Albersheim's 2015 January Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/24/2015
Betty Grable (D 1973) was an American actress, dancer, and singer and popular contract star for 20th Century-Fox during the 1940s and 1950s. She began her film career in 1929 at age twelve, after which she was fired from a contract when it was learned she signed up under false identification. She had contracts with RKO and Paramount Pictures during the 1930s, and appeared in a string of B-movies, mostly portraying co-eds. Grable came to prominence in the Broadway musical Du Barry Was a Lady (1939), which brought her to the attention of 20th Century-Fox. She replaced Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way (1940), her first major Hollywood film, and became Fox's biggest film star throughout the remaining decade. Fox cast Grable in a succession of Technicolor musicals during the decade when they were immensely popular, co-starring with such leading men as Victor Mature, Don Ameche, John Payne, and Tyrone Power. In 1943, she was the number one box office draw in the world, and in 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States. Two of her biggest film successes were the musical Mother Wore Tights (1947) and the comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), one of her last films. Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, although she continued to perform on the stage and on television.
Throughout her career, Grable was celebrated for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity often photographed her featuring them. Her iconic bathing suit poster made her the number one pin-up girl of World War II, surpassing Rita Hayworth. It was later included in the Life magazine project "100 Photographs that Changed the World". Hosiery specialists of the era often noted her legs as the ideal proportions. Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1 million with Lloyds of London.
Offered is an 8 x 10 inch vintage photo signed by Grable. She’s showing off a super sexy kitty cat outfit wearing a kitty cat French maid top, kitty cat shoes, and a kitty cat head piece while playfully holding her tail. She signed the photo in red ink. This item was obtained directly from a collector that was a personal friend of Grable.
Letter of Authenticity from Richard Albersheim.