Hello Body House Members;
We’re heading into November and things are really shaking up. A ‘potentially’ explosive election is looming, AI is stupid, but becoming ubiquitous and parts of the world are on fire.
There is a lot going on in our world…
However, this publication exists to celebrate vintage sensuality during a time when men were men and women were women.
Vintage Hollywood was certainly not perfect, but the megastars the studios produced seemed more human than the phony clones we have on screen today.
Old Hollywood stars were trained entertainers too. The studios had acting, dancing and singing coaches on site.
Young, budding starlettes were required to take lessons daily. They had to be trained to entertain.
One such star is this month’s featured beauty. Her first big break into stardom was next to Gene Kelly in Singin’ In the Rain. She sang, danced and acted her way into our hearts from that moment on.
Later in her life, Reynolds said that other than giving birth to her two children, making Singin’ in the Rain was the hardest thing she had done. Wow.
So, I hope this page gives you some insight into the lovely Ms. Reynolds that you didn’t know before and takes your mind away from the current craziness.
Now let’s get on with it and discover more about our featured vintage movie star – the multi-talented, award-winning talent and spunky beauty of DEBBIE REYNOLDS.
In The Beginning…
Born on April 1, 1932, as Mary Frances Reynolds in 1932 to a working-class family in El Paso, Texas.
She passed away on December 28, 2016, in Los Angeles, California after suffering a stroke. It was just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher passed away. They were known to be incredibly close.
Her family relocated to California in 1939, where she would later be discovered competing in a beauty contest at just sixteen years old.
The dynamic and multi-talented Reynolds got noticed and was quickly offered a studio contract by MGM in 1950 and went on to make history both on-screen and onstage.
—-> That’s when she was given her breakthrough role….
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS…
Her film debut was in Three Little Words starring Fred Astaire.
This allowed her talent and energy to get noticed and she quickly became a favorite among studio executives and moviegoers alike.
Next…
Reynolds played Kathy Seldon opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor in the 1952 film Singin’ in the Rain. From then on, Debbie Reynolds created a career that lasted close to 70 years.
Through the 1950s and 1960s…
Reynolds starred in a variety of films, including “Tammy and the Bachelor” (1957) and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (1964), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Her ability to balance comedy, drama, and musical performances showcased her versatility.
In addition to film, Reynolds had a significant television presence. She starred in her own sitcom, “The Debbie Reynolds Show,” and made guest appearances on popular programs, further broadening her appeal.
In her later years, Debbie Reynolds embraced her legacy, performing in live shows and appearing in various television programs, including Will & Grace.
Her one-woman shows reflected her incredible journey and allowed her to connect with fans on a personal level.
Reynolds was also nominated and received numerous awards; Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony Awards, Daytime and Evening Emmy Awards. Discover her “awards chart” here…
Check out Debbie Reynolds in these clips below…
Remember there was very little editing and no special effects in the movies during this time…
“GOOD MORNIN’ “
“All I Do Is Dream of You”
DEBBIE REYNOLDS’ LOVE LIFE
Although Debbie Reynolds has said she had a happy and loving childhood, this did not guide her into marriages where she had contentment.
In fact, although she did fall in love a few times, the marriages were tumultuous. Reynolds did not hold a lot of resentment though. Her son Todd, has called her the most forgiving person he had ever known.
First Marriage – EDDIE FISHER
Debbie Reynolds was just 19 when she married singer Eddie Fisher in 1955.
The two met while Reynolds was working on her debut film Three Little Words, and Fisher was a rising star.
Their whirlwind romance captivated the public, and they quickly became one of Hollywood’s golden couples.
The couple had two children: Carrie Fisher, born in 1956, and Todd Fisher, born in 1961.
However, their marriage began to unravel when Fisher infamously left Reynolds for actress Elizabeth Taylor, following the death of Taylor’s husband, Mike Todd, (ironically) a close friend of Fisher’s.
The scandal shattered Reynolds, who later described the experience as deeply painful.
Second Marriage: HARRY KARL
After her divorce from Eddie Fisher in 1959, Reynolds took time to heal but eventually found love again.
In 1960, she married millionaire businessman Harry Karl. Karl sold shoes and Reynolds helped promote his business by going on tour with him. She met legions of fans in front of his shoe stores to help boost business. Which it did, of course.
Their relationship was tumultuous and marked by Karl’s gambling issues, which put a strain on their marriage. In fact, the shoe-store chain owner squandered an estimated $100 million of Reynold’s own savings. Ouch.
Reynolds’ has said of millionaire Harry Karl, “wiped us out financially” and was an “unfortunate man”.
Despite their challenges, Reynolds and Karl remained together for over a decade, but they ultimately divorced in 1973.
Third Marriage: RICHARD HAMLETT
In the 1980s, Reynolds found love with actor Richard Hamlett, whom she married in 1984.
Their relationship was more stable, and they shared a deep connection, though it was not without its challenges.
Hamlett was a real estate developer who Reynolds wrote about in her books. Unlike, her first two marriages, this one was sexually passionate.
However, Hamlett was a difficult man in many ways. He began an ongoing affair along side his marriage with Reynolds. He also roped her into real estate deal after real estate deal, eventually putting her in such a position that she was nearly bankrupt.
Although at first, her marriage to Hamlett was wonderful, there came a time when that stopped. Reynolds would write in one of her books about Hamlett saying, “I’d married the devil.”
In fact, there was a time when Hamlett came home drunk and smelling of sex and he and Reynolds got into an argument. He suggested they go on the balcony to ‘discuss’ it further.
Reynolds noticed a change in his eyes and face that shot fear through her. She didn’t go on that balcony. She didn’t want the $1 million dollar life insurance policy on her to be cashed in – Read more in this NY Post article..
Their marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Despite his drinking, philandering and gambling, Reynolds often spoke of Hamlett fondly.
Debbie Reynolds’ Legacy
Debbie Reynolds’ most significant relationships were undoubtedly with her children, Carrie and Todd.
She poured her love and energy into raising them, often navigating the complexities of life as a single mother who is also a famous entertainer.
Reynolds’ bond with Carrie was particularly close. Carrie Fisher grew up to have a fantastic career as an actress as well. She is best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise.
They appeared together in various projects, including the Broadway musical Irene, and maintained a loving, supportive relationship throughout their lives.
Reynolds faced profound heartbreak with the passing of Carrie in 2016.
Reynolds famously said, “I want to be with Carrie.” She passed away just one day later, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and a profound impact on the entertainment industry.
Reynolds’ son – Todd – is keeping her legacy alive…
What many people may not know about Debbie Reynolds’ is that she kept many, many souvenirs right off the set of some of the most famous movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Todd and his wife Cat, hold regular live streams on Facebook where they give away or raffle off some of the many items held by Reynolds.
She also held the white ‘subway’ dress Marilyn Monroe wore in her infamous scene over the subway grate in NYC. That was in addition to a dress worn by Audrey Hepburn.
After Reynolds’ third husband put her in debt, she sold each of these movie treasures. Monroe’s dress went for 4.6 million and Hepburn’s went for 3.7 million. It got her out of debt and allowed her to live a comfortable life until the end.
Celebrate vintage sensuality with us on Substack here…
Quotes By DEBBIE REYNOLDS
Here are some notable quotes from Debbie Reynolds:
On resilience: “I’ve had a wonderful life, and I’ve had a lot of challenges, but I’ve always believed in myself and my dreams.”
“Working on Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and childbirth were the two hardest things I ever had to do in my life.”
“I stopped making movies because I don’t like taking my clothes off. Maybe it’s realism but, in my opinion, it’s utter filth.”
[asked what her favorite film is] “I think one of my favorite films is Dark Victory (1939) with Bette Davis. Why? She was so wonderful in that film. And . . . maybe I just want a good cry once in a while without having to go through a divorce.”
On her career: “I was the one who wanted to sing and dance. I never had any doubts about that.”
On love: “I think that love is the most important thing in the world.”
On family: “If you look at a family, you will see that love comes in all shapes and sizes.”
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Discover more beautiful classic movies stars here:
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