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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
William Morris agency to meet L. B. Mayer. She signed with
(65 years ago)
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
the limelight for over twenty years, Williams decided to get
• Movie stars of the '40s, by David Ragan. Englewood
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,
popularity and world-wide promotion of synchronized
Short bibliographic film summaries and topics of related
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
Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
1956): 24-25, 58-59.
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).
Young Adult Works about the Subject:
Color 16mm and videotape available from
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.
set at Cypress Gardens. Williams learned to water-ski for
Video, 1984). Videotape. 60 min.
her role in this film.
(E. W. L. Productions/Karl Home
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
after this film.
Discussion and Project Suggestions:
1) Find Esther Williams' star on the Hollywood walk of
Fame.
Other Audio-Visual Resources:
• The Screen Actor. (1950).
Only a short subject film made by Esther Williams.
• Classical Splash.
(US Synchronized Swimming, 1983,
1984, 1985). Videotape available from US Synchronized
2) Stand in Esther Williams' footprints in cement at Mann's
Chinese Theater.
3) Visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida.
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 Clark Gable. 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 Falcon Crest,
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
Barbara Walters, 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 Leonard Maltin. 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. London: 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 United States.
• 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, Sara Haden, Fay Holden, William Lundigan, Ceiia Parker, Susan
Peters, Mickey Rooney, Ann Rutherford, Lewis Stone
Williams film debut. Minor supporting role in which Williamskisses Rooney
underwater.
• Bathing Beauty (MGM, 1944)
C-101 min.
Director: George Sidney
Stars: Xavier Cugat, Bill Goodwin, Basil Rathbone, 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: Edward Arnold, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Fanny Brice, Cyd Charisse,
Judy Garland, Lena Horn, Gene Kelly, Victor Moore, Virginia 0 Brien,
William Powell, 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, Betty Garrett, Gene Kelly, Richard Lane,
Jules Munshin, 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, Keenan Wynn
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, Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon, 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: jack Carson, Denise Darcel, Charlotte Greenwood, 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, Van Johnson, 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, Cliff Robertson, 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, Cecilia Parker, Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone.
• A Guy Named Joe (MGM, 1943)
BW-120 min.
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Lionel Barrymore, Ward Bond, Irene Dunne, James Gleason, Van Johnson,
Barry Nelson, Spencer Tracy
• ThriJl of a Komance (MGM, 1945)
C-105 min.
Director: Richard Thorpe
Stars: Spring Byington, Frances Gifford, Van Johnson, Lauritz Melchior,
Henry Travers
• This Time for Keeps (MGM, 1946)
C-105 min.
Director: Richard Thorpe
Stars: Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Durante, johnie Johnson, Lauritz Meichior
• The Hoodlum Saint (MGM, 1946)
91 min.
Director: Norman Taurog
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
• Till the Clouds Roll By (WM, 1946)
C-137 min.
Director: Richard Whorf
Stars: June Allyson, Lucille Bremer, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Van Heflin,
Lena Home, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore,
Frank Sinatra
• Fiesta (WM, 1947)
C-104 min.
Director: Richard Thorpe
Stars: Mary Astor, John Carroll, Cyd Charisse, Ricardo Montaiban, Akim Tamiroff
• On an Island With You (MGM, 1948)
C-107 min.
Director: Richard Thorpe
Stars: Leon Ames, Cyd Charisse, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford.
Ricardo Montaiban
• Pagan Love Song (MGM, 1950)
C-76 min.
Director: Robert Alton
Stars: Minna Gombell, Howard Keel, Rita Moreno
• Duchess of Idaho (MGM, 1950)
C-98 min.
Director: Robert Leonard
Stars: Amanda Blake, Lena Horn, Van Johnson, John Lund, Eleanor Powell,
Paula Raymond
• TeiasCarnival (MGM, 1951)
C-77 min.
Director: Charles Walters
Stars: Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Red Skelton, Keenan Wynn
• Callaway Went Thataway (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: Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Howard Keel, George Sanders,
Norma Varden
Musical version of Road To Rome.
• The Unguarded Moment (Universal, 1956)
C-95 min.
Director: Harry Keller
Star: Jack Albertson, Edward Andrews, George Nader, John Saxon, Les Tremayne
• Raw Wind in Eden (Universal, 1958)
C-89 min.
Director: Richard Wilson
Stars: Rik Battaglia, Jeff Chandler, 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 Hollywood Walk of Fame
(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 Elton John'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.