Esther Williams Paperdolls: Vintage

Esther Williams was born in 1921. The family was living in Salt Lake City, Utah when her brother Stanton was discovered by Hollywood. The family moved to California to be near the studios for the sake of the lad's talent. Unfortunately he died at age 16, having only appeared in two silent films. Young Esther's swimming began when her sister took her to nearby Manhattan Beach. As a little girl sheahetook a job counting towels to pay for swimming lessons. The lifeguards taught the youngster breaststroke and freestyle, usually considered 'male only' sports, at that time and won three US national championships in breaststroke and freestyle.In 1939, she was asked to audition to replace Eleanor Holm, the star of Billy Rose's "Aquacade" show, a popular attraction at the Golden Gate International Exposition. Esther was paired with Olympian and Tarzan star, Johnny Weissmuller.She planned to be in the 1940 Summer Olympics, but they were cancelled because of the outbreak of World War II She was exceptionally photogenic, ( a statuesque 5' 8.5" tall, -34)and a natural actress, at ease in front of the camera and comfortable playing light romance and situation comedy. Her hugely successful films, were known "aquamusicals.Esther's first screen test with Clark Gable was so successful that she replaced Lana Turner in a film when Lana Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) with a swimming pool sequence added.MGM recognized the potential of their gorgeous mermaid and the studio's reputation for producing lavish spectacles moved into high gear. Each of her subsequent string of smash hits presented the star in ever-increasing extravagant presentations that became more and more spectacular. Esther did swimming sequences in Ziegfeld Follies and 'Til the Clouds Roll By, followed by her starring role in Thrill of a Romance with Van Johnson. She was in many films with popular costars. She had hit after hit. Swimming became ballet and only Esther Williams' grace-in-motion and healthful beauty gave this genre a life unto itself. There are three dolls two are standing and one in kneeling. thry each are about 11.5 inches, and 12-14 outfit with 1or 2 uncut,all clean and unmarked,