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Home , Andy Hardy, Ann Miller, A Guy Named Joe, Bathing Beauty, Betty Garrett, Busby Berkeley

very unpleasant experience for Williams, and soured her

towards show business.

August 8 After repeatedly turning down offers from MGM to work in

films, because of her experiences at the Aquacade and because

of her husband, Dr. Leonard Kover's, objections to her going

into show business, she went with Johnny Hyde from the

(65 years ago) to meet L. B. Mayer. She signed with

MGM in 1941. MGM used the popular series to

Esther Williams, 1923- give exposure to their new contract player, ,

and introduce her to loyal audiences. She was a star in her

by Alison Osinski own right by 1944, in her fourth film .

MGM developed a special kind of film for Williams, which

showed off her aquatic talents. She was admired for the way

On 8 August 1923, Esther Williams, the "personification of she made everything she did look so easy. She smiled ," was born in , throughout the films, even when performing dangerous Busby

California, the youngest of five children. She grew up playing Berkly stunts. Her hair which was pulled tight, pinned into in the surf and learning to swim in the ocean. Williams place, and slicked back with Vaseline, never appeared to get attended the University of Southern where she wet. Williams went on to act in twenty-seven feature length participated on the swim team. She won the Women's films and one short subject film between 1942 and 1961.

Outdoor Nationals in the 100 meter freestyle, and 50 and 100 Although sometimes criticized for her lack of acting ability meter breaststroke. She also competed as a member of the and training, Williams was adored by her fans. She was voted world record breaking medly relay team. Williams won the one of the top ten money making stars in the Motion Pictures right to swim in three events on the 1940 US Olympic team, Herald-Fame poll, and in 1953, was elected by the Foreign but unfortunately never got the chance to compete because the Press as the most popular female performer in fifty countries.

Olympics were cancelled when war broke out in Europe. William's second husband was the radio announcer, Ben

Instead, Williams turned professional, and went to work doing Gage, with whom she had three children. In 1967, she married five performances a day for as a star in his San former co-star , and retired from public life.

Francisco World's Fair Aquacade. She co-starred in the By this time she believed that they were not making her kind

Aquacade with Olympic champion Johnny Weismuller, who of films anymore. Lamas, too, preferred that she quit the later went on to portray in films. The Aquacade was a movie business, because location problems, and not seeing each other for extended periods of time would not be healthy film stars. for their marriage. Williams devoted her life to Lamas and • An Actor Guide to the Talkies, by Richard Dimmitt. became the traditional Latin wife and homemaker. They went Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, 1968. to live in for a year and a half where she came to Comprehensive listing of films, actors and actresses, film understand his culture and upbringing. She learned to cook production companies, and film release dates for feature

Argentinian specialties, garden and sew. films from 1949 to 1964.

In 1982, after Lamas died of cancer, and after being out of • Movie stars of the '40s, by David Ragan. Englewood the limelight for over twenty years, Williams decided to get Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1985. involved again. She agreed to an interview by Barbara Short bibliographic summaries and listings of movie

Walters, in which she refuted numerous rumors which had highlights of stars first famous, most active or most arisen surrounding her absence from public life. She made a popular in the . videotape demonstrating her method of teaching infants to • 5001 Nights at the Movies: A Guide from A to Z, by swim. She made local TV appearances. Pauline Kael. : Holt, Rinehart & Winston, .

Williams is often credited with having helped promote Kael reviews five Esther Williams films. swimming as a sport and recreational activity in the US, as • The Oxford Companion to Film, edited by Liz-Anne well as being instrumental in the dramatic increase in the Bawden. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. number of pools being built in the US. Her success, Short bibliographic film summaries and topics of related popularity and world-wide promotion of synchronized interest. swimming are partially responsible for their inclusion in 1984 • International Motion Picture Almanac, edited by Richard as an Olympic sporting event. Gertner. New York: Quigley Publishing Company, 1981.

Reference Sources: Works by Williams:

• The Best of MGM, by Elizabeth Miles Montgomery. New • "How Esther Williams Teaches Children to Swim," by

York: Gallery Books, W. H. Smith Publishers, 1986. Esther Williams as told to Helen Gould. Family Circle (June

Illustrated history of stars and the movies they made at 1956): 24-25, 58-59.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Photographs and step-by-step progression showing how

• A Bibliographical Dictionary of Film, 2nd rev. ed., by Williams taught her three young children to swim. The

David Thompson. New York: William Morris & Company, Swim Baby Swim video is based on information

1981. originally presented in this article.

A cross referenced, alphabetically listed bibliography of Adult Works about the Subject: Feature Films:

• The Movies, rev. ed., by Richard Griffith and Arthur • Andy Hardy's Double Life, directed by George Seitz.

Mayer. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1970. (MGM, 1942).

Insiders history of the movies from their birth in Williams' film debut. Minor supporting role in which

Hollywood through the sixties. Esther Williams is Williams kisses Rooney underwater.

mentioned in the chapter "Blood, Sweat, Tears...and • Bathing Beauty, directed by Geroge Sidney. (MGM, 1944).

Profits", movies made during World War n. Color 16mm available from MGM/United. 101 min.

• Whatever Happened to ?, by Jesse Lasky, Jr. Williams' fourth movie and first starring role. Lavish

New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1975. musical-comedy. Plot revolves around the misadventures

History of Hollywood as told by the son of a Hollywood which occur when enrolls at a women's

pioneer. Mentions the contribution and importance of college.

Esther Williams to MGM. • Ziegfeld , directed by Vincent Minnelli. (MGM,

1946). Color 16mm and videotape available from

Young Adult Works about the Subject: MGM/United. 110 min.

• Synchronized Swimming, by Helen Elkington and Jane Williams didn't say a word in this film. Musical review

Chamberlain. North Ponfrit, VT: David & Charles, 1986. in which, Ziegfeld, as played by William Holden,

Introduction to the sport of synchronized swimming. introduces fabulous routines from heaven.

• US Synchronized Swimming Official Rule Book '87-'88, •Neptune's Daughter, directed by Edward Buzzell. (MGM, edited by US Synchronized Swimming. Indianapolis, IN: 1949). Color 16mm available from MGM/United. 93 min.

USSS, 1987. Willams plays a bathing suit designer and sings the

Official rules by which synchronized swim competition is Academy Award winning song "Baby It's Cold Outside."

governed in the US. Considered by many to be her best film.

• Take Me Out to the Ball Game, [alternate title: Everybody's

Children's Works about the Subject: Cheering}, directed by . (MGM, 1949). Color

• Synchronized Swimming is for Me, by Susan Preston- 16mm available from MGM/United. 93 min.

Mauks. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications, 1983. Williams manages a baseball team which includes team

Preston-Mauks, a former Physical Education teacher, members and . Williams falls in

synchronized participant and coach explains how to get love with Kelly, while Sinatra falls in love with

involved in the sport of synchronzied swimming. Williams. Gangsters try to fix a game.

• , [alternate title: The One Piece Bathing Suit], directed by Mervyn LeRoy. (MOM, 1952). Held in 1983, 1984, and 1985 at Colorado Springs

Color 16mm available from MGM/United. 115 min. Olympic Training Center. National synchronized teams

Two Busby Berkeley staged sequences were excerpted for accompained by a live symphony orchestra.

That's Entertainment! Particularly well remembered • 1984 Olympics (Synchronized Swimming). (1984).

sequence involving sparklers and Williams wearing a gold Videotape available from US Synchronized Swimming

swim suit rising out of the water on a geyser. Merchandise. 120 min.

• , directed by . (MGM, Highlights of the coverage of synchronized swim

1953) Color 16mm available from MGM/United. 95 min. competition from the 1984 Los Angeles .

Williams portrays a young midwestern swimmer who Esther Williams is the commentator.

seeks fame and fortune by swimming the English • 1985 FINA World Cup. (US Synchronized Swimming,

Channel. Met and starred with future husband, Fernando 1985). Videotape available from US Synchronized Swimming

Lamas. Merchandise. 90 min.

• Easy to Love, directed by Charles Walters. (MGM, 1953). The world's top athletes compete n solo, duet and team

Color available from MGM/United. 96 min. competition. Held in Indianapolis at IUPUI Natatorium.

Series of Busby Berkeley spectacular production numbers • Swim Baby Swim. (E. W. L. Productions/Karl Home

set at Cypress Gardens. Williams learned to water-ski for Video, 1984). Videotape. 60 min.

her role in this film. Esther Williams' five step approach to making babies

• The Big Show, directed by James Clark. (20th Century Fox, water safe and secure through water adjustment and the

1961). Color 16mm available from Willough by Peer. 113 teaching of safety, survival and early swimming skills. min.

Family conflict drama set in a circus. Williams retired Discussion and Project Suggestions:

after this film. 1) Find Esther Williams' star on the Hollywood walk of

Fame.

Other Audio-Visual Resources: 2) Stand in Esther Williams' footprints in cement at Mann's

• The Screen Actor. (1950). Chinese Theater.

Only a short subject film made by Esther Williams. 3) Visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort

• Classical Splash. (US Synchronized Swimming, 1983, Lauderdale, .

1984, 1985). Videotape available from US Synchronized 4) Attend a Synchronized Swim meet at a local pool.

Swimming Merchandise. 90 min.

Special event promoted by US Synchronized Swimming. Sources of Further Information: Esther Williams Swimming Pools and Spas

8600 River Road

Delair.NJ 08112

(609) 663-2900

International Swimming Hall of Fame

One Hall of Fame Drive

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

(305) 462-6536

Don R. DeBolt, Executive Director

Lee Mimms & Associates

1223 1/4 N. Sweetzer

Los Angeles, CA 90069

(213) 656-3801

Cross-Reference Dates:

1941: Williams signed with MOM. {Author: Could you provide us with the exact date?}

This resource guide has been prepared by Dr. Alison Osinski,

Aquatic Consulting Services, and, Assistant Professor and

Aquatic Specialist, Department of Physical Education, San

Diego State University. Esther Williams by Alison Osinski Length of the guide: When your guide was set up in galley form, it ran to 2088 words which is 488 words in excess of our maximum of 1600. It has been necessary for us to cut those parts of your introduction that could be spared with the least possible loss of content. Please examine the galley carefully and let me know if our cuts are acceptable. Cross-Reference Dates: This section was omitted from your manuscript. I have listed the 1941 date. Could you complete this date and supply a few others? AUGUST 8, 1923

(65 years ago) Birth of Esther Williams

by Alison Osinski

Esther Williams was born, the youngest of five children, in Los Angeles, California, where she grew up playing in the surf and learning to swim in the ocean. As an eight year old, she had a job counting towels at a municipal pool in exchange for free swimming lessons. By age fourteen, she had already demonstrated her swimming talents by winning a local swimming championship. Soon she was being coached at the Los Angeles Athletic Club by former Olympian, Aileen Allen.

Williams attended U.S.C. where she participated on the swim team. She won the Women's Outdoor Nationals in the 100 meter freestyle, and 50 and 100 meter breastroke. She also competed as a member of the world record breaking medly relay team. Williams won the right to swim in three events on the 1940 U.S. Olympic team, but unfortunately never got the chance to compete because the Olympics were cancelled when war broke out in Europe.

Instead, Williams turned professional, and went to work doing five performances a day for Billy Rose as a star in his San Francisco World's Fair Aquacade. She costarred in the Aquacade with Olympic champion Johnny Weismuller, who later went on to portray Tarzan in films. The Aquacade was a very unpleasant experience for Williams, and soured her towards show business.

Williams went back to Los Angeles and worked at I. Magnin as a sales clerk and model and married Dr. Leonard Kover. After repeatedly turning down offers from MGM to work in films, because of her experiences at the Aquacade and because of her husband s objections to her going into show business, she went with Johnny Hyde from the William Morris Agency to meet L.B. Mayer. She signed with MGM in 1941.

Her first screen test was done with . They didn t do the scripted three page scene since he didn t know his lines. He kissed her instead, then left with Carole Lombard. MGM used the popular Andy Hardy series to give exposure to their new contract player, Esther Williams and introduce her to loyal audiences. She was a star in her own right by 1944, in her fourth film Bathing Beauty. MGM developed a special kind of film for Williams, which showed off her aquatic talents. She was admired for the way she made everything she did look so easy. She smiled throughout the films, even when performing dangerous Busby Berkly stunts. Her hair which was pulled tight, pinned into place, and lathered with Vaseline never appeared to get wet, She was the personification of synchronized swimming .

Williams went on to act in twenty-seven feature length films and one short subject film between 1942 and 1961. Although sometimes criticized for her lack of acting ability and training, Williams was adored by her fans. She was voted one of the top ten money making stars in the Motion Pictures Herald-Fame poll, and in 1953, was elected by the Foreign Press as the most popular female performer in fifty countries.

During her years as a star, Williams married and later divorced radio announcer Ben Gage. They had three children together: Benjamin, Kimball and Susan. By the early 1960 s, Williams felt they weren t making her kind of films anymore. The industry had changed. The contract player system had dissolved. She was ready to quit making films.

In 1967, she married former costar Fernando Lamas, and retired from public life. Lamas preferred that she quit the movie business, because location problems, and not seeing each other for extended periods of time would not be healthy for their marriage. Williams devoted her life to Lamas and became the traditional Latin wife and homemaker. They went to live in Spain for a year and a half where she came to understand his culture and upbringing. She learned to cook Argentinian specialties, garden and sew. She packed lunches for Lamas to take to work when he was directing at Universal. For several years, they maintained two separate households, one for Esther and her children, and one with Lamas and his son r^iando. now starring on ,

In 1982, after Lamas died of cancer, and after being out of the limelight for over twenty years, Williams decided to get involved again. She agreed to an interview by , in which she refuted numerous rumors which had arisen surrounding her absence from public life. She made a videotape demonstrating her method of teaching infants to swim. She made local TV appearances.

Since 1968, she has been associated with a New Jersey swimming pool company which uses her name for promotional purposes. On their behalf, she recently addressed pool professionals attending a NSPI convention. Her old films are still popular, particularly in Europe, and some are now available on videotape. She still swims regularly in her backyard pool, a question people ask her so frequently that she has blue cards with waves printed on them that say "Yes, I still swim.". She is teaching her grandchildren to swim.

Williams is often credited with having helped promote swimming as a sport and recreational activity in the U.S., as well as being instrumental in the dramatic increase in the number of pools being built in the U.S.—an increase from about ten thousand in 1940 to over two million today. Williams was commentator for ABC's coverage of synchronized swimming events in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games. Her success, popularity and world-wide promotion of synchronized swimming are partially responsible for their inclusion in 1984 as an Olympic sporting event.

Reference Sources:

• The Best of'MGMby Elizabeth Miles Montgomery. New York: Gallery Books, W.H. Smith Publishers, 1986. Illustrated history of stars and the movies they made at Metro Goldwyn Mayer.

• A Bibliographical Dictionary of Film, 2nd edition revised, by David Thompson. New York: William Morris and Company, 1981, A cross referenced, alphabetically listed bibliography of film stars.

• The Illustrated Directory of Film Stars, by David Quinlan. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1981. Alphabetical listing of British, American or internationally known film stars.

• An Actor Guide to the Talkies, by Richard Dimmitt. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, 1968. Comprehensive listing of films, actors and actresses, film production companies, and film release dates for feature films from 1949 to 1964.

• Movie Stars of the '40s, by David Ragan. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1985. Short bibliographic summaries and listings of movie highlights of stars first famous, most active or most popular in the 1940s.

• TV Movies edited by . New York, The New American Library. Summaries, running times, and casts of feature-length movies that have been shown on television.

• 5001 Nights at the Movies: A Guide from A tojby Pauline Kael. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Collection of short descriptive summaries of movie reviews by critic, Pauline Kael. Originally published in The New Yorker "Goings On" section. Kael reviews five Esther Williams' films.

• The Oxford Companion to Film, by Liz-Anne Bawden. : Oxford University Press. 1976. Short bibliographic film summaries and topics of related interest.

• International'Motion Picture Almanac, edited by Richard Gertner, New York: Quigley Publishing Company, 1981. Complete record of information on credits of producers, directors, and actors; company names, and addresses of those who manufacture and sell products and services in the motion picture industry. Includes movie attendance summaries, demographics of moviegoers, number of theaters, theater grosses, top grossing films, average admission prices, audience preferences, production costs, explanation of the film rating system, discussion of censorship, Oscar history and Academy Award winners, Who's Who in motion pictures and TV, talent agents, drive-in theater locations, and international film festivals. Updated annually.

Works by Williams:

• Swim Baby Swim. (E. W. L. Productions/Karl Home Video, 1984), Videotape. 60 min. Esther Williams' five step approach to making babies water safe and secure.through water adjustment and the teaching of safety, survival and early swimming skills.

• How Esther Williams Teaches Children to Swim, by Esther Williams as told to Helen Gould. Family Circle, }MKQ 1956, pp. 24-25, 58-59. Photographs and step-by-step progression showing how Williams taught her three young children to swim. The Swim Baby Swim video is based on information originally presented in this article.

Adult Works About the Subject:

• The Movies, revised, by Richard Griffith and Arthur Mayer. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970. Insiders history of the movies from their birth in Hollywood through the Sixties. Esther Williams is mentioned in the chapter "Blood, Sweat, Tears...and Profits", movies made during World War II.

• Saturday Afternoon at the Bijou by David Zinman. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1973. History of popular movie series and contract players who starred in the B movies. Casts and credits, production details, back stage stories.

• Whatever Happened to Hollywood'?by Jesse Lasky, Jr. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1975. History of Hollywood as told by the son of a Hollywood pioneer. One chapter deals with the heavy concentration of talent at MGM during the war years. Mentions the contribution and importance of Esther Williams to MGM.

• Coaching Synchronized'Swimming Effectively, edited by Margaret Forbes. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1984. ($14.00) Suggested coaching techniques, teaching methods and skill performance standards currently utilized in synchronized swimming,

• Coaching Intermediate Synchronized Swimming Effectively, s$\\z& by Kim Van Boskirk. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1987. ($16.00) Volume II in the Coaching Synchronized Swimming Effectively series.

Young Adult Works About the Subject:

• Synchronized Swimming, by Helen Elkington and Jane Chamberlain. North Ponfrit, VT: David & Charles, Inc., 1986. ($23.95) Introduction to the sport of synchronized swimming.

• U.S. Synchronized Swimming J 987 Directory, edited by U.S. Synchronized Swimming. Indianapolis: USSS. 1987. ($4.50) Directory of teams, schools, participants and coaches involved in synchronized swimming in the .

• U.S. Synchronized Swimming Official Rule Book '87- '88, edited by U.S. Synchronized Swimming. Indianapolis: USSS, 1987. Official rules by which synchronized swim competition is governed in the U.S.

Children's Works About the Subject:

• Synchronized Swimming is for Me, by Susan Preston-Mauks. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1983. The author, a former Physical Education teacher, synchronized participant and coach explains how to get involved in the sport of synchronized swimming. Skills, sculling, modified strokes, warm up exercises, breathing exercises, routines, costumes, choreography, duets, team routines, and solos.are pictured and described.

Recordings:

• Baby, It's Cold Outside

Feature Films:

• Andy Hardy's Double Life (MGM, 1942) BW-92 min. Director: George Seitz Stars: Bobby Blake, , , William Lundigan, Ceiia Parker, , , , Williams film debut. Minor supporting role in which Williamskisses Rooney underwater.

• Bathing Beauty (MGM, 1944) C-101 min. Director: Stars: Xavier Cugat, Bill Goodwin, , Red Skelton, Ethel Smith Williams fourth movie and first starring role. Lavish musical-comedy. Plot revolves around the misadventures which occur when Red Skelton enrolls at a women's college.

• Ziegfeld'Follies (MGM, 1946) C-110 min. Director: Vincent Minnelli Stars: , , , Fanny Brice, , , Lena Horn, Gene Kelly, Victor Moore, Virginia 0 Brien, , Red Skelton Williams didn t say a word in this film. Musical review in which, Ziegfeld, as played by William Holden, introduces fabulous routines from heaven.

• Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM, 1949) C-93 min. Director: Busby Berkeley Stars: Edward Arnold, Tom Dugan, , Gene Kelly, Richard Lane, , Frank Sinatra Turn of the century musical. Williams manages a baseball team which includes team members Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Williams falls in love with Kelly, while Sinatra falls in love with Williams. Gangsters try to fix a game. Retitled in Great Britain: Everybody's Cheering. • Neptune s Daughter (MGM, 1949) C-93 min. Director: Edward Buzzell Stars: Mel Blanc, Betty Garrett, Ricardo Montalban, Red Skelton, Williams plays a bathing suit designer and sings the Academy Award winning song 'Baby It's Cold Outside'. Considered by many to be her best film. • Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM, 19 52) C-105 min. Director: Mervyn Le Roy Stars: David Brian, , , Jesse White Williams plays aquatic star Annette Keilerman, an Australian swimming champion who went into show business. Two Busby Berkeley staged sequences were excerpted for That s Entertainment!. Particularly well remembered sequence involving sparklers and Williams wearing a gold swim suit rising out of the water on a geyser. Retitled in Great Britain: The One Piece Bathing Suit. • Dangerous When Wet (MGM, 1953) C-95 min. Director: Charles Walters Stars: , , , Fernando Lamas Williams portrays a young midwestern swimmer who seeks fame and fortune by swimming the English Channel. Met and starred with future husband, Fernando Lamas.

• Easy to Love (MGM, 1953) C-96 min. Director: Charles Walters Stars: Carroll Baker, , Tony Martin Series of Busby Berkeley spectacular production numbers set at Cypress Gardens. Williams learned to water-ski for her role in this film,

• The Big Show (20th Century Fox, 1961) C-113 min. Director: James Clark Stars: Nehemia Persoff, , Robert Vaughn Family conflict drama set in a circus. Williams retired after this film.

Other Feature Films: • Andy Hardy Steps Out (MGM, 1942) BW Director: George Seitz Stars: Sara Haden, Fay Holden, , Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone.

• (MGM, 1943) BW-120 min. Director: Stars: , , , James Gleason, Van Johnson, Barry Nelson,

• ThriJl of a Komance (MGM, 1945) C-105 min. Director: Stars: Spring Byington, , Van Johnson, Lauritz Melchior, Henry Travers

• (MGM, 1946) C-105 min. Director: Richard Thorpe Stars: Xavier Cugat, , johnie Johnson, Lauritz Meichior • The Hoodlum Saint (MGM, 1946) 91 min. Director: Stars: Emma Dunn, James Gleason, Angela Landsbury, William Powell, Rags Ragland, Lewis Stone

• Easy to JT«/(MGM, 1946) C-110 Director: Edward Buzzell Stars: Lucille Ball, Van Johnson, Cecil Keliaway, Keenan Wynn

• (WM, 1946) C-137 min. Director: Richard Whorf Stars: , , Judy Garland, , , Lena Home, Van Johnson, , Tony Martin, , Frank Sinatra

• Fiesta (WM, 1947) C-104 min. Director: Richard Thorpe Stars: Mary Astor, John Carroll, Cyd Charisse, Ricardo Montaiban, Akim Tamiroff • (MGM, 1948) C-107 min. Director: Richard Thorpe Stars: , Cyd Charisse, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Durante, . Ricardo Montaiban • (MGM, 1950) C-76 min. Director: Stars: Minna Gombell, , • (MGM, 1950) C-98 min. Director: Robert Leonard Stars: Amanda Blake, Lena Horn, Van Johnson, , , Paula Raymond

• TeiasCarnival (MGM, 1951) C-77 min. Director: Charles Walters Stars: Howard Keel, , Red Skelton, Keenan Wynn

• (MGM, 1951) 81 min. Director: Norman Panama Stars: Howard Keel, Dorothy McGuire, Fred Mac Murray, Fay Roope, Natalie Schafer, Jesse White Retitled in Great Britain: The Star Said No!

• Skirts Ahoy/(WM, 1952) C-109 min. Director: Sidney Lanfield Stars: Vivian Blaine, Keefe Brasselle, Joan Evans, Barry Sullivan

• Jupiter's Darling (MGM, 1955) C-96 min. Director: George Sidney Stars: , Marge Champion, Howard Keel, , Norma Varden Musical version of Road To Rome.

• The Unguarded Moment (Universal, 1956) C-95 min. Director: Harry Keller Star: , Edward Andrews, , , Les Tremayne

• Raw Wind in Eden (Universal, 1958) C-89 min. Director: Richard Wilson Stars: Rik Battaglia, , Rossana Podesta, Carlos Thompson

• The Magic Fountain (1961) Director: James Clark

Other Audio-Visual Resources:

• The Screen Actor. (1950) Only short subject film made by Esther Williams.

• ClassicaJSplash. (U.S. Synchronized Swimming , 1983, 1984, 1985). Special event promoted by U.S. Synchronized Swimming. Held in 1983, 1984, and 1985 at Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. National synchronized teams accompanied by a live symphony orchestra. VHS available from U.S. Synchronized Swimming Merchandise ($29.95 each). 90 min.

• 1984 Olympics (Synchronized Swimming), (1984). Highlights of the coverage of synchronized swim competition from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Esther Williams is the commentator. VHS available form U.S. Synchronized Swim Merchandise ($29.95). 120 min.

• 1985FINA Wold Cup. (U.S. Synchronized Swimming, 1985). The world's top athletes compete in solo, duet and team competition. Held in Indianapolis at IUPUI Natatorium. VHS available from U.S. Synchronized Swimming Merchandise ($29.95). 90 min.

Discussion and Project Suggestions:

1) Find Esther Williams star on the (1560 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, east side of Vine Street between Selma and Sunset Blvd.)

2) Stand in Esther Williams footprints in cement at Mann's Chinese Theater (6927 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, (213) 273-3336, 20 feet in from the sidewalk between 's and Marion Martin's stars)

3) Visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida..

4) Attend a Synchronized Swim meet at a local pool.

Sources of Further Information:

Esther Williams Swimming Pools and Spas 8600 River Road Delair, NJ08112 (609)663-2900

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce 6255 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028 (213)469-8311

International Swimming Hall of Fame 1 Hall of Fame Drive Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (305)462-6536 Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Corporate Offices 10000 W. Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA (213)280-6000

Lee Mimms & Associates 1223 1/4N. Sweetzer Los Angeles, CA 90069 (213)656-3801

Screen Actors Guild 7065 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 (213)465-4600

U.S. Synchronized Swimming 901 W. New York Street Indianapolis, IN 46223 (317)633-2000

U.S. Synchronized Swimming Merchandise P.O. Box 5450 Indianapolis, IN 46255 (317)237-5062

U.S. Swimming 1750 E. Boulder Colorado Springs, CO 80909 (303)578-4578

This resource guide has been prepared by: Alison Osinski, Ph.D., Aquatic Consulting Services, and, Assistant Professor and Aquatic Specialist, Department of Physical Education, San Diego State University.