june allyson
From her earliest childhood, June Allyson (born Ella Geisman in New York) was enchanted with the world of show business. [1]
Unlike her contemporary Dutch-American actress Betty Grable, who was revered as a pinup girl and sex symbol in her younger years, June Allyson was just a consummate movie actress with enormous staying powers. [2]
June Allyson (October 7, 1917 ‘ July 8, 2006) was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. [3]
After her parents divorced when she was a toddler, June Allyson was raised by her mother and maternal grandmother. [4]
After a successful career on Broadway, Allyson appeared in several shorts and then made her feature debut, recreating her peppy ingenue role in the film version of the 1941 Broadway musical, “Best Foot Forward” (1943). [5]
An avid fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals, she viewed one of their films 18 times and began to teach herself how to dance. [1]
Allyson subsequently played in several other musicals including “Two Sisters from Boston” in 1946 and “Good News” in 1947. [2]
Powell also produced Allyson’s 1959-61 anthology TV series, and they had two children and a seemingly happy marriage. [4]
June accepted the part, and it was during the run of this show that MGM executives were so impressed with the show, they bought it up and moved the cast to Hollywood to star in the movie version. [1]
They had two children, Pamela A. Powell, an adopted child, and Richard Powell, Jr. June Allyson and Dick Powell remained married until Dick Powell’s death in 1963. [2]
After her appearance in Best Foot Forward in 1941, she was selected for the 1943 film version, and followed it up with several other musicals, including Two Sisters from Boston (1946) and Good News (1947). [3]
Due to a clerical error, their credits were reversed when listed in the film, and for years fans and even agents often confused one actress for the other. [4]
It was produced by her late husband, Dick Powell, and his company, Four Star Productions. [1]
Educational cast her as an ingenue opposite singer Lee Sullivan, comic dancers Herman Timberg, Jr. and Pat Rooney, Jr., and future comedy star Danny Kaye. [3]
Vivacious blonde MGM star of the 1940s and 50s, in light comedies, musicals and romances, with a likably hoarse, slightly flat voice and a wistful girl-next-door quality. [5]
Sources:
[1] Biography
[2] June Allyson
[3] June Allyson
[4] June Allyson
[5] June Allyson - Yahoo! Movies