Jeanette MacDonald

Jeanette MacDonald was given two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to Recordings and Motion Pictures. Her television work includes a production of Gypsy and her sitcom Bette. Jeanette MacDonald: The Irving Stone Letters annotated by Sharon Rich (2002), ISBN 0971199841, is a compilation of Jeanette's handwritten letters to a beau from her Broadway years (with whom she also discusses her Hollywood years), while Jeanette MacDonald Autobiography: The Lost Manuscript annotated by Sharon Rich (2004), ISBN 0971199884 presents MacDonald's unpublished autobiography. Other films include Scenes From a Mall, For the Boys (for which she was again nominated for an Academy Award), Hocus Pocus, The First Wives Club, and The Stepford Wives. Sweethearts by Sharon Rich (revised edition,2001), ISBN 0971199817, discusses MacDonald's ill-fated affair with Eddy. Her rendition of 1990's "From a Distance" also earned her a Grammy and is another of her most popular songs. However, Sharon Rich, a close friend of MacDonald's sister Blossom, has written several books supporting these rumors with excerpts from letters, diaries and interviews. Midler sang several of the film's songs including "Wind Beneath My Wings," which became one of Midler's most popular hits, receiving multiple Grammy Awards.

A biography authorized by Jeanette's widower Gene Raymond, Hollywood Diva by Edward Baron Turk (2000), ISBN 0520222539, denies there was any such affair. In 1988 she starred in the film Beaches. After her death, rumors began to emerge that Jeanette MacDonald had an off-screen relationship with Nelson Eddy. She appeared in such other popular comedies as Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Big Business. Jeanette died in Houston, Texas and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. In 1986, director Paul Mazursky cast her in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, beginning a successful comedic acting career. Although they were married until her death from heart disease in 1965, they had no children. In her first film role, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 1937, Jeanette MacDonald married Gene Raymond, with whom she co-starred in 1941's Smilin' Through. She was tapped for the pseudobiographical role of the drug-addled rock music star in The Rose, modeled after Janis Joplin. She did not confine herself to operetta, appearing in stage productions of grand opera, including Charles Gounod's Faust in 1943 and 1951, the latter being her last full length opera performance. Midler appeared in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, but it was her singing that made her a star. Cast opposite Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy in San Francisco (1936), she was given some key dramatic scenes, but also contributed several obligatory musical numbers. He produced her first major album, The Divine Miss M (also the name by which she is known to her fans.). On very rare occasions she was given roles that allowed to extend her range as a dramatic actress, however she was still expected to sing. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she majored in drama at the University of Hawaii, but got her start singing in gay bathhouses in New York City where, among others, she became friends with Barry Manilow, who was her piano accompanist.

The latter, where she ages from a young girl to an old woman, is said to have been her favourite. Bette Midler (born December 1, 1945) is a singer, actress and comedienne. It was not until Irving Thalberg lured her to Metro Goldwyn Mayer in 1934, that she had her biggest hits including The Merry Widow (1934) (with Maurice Chevalier), Naughty Marietta (1935), the above-mentioned Rose-Marie, and Maytime (with Nelson Eddy). Jeanette MacDonald performed on Broadway a further nine years, progressing to leading roles in Yes, Yes, Yvette (1927), Sunny Days (1928), Angela (1928) and Boom Boom (1929), before she was chosen by the Hollywood director Ernst Lubitsch to play the lead in his new film musical The Love Parade in 1929. Of her start in Broadway, many years later she told Ed Sullivan, "I got a crick in my neck and $40 a week".

An audition was arranged by her sister for a part as dancer in the chorus of another production. Jeanette got the part and was given permission by her parents to take the job. At the age of 16, accompanied by her father, she went to see her older sister, Blossom Rock, perform on Broadway in New York. Jeanette Anna MacDonald was born in Philadelphia and made her professional debut at the age of six, singing "Old Mother Hubbard" in a charity opera at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. Jeanette MacDonald (June 18, 1903 - January 14, 1965) was a singer and actress best known for her film duets with Nelson Eddy, such as Rose-Marie (aka Indian Love Call) (1936).

The Love Parade (1929). The Vagabond King (1930). Paramount on Parade (1930) (cut from final print). Monte Carlo (1930).

Let's Go Native (1930). The Lottery Bride (1930). Oh, For a Man! (1930). Don't Bet on Women (1930).

Annabelle's Affairs (1931). One Hour With You (1932). Love Me Tonight (1932). The Cat and the Fiddle (1933).

The Merry Widow (1934). Naughty Marietta (1935). Rose Marie (1936). San Francisco (1936).

Maytime (1937). The Firefly (1937). The Girl of the Golden West (1938). Sweethearts (1938).

Broadway Serenade (1939). New Moon (1940). Bitter Sweet (1940). Smilin' Through (1941).

I Married An Angel (1942). Cairo (1942). Follow the Boys (1943). Three Daring Daughters (1948).

The Sun Comes Up (1949).