Dorothy Kingsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothy Kingsley
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Kingsley in the 1940s
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| Born | October 14, 1909 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 1997 (aged 87) Monterey, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Spouse | first husband unknown William Durney (? – 1989) his death |
| Children | 6 |
| Parents | Alma Hanlon |
Dorothy Kingsley (born October 14, 1909 – died September 26, 1997) was an American screenwriter. She wrote many stories for movies, radio shows, and TV programs.
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Becoming a Writer
Dorothy Kingsley was born in New York City. Her father, Walter J. Kingsley, worked in newspapers and helped promote famous people. Her mother, Alma Hanlon, was a silent film actress. After her parents separated, Dorothy moved with her mother to Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
As a young mother, Dorothy faced challenges. One day, while recovering from an illness, she listened to many radio shows. She started to think she could write better stories and jokes than what she was hearing. This sparked her interest in writing.
She traveled to Los Angeles to try and become a writer. She had written some material for famous radio stars like Jack Benny. At first, people didn't take her seriously because she looked very young. But she finally found an agent who was willing to give her a chance.
Writing for Radio Shows
While looking for work, Dorothy met actress Constance Bennett. Constance liked Dorothy's writing and used some of her jokes on her radio show. Even though the show had many writers, Dorothy secretly provided jokes for $75 a week.
Later, Dorothy answered an ad for a writer for Edgar Bergen's radio show. She was chosen from 400 people for a trial period. The Edgar Bergen show became very popular, and Dorothy worked there for several years.
Hollywood Success at MGM
While working on the radio show, Dorothy started sending scripts to movie studios. Arthur Freed, a producer at MGM studio, saw her talent. He offered her a contract.
Her first job at MGM was to help fix the script for Girl Crazy. This was a musical movie starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Dorothy became very good at fixing movie scripts even while the movies were being filmed. She also helped fix Bathing Beauty, which became a big hit for Esther Williams.
Dorothy often worked behind the scenes, helping to improve scripts. She wrote many famous MGM musicals, like Kiss Me Kate. She also wrote many movies for Debbie Reynolds and most of the films starring Esther Williams. These big, exciting movies were very popular during the war because people wanted fun, escape entertainment.
In 1948, Dorothy and Dorothy Cooper wrote A Date with Judy. This movie was important for Elizabeth Taylor, who played a more grown-up role in it.
Dorothy also wrote Angels in the Outfield, a baseball movie about the Pittsburgh Pirates. This movie was a favorite of President Eisenhower!
She was the last writer to work on the script for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The original story was good, but the script needed changes. Dorothy helped make the main female character, Milly, more important to the story. She made Milly the one who helps the brothers find wives. This change made the movie much better.
Because she was so good at fixing scripts, MGM kept Dorothy very busy. Her contract was always being renewed.
Working with Frank Sinatra
Dorothy also played a key role in getting Frank Sinatra to star in the movie Pal Joey. Sinatra and the studio head, Harry Cohn, weren't speaking to each other. Dorothy and Harry Cohn's assistant wrote a summary of the film with Sinatra in mind. They sent it to Sinatra without Cohn knowing. Sinatra agreed to do the movie, and Cohn approved it without even seeing the full script! Sinatra was so happy with Dorothy's work on Pal Joey that he agreed to do Can-Can even before a script was written.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1969, Dorothy helped create the TV series Bracken's World. This show was about what happens behind the scenes at a movie studio in Hollywood.
Dorothy and her second husband, William Durney, moved away from Hollywood to Carmel, California. There, they started a winery called Durney Vineyard. They were among the first people to plant vineyards in the Carmel Valley Wine region in 1968. Their first wines were made in 1976.
Dorothy Kingsley passed away in 1997 in Monterey, California, due to heart failure. She is buried in San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey.
Movies She Wrote
- Look Who's Laughing (1941, material for Edgar Bergen)
- Here We Go Again (1942, material: Edgar Bergen)
- Girl Crazy (1943, contributing writer, uncredited)
- Best Foot Forward (1943, contributing writer, uncredited)
- Bathing Beauty (1944, screenplay)
- Broadway Rhythm (1944, screenplay)
- Easy to Wed (1946, adaptation)
- A Date with Judy (1948, writer)
- On an Island with You (1948, writer)
- Neptune's Daughter (1949, writer)
- Two Weeks with Love (1950, screenplay)
- The Skipper Surprised His Wife (1950, writer)
- Angels in the Outfield (1951, screenplay)
- Texas Carnival (1951, screenplay, story)
- It's a Big Country (1951, segment 7)
- When in Rome (1952, writer)
- Kiss Me Kate (1953, screenplay)
- Small Town Girl (1953, screenplay)
- Dangerous When Wet (1953, writer)
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954, writer)
- Jupiter's Darling (1955, writer)
- Pal Joey (1957, screenplay)
- Don't Go Near the Water (1957, writer)
- Green Mansions (1959, writer)
- Pepe (1960, writer)
- Can-Can (1960, writer)
- Half a Sixpence (1967, adaptation)
- Valley of the Dolls (1967, screenplay)
- Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children (1969, writer)
- Bracken's World episode "Fade In" (1969, writer)
- Bracken's World episode "The Stunt" (1969, writer)
- Bracken's World episode "Fade-In" (1969, writer)
