Throwback Thursday and Marilyn Miller
Her real name was Mary Ellen Reynolds and
her mother’s name was Lynn. By combining the names Mary and Lynn, Marilyn created
her stage name. Until then, the name was little known. She was born on
September 1, 1898 in Evansville, Indiana and grew up with her stepfather’s
name, Miller.
Her parents and eldest sister had a
vaudeville act called The Columbian Trio, and at age four, Marilyn joined it as
“Mlle. Sugarplum” thus making her stage debut. For ten years she toured with
the act until she was discovered by manager-producer Lee Shubert who invited
her to perform at the Winter Garden in NYC. While there she came to the
attention of Florenz Ziegfeld and went on to appear in Fancy Free and the Ziegfeld
Follies of 1918. Ziegfeld added to her ballet and tap talents by providing
her with voice and acting lessons.
In 1920 she starred in Sally in which she sang Jerome Kern’s “Look
for the Silver Lining”. She soon became one of the most famous and highly paid musical theater artists of the time.
In 1930 she went to Hollywood, as many musical
theater artists did, and made movie versions of Sally and Sunny and also
starred in Her Majesty, Love (1931)
which proved to be her final film. Her personal life was never as wonderful as
her professional life. She was married three times and suffered with health
problems.
She died suddenly on April 7, 1936 from complications
of sinus surgery. A movie biography of her life was released in 1949 titled Look for the Silver Lining.
From the Big
Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Secret #224:
“Marilyn Miller was called Zeigfeld’s most dazzling
star.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“I will not show my legs when it is perfectly obvious that the only
reason I am doing so is to attract attention. If I am being photographed in a
ballet or dancing costume, that is different. People expect to see your legs
then and it would be very funny if you attempted to cover them.”
— Marilyn Miller in 1929.
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