with her first child.

This picture was made into a poster. It became the most requested photo by soldiers overseas during World War II. Millions of copies were sold, even more than Rita Hayworth's famous photo.

Betty's success as a pin-up girl helped her movie career even more. Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck wanted her to try more challenging acting roles. But Betty was unsure of her acting skills. She preferred to star in fun musicals with lots of songs and dances. Even though her movies didn't always have deep stories, they were very popular. Fox used the money from her movies to make their more serious films.

Zanuck agreed to let Betty stick to her successful movie style. So, the studio made a film called Pin Up Girl for her. In the movie, she played a hostess who entertained troops at a USO canteen. The film used her famous pin-up photo in many scenes, which helped sell even more posters. Parts of the movie had to be changed to hide her pregnancy. Pin Up Girl (1944) was a huge box-office success.

After taking time off to have her daughter, Betty returned to Fox. She starred in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe (1945). Her next film, The Dolly Sisters (1945), starred her with June Haver. The press hinted at a rivalry between them, but both actresses said they were good friends. The Dolly Sisters made over $4 million and was Fox's second-highest earning movie that year.

After five years of constant work, Betty took a long vacation. She made a short appearance in Do You Love Me (1946). Fox really needed her to come back to make profitable movies. Her first film back was The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947). It didn't do as well as hoped.

Betty then starred in Mother Wore Tights (1947) with Dan Dailey. This movie was about two old vaudeville performers looking back at their past. It was a big hit and made about $5 million.

Betty was then cast in That Lady in Ermine (1948). She reportedly had disagreements during filming. The movie got mixed reviews and didn't make as much money as Fox wanted. Betty then filmed When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) with Dan Dailey. This movie was a huge success, making them a popular movie pair. To end the decade, Betty starred in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949). This movie mixed musicals with Westerns. Critics didn't like it much, but it still did reasonably well at the box office.

Later films: 1950–1955

Betty Grable had been in the "Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll" every year since 1942. She was number one in 1943. But in 1949, her popularity dropped a bit. Fox worried that she might be seen as old-fashioned.

Darryl F. Zanuck had the film Wabash Avenue (1950) made for Betty. The story was similar to her earlier hit Coney Island. It had new songs and dances to make it modern. Wabash Avenue was a box-office hit. Her next film, My Blue Heaven (1950), also with Dan Dailey, was equally successful. In 1950, Betty was again the most popular female star at the box office. She ranked fourth overall.

By the early 1950s, Betty wanted more original movie scripts. She reluctantly agreed to make Call Me Mister (1951) with Dan Dailey. This musical was a remake of A Yank in the R.A.F.. It was only moderately successful. Then came Meet Me After the Show (1951), which got good reviews and was a box-office hit.

In 1952, Betty tried to get a new contract with Fox. She asked for more money and the power to choose her films. The studio refused, so she went on strike. Because of this, Marilyn Monroe took her place in the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).

Grable with Marilyn Monroe (left) and Lauren Bacall (right) in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

After a year away, Betty agreed to work with Fox again. She starred in a musical remake of The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953). Fox hoped this film would bring back her status as their biggest star. But the movie was not successful.

Her next film was How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). This romantic comedy was about three models trying to marry rich men. It co-starred Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. There were false rumors that Betty and Marilyn didn't get along. People thought Betty was jealous because Marilyn was becoming Fox's new big star. But Betty and Marilyn were actually good friends. Betty reportedly told Marilyn, "Go and get yours honey! I've had mine!" How to Marry a Millionaire was a huge success, making about $8 million.

Betty refused a main role in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954). She was again suspended from her contract. She then made her first film away from Fox in over 15 years, Three for the Show (1955), for Columbia Pictures. It was a cheerful movie and did reasonably well.

She agreed to make How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) for Fox. She was told Marilyn Monroe would be her co-star. But Marilyn dropped out and was replaced by Sheree North. The movie had a lot of publicity, but critics felt Betty and Sheree didn't have good chemistry. However, it was a box-office hit, earning over $3.7 million. This was Betty Grable's last film. In 1955, she tried to get a role in the film Guys and Dolls but didn't get it. She then officially retired from making movies.

After retiring from films, Betty Grable started a new career. She performed her own show in Las Vegas hotels. She also performed with her husband, musician Harry James. Later, she starred in big Las Vegas stage shows like Hello, Dolly. She also appeared in Hello Dolly on Broadway in 1967.

Personal life

Grable's daughters Victoria Elizabeth and Jessica watch her rehearse for her TV debut on
Shower of Stars (1954)

Betty Grable married former child actor Jackie Coogan in 1937. They divorced in 1939.

In 1943, she married trumpeter Harry James. They had two daughters, Victoria Elizabeth and Jessica. Their marriage lasted 22 years, and they divorced in 1965.

Betty then had a relationship with dancer Bob Remick. They stayed together until she passed away in 1973.

Betty Grable supported the Republican Party. She supported Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.

Death

Betty Grable died from lung cancer on July 2, 1973. She was 56 years old. Her funeral was held two days later. Many Hollywood stars attended, including her ex-husband Harry James, Alice Faye, and Dan Dailey. The song "I Had the Craziest Dream" from her movie Springtime in the Rockies was played. She was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Grable's crypt at Inglewood Park Cemetery

Legacy

Grable's handprint and signature in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Betty Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She was added to the Hall of Famous Missourians.

Her famous pin-up photo was named one of Times 100 Most Influential Photographs of All Time. It was also included in Lifes list of 100 Photographs That Changed the World.

A few months after she died, singer Neil Sedaka wrote a song about her. It was on his 1974 album Laughter in the Rain.

Films

Betty Grable appeared in many movies:

See also

In Spanish: Betty Grable para niños