Wet She Was A Star

Esther Williams the MGM movie star and swimming champion died today at age 91. Esther Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1921. It was in a local pool Williams took a job counting towels to avoid the entry cost and there she was give swimming lessons by the male life guards who taught her the "male only" stokes like the butterfly. It was this stroke that she excelled in winning local and national competitions. Because of World War II she was not able to compete in the Olympic Games. During her senior year of high school Williams received a D in algebra which prevented her from enrolling in UCLA. She enrolled in LA City College and got a job as a stock girl and part time clothing model at I. Magnin department store. While working at I. Magnin she met Billy Rose who offered her a role in his "Aquacade". The Aquacade was part of the Golden Gate International Exposition. Her performance in the Aquacade got the attention of MGM talent scouts. At the time MGM was looking for someone to compete with Fox's ice skating star Sonja Henie. MGM signed Williams to a contract in 1941. There were two interesting clauses in her contract one she was give a pass to swim in the pool of the Beverly Hills Hotel everyday and the other that she was not allowed to appear on camera for 9 months while she was given acting, singing, dancing and diction lessons.
MGM released photos of her in her bathing suit which became an instant hit as a pin up shot. Williams' first movie for MGM was an Andy Hardy movie with  Mickey Rooney called "Andy Hardy's Double Life".  She was later paired with Van Johnson whom she made five films with. Williams became a huge star at MGM with film hits like "Million Dollar Mermaid".
After refusing to appear in a film titled "The Opposite of Sex" she was suspended at MGM and eventually her contract was voided and she lost millions of dollars. Williams then signed with Universal where she worked with Fernando Lamas. The two eventually married and she stopped making films moving onto television appearances. She also created The Esther Williams Aqua Spectacle and shows at Florida's Cypress Gardens. In the 1960's Williams retired from acting and became the spokesperson for a line of retro swimwear.
Williams was married to Fernando Lamas until his death in 1982. She lived in Beverly Hills and in 1994 she married actor Edward Bell. Esther Williams died in her sleep in her Beverly Hills home at the age of 91.