August 8 Esther Williams, 1923
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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) William Morris agency to meet L. B. Mayer. She signed with MGM in 1941. MGM used the popular Andy Hardy series to Esther Williams, 1923- give exposure to their new contract player, Esther Williams, and introduce her to loyal audiences. She was a star in her by Alison Osinski 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 On 8 August 1923, Esther Williams, the "personification of she made everything she did look so easy. She smiled synchronized swimming," was born in Los Angeles, 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 California 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 Billy Rose as a star in his San former co-star Fernando Lamas, 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 Tarzan 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 Spain 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 1940s. 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. New York: 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 Hollywood?, 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 Red Skelton enrolls at a women's pioneer. Mentions the contribution and importance of college. Esther Williams to MGM. • Ziegfeld Follies, 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 Busby Berkeley. (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 Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. 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. • Million Dollar Mermaid, [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. • Dangerous When Wet, directed by Charles Walters. (MGM, Highlights of the coverage of synchronized swim 1953) Color 16mm available from MGM/United. 95 min. competition from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 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.