Grable, Betty (1916-1973)

The most popular pinup of American servicemen during World War II, actress, dancer, and singer Betty Grable was the symbol of an era. Dressed in a bathing suit and looking over her shoulder at the camera in her famous pinup, she radiated the optimism of an all-American girl and gave the American servicemen a vision of what they were fighting for. Not only did her image adorn barracks all over the world, but her likeness was used by the military to teach their men how to read grid maps. The star of Technicolor musicals at Twentieth Century-Fox, she reigned supreme, registering as the number one box office star in 1943 and appearing on the list of top stars from 1942-1951. Her legs were considered so close to perfection that they were insured by Lloyd's of London for one million dollars as a publicity stunt.

Born Ruth Elizabeth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri, her starstruck mother, Lillian, determined to make one of her daughters a star. She failed with elder daughter Marjorie, but Betty, as she was called, not only had talent but was enthusiastic about a show business career herself. She studied dance, singing, and the saxophone. She appeared in her first movie at the Fox Studios in the chorus of Happy Days (1929) in a black-face number. She was signed to a one-year contract by lying about her age, but when the executives discovered she was only thirteen, they dropped her option. Her mother was not deterred and arranged for her to appear in Eddie Cantor's Whoopee (1930). Betty was signed as a Goldwyn Girl with a five-year contract, but her career still did not take off. She appeared in a few other films, then signed to the Frank Fay musical Tattle Tales, which closed after only a few performances.

With her film career going nowhere, Grable spent time as a vocalist for several orchestras. During the mid-to late 1930s Grable appeared in more than a dozen films, but it was an appearance in a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film that first brought her some notice. In 1934's The Gay Divorcee Grable did a dance number with character actor Edward Everett Horton called "Let's K-knock K-knees." In 1937 Grable married former child actor Jackie Coogan, who at the time was embroiled in a lawsuit against his parents regarding his earnings, and this put much strain on the marriage. Coogan and Grable appeared together in Million Dollar Legs (1939), but they later divorced.

Grable was finally being noticed, and Daryl F. Zanuck of Twentieth Century-Fox signed her to a contract. He did not have any immediate plans for Grable, so he allowed her to appear in a musical called DuBarry Was a Lady on Broadway. The show starred Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr, but it was Grable who caused a sensation performing the number "Well Did You Evah" with Charles Waters. In 1940 Grable left the show to replace an ailing Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way. The film was a huge success, and Grable immediately became a superstar. To follow her "instant" success Grable appeared in musicals such as Moon over Miami and Springtime in the Rockies. It was during the latter film that she met bandleader Harry James, whom she married in 1943 and with whom she had two daughters.

Although her famous pinup may have been her greatest contribution to the war effort, Grable joined other stars in war bond rallies, entertaining the troops, and appearing at the Hollywood Canteen. Grable continued to make successful films, although after the late 1940s her popularity began to wane. She also fought with Zanuck, who wanted to put her in serious films, but which Grable knew was not her forte. To make Grable toe the line, Zanuck brought several blond starlets to the studio. Grable appeared with Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and rather than being threatened she took the younger woman under her wing. Grable had had it with Twentieth Century-Fox, however, and left shortly after. When Millionaire was released, it was Grable who received the most critical praise, and she was persuaded to return for the film How to be Very, Very Popular (1955), a flop which was Grable's last film.

Grable continued to make successful appearances on television and in live theater productions such as Guys and Dolls and in a touring company of Hello Dolly. While things were still going well for Grable careerwise, her personal life was not. In October of 1965 she divorced James after more than twenty years of marriage.

In 1969 Grable went to London for the production of a new musical, Belle Starr, which was written especially for her. It flopped and closed after sixteen performances. In 1972, shortly after appearing on the Academy Awards telecast, Grable was diagnosed with cancer. After extensive treatments she decided to return to work appearing in Born Yesterday in Florida. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread, and within a few months Grable died.

—Jill A. Gregg

Further Reading:

McGee, Tom. Betty Grable: The Girl with the Million Dollar Legs. New York, Vestal Press, 1995.

Pastos, Spero. Pinup, the Tragedy of Betty Grable. New York, Putnam, 1986.

Warren, Doug. Betty Grable, the Reluctant Movie Queen. New York, St. Martin's Press, 1981.