Six years ago, today, Kathryn Grayson passed away at age 88.
Now it's probable that many of you have never even heard of her. But to me, she was my one and only movie star "crush." I first saw her in the movie "Show Boat" in 1951, and as a young lad with onrushing hormones, I fell in love.
She was in my opinion and that of many others, one of the most stunningly beautiful women in Hollywood. She also had a great voice, and starred in numerous musicals.
One of the movie bigwigs "discovered" her at age 16, and tried to convince her to get into the movies. She declined, because she had always wanted to become an opera singer. The mogul went home and promptly had a heart attack.
Feeling some obligation, she took an exhaustive series of movie audition shots, which wowed the movie folks. She was offered a contract, and was persuaded to become a star. She first teamed with Mickey Rooney as a teenager in some Andy Hardy movies, but quickly graduated to stardom as she matured.
About 10 years ago, I wrote her, just to confess my admiration for her over the years. She wrote back, enclosing an autographed picture and a tape of some of her more memorable songs. Her note was handwritten and sincere. I treasure it today.
At any rate, exactly six years ago on this date, she passed into history, dying peacefully in her sleep. I wanted to mark the sad occasion, as to me she was always special. R.I.P. Kathryn Grayson.
John
Now it's probable that many of you have never even heard of her. But to me, she was my one and only movie star "crush." I first saw her in the movie "Show Boat" in 1951, and as a young lad with onrushing hormones, I fell in love.
She was in my opinion and that of many others, one of the most stunningly beautiful women in Hollywood. She also had a great voice, and starred in numerous musicals.
One of the movie bigwigs "discovered" her at age 16, and tried to convince her to get into the movies. She declined, because she had always wanted to become an opera singer. The mogul went home and promptly had a heart attack.
Feeling some obligation, she took an exhaustive series of movie audition shots, which wowed the movie folks. She was offered a contract, and was persuaded to become a star. She first teamed with Mickey Rooney as a teenager in some Andy Hardy movies, but quickly graduated to stardom as she matured.
About 10 years ago, I wrote her, just to confess my admiration for her over the years. She wrote back, enclosing an autographed picture and a tape of some of her more memorable songs. Her note was handwritten and sincere. I treasure it today.
At any rate, exactly six years ago on this date, she passed into history, dying peacefully in her sleep. I wanted to mark the sad occasion, as to me she was always special. R.I.P. Kathryn Grayson.
John
