THE authoritative, comprehensive biography of the woman whose pin-up provided the inspiration for American soldiers to win World War II. (Oh, and she was a very talented dancer, actress & thespian as well.)

Betty Grable: The Reluctant Movie Queen is a fascinating and intimate account of the famous star who was for many years the highest-paid woman in America and a favorite pin-up all over the world. Filled with fascinating and intimate accounts from many who knew her well, this publication is a well-documented and eminently readable biography of the sparkling, complex personality of one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood's history.

This is a biography of the musical comedy star who epitomized the wholesome yet sexy girl-next-door during WWI and the post-war era. Sadly, her real-life was in stark contrast to that image. Her ambitious stage mother abandoned her marriage and firstborn, taking Betty to Hollywood at age 12, where she lied about the girls age, falsified documents, and kept her out of school in order to make her a star. Betty Grable was well-liked by co-workers and treated directors and cameramen with respect, but her tirades were known and feared. She always claimed that she felt more at ease with "ordinary people" and would often befriend fans, chorus performers and strangers alike, which is one reason why her fans adored her so much. Despite being worshipped by thousands of lonely G.I.s, reigning as the number-one box-office draw in the world, and her standing as highest-paid entertainer in the United States during the 40s, the smiling saucy pin-up girl was a fiction, with an on-screen attitude that has been copied ever since.

Humphrey Bogart. Abbott and Costello. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. John Wayne. Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable. Images of these film icons conjure up a unique moment in cinema and history, one of optimism and concern, patriotism and cynicism. What Dreams Were Made Of examines the performers who helped define American cinema in the 1940s, a decade of rapid and repeated upheaval for Hollywood and the United States. Through insightful discussions of key films as well as studio publicity and fan magazines, the essays in this collection analyze how these actors and actresses helped lift spirits during World War II, whether in service comedies, combat films, or escapist musicals. The contributors, all major writers on the stars and movies of this period, also explore how cultural shifts after the war forced many stars to adjust to new outlooks and attitudes, particularly in film noir. Together, they represented the hopes and fears of a nation during turbulent times, enacting on the silver screen the dreams of millions of moviegoers.

From “Grand Hotel” to “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?,” Joan Crawford played some of the finest parts Hollywood had to offer, establishing a reputation as the most spectacular diva on the silver screen. Even when the cameras quit rolling, her life never stopped being over-the-top. In My Way of Life, a cult classic since it was first published in the early 1970’s, Crawford shares her secrets. Part memoir, part self-help book, part guide to being fabulous, My Way of Life advises the reader on everything from throwing a small dinner party for eighteen to getting the most out of a marriage. Featuring tips on fashion, makeup, etiquette and everything in between, it is an irresistible look at a bygone era, when movie stars were pure class, and Crawford was at the top of the heap.

Modeled on the "Dictionary of American Biography, "this set stands alone but is a good complement to that set which contained only 700 women of 15,000 entries. The preparation of the first set of "Notable American Women" was supported by Radcliffe College. It includes women from 1607 to those who died before the end of 1950; only 5 women included were born after 1900. Arranged throughout the volumes alphabetically, entries are from 400 to 7,000 words and have bibliographies. There is a good introductory essay and a classified lest of entries in volume three.