20th Cent. Betty Grable

Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born on 18 December 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri. She had an elder sister, Marjorie. Her father worked as a stockbroker. Taught to sing and dance from an early age, she moved with her mother and sister to Los Angeles in pursue of a show business career. In 1930, Grable appeared in Whoopee! In 1932, in Hold 'Em Jail. In 1936, Pigskin Parade. In 1939, Million Dollar Legs. Grable then appeared in the musical, Du Barry Was a Lady, at Broadway. During World War II, Betty Grable was a popular Pin-up doing bond tours. In 1941, she starred in I Wake Up Screaming. In 1943, in Sweet Rosie O'Grady opposite Robert Young. Betty Grable married Harry James in 1943. In 1947, she was cast in Mother Wore Tights. In 1948, in When My Baby Smiles at Me. In 1949, The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend and The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. In 1953, Grable appeared in How to Marry a Millionaire opposite, Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962). In 1955, in How to Be Very, Very Popular. Grable and James were divorced in 1965. She then starred in Hello, Dolly at Broadway. Betty Grable died of lung cancer aged 56, on 3 July 1973, in Santa Monica, California. She was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California. Betty Grable has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6525 Hollywood Blvd.