BETTY GRABLE THE GIRL WITH THE MILLION DOLLAR LEGS

Here is a showgirl costume worn by actress and pin-up girl Betty Grable, also known as "The Girl With the Million Dollar Legs." This costume was worn in the 1955 musical "Three for the Show." It was to be Grable's next-to-last film role.

Costumes for Grable were designed by Jean Louis.

The musical tells the story of singing-and-dancing stage star Julie (Betty Grable) who assumes that her husband Marty (Jack Lemmon) is missing in action during WWII and presumed dead. Grable is engaged to new love Vernon (Gower Champion), when Lemmon returns.

The costume was used in the Poster art for the film and is constructed of a leotard covered in thousand of bugle beads and sequins in a harlequin design.



The costume can be seen in the opening scenes during the opening credits and first song. The costume came from the collection of child star and collector Jane Withers.

CALL ME ETHEL MERMAN

Here is a stunning gown worn by Ethel Merman in “Call Me Madam” 20th Century Fox pictures in 1953 when she portrayed the hostess with the mostest “Sally Adams.

Merman portrayed the role on Broadway opening in October 1950 where it ran for 644 performances. When the musical was adapted for film in 1953, Merman was offered the role. Costumes for both the Broadway and film version were designed by Irene Sharaff.

The gown is silver patterned strapless evening gown with a jeweled bodice. The dress also comes with a very long rear train. If you know the film, the dress itself plays an integral part to the scene Merman also sings one of the hits from the film whilst wearing this gown, “The International Rag” by Irving Berlin.

And here is Ethel Merman doing the International Rag!

ANN MILLER DANCE GODESS

This is a gown worn by Ann Miller in the 1949 MGM musical “On The Town”. Costumes were designed by Helen Rose. Thew gown of shocking pink grosgrain embroidered on the front with black beads and sequins in a floral motif, with studio production label inside inscribed Ann Miller made for Ann Miller as Claire Huddesen in the 1949 film On The Town.

On the Town is considered to be one was MGM's brightest and best films of the post-WWII era. The film symbolizes the optimistic view of the future that was widely held in the U.S. in 1949.

The film tells the story of three sailors ( Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Jules Munshin) on shore leave and have 24 hours to see New York City.

The film, based on the staged Broadway musical hit of 1944 has music by Leonard Bernstein and Roger Edens and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The film has many well known hits and is remembered as one of the best films produced by MGM' and the Arthur Freed unit.

The film was directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The film is also remembered for its combination of studio and location filming, when director, Kelly insisted that some scenes be shot in New York City itself, including at the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Rockefeller Center.

The movie was an instant success and won the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Cinematography.

In 2006 the film ranked number 19 on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.

Ann Miller starred in over forty motion pictures and Broadway shows and is best known for her tap dancing since her earliest childhood days.

When Ann Miller was signed on by MGM , from the late forties to the mid fifties, she starred in some of MGM's most spectacular musical productions. These memorable musicals included "Easter Parade" which featured her dancing with Fred Astaire and "On The Town" with Gene Kelly.

And here is Ann Miller in On The Town. This a short doco and interview and shows the costume in the scene it appears in.