“Forgotten Hollywood”- In Memory of Betty Garrett…
February 13th, 2011Manny P. here… 
Actress Betty Garrett died on Saturday. Well known for her MGM work in the 1940’s, she co-starred in On the Town, Take Me Out To the Ballgame, and Neptune’s Daughter. During the next decade, she appeared in motion pictures with Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Red Skelton, Elizabeth Taylor, Ann Miller, Ricardo Montalban, Janet Leigh, and Esther Williams. In fact, she was thrilled to sing the Oscar-winning Baby It’s Cold Outside with Skelton in the latter film. She always considered this a highlight in her career.
She was also married to Larry Parks, best known for starring in The Jolson Story. Work became scarce after Parks admitted to his brief membership in The Communist Party during the early 1940’s when he was called to testify to the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was Blacklisted by all major movie studios after his admission.
Dinah Shore revived her career on television, when Garrett was personally invited to be a guest on the singer’s program. She subsequently made appearances in The Fugitive, All in the Family, Murder She Wrote, and The Golden Girls. She was awared a Golden Globe, and received an Emmy-nomination for her television roles on Laverne and Shirley and Becker.
In later years, Garrett was presented a STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and last year, the character actress joined Esther Williams at the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival during a special screening of Neptune’s Daughter.
Betty Garrett was 91-years of age…
Until next time> “never forget”
Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has moved into the TOP 5 in the Social History category at TOWER.com. Also, my distributor (Laura Danforth) let me know by E-mail: My book is one of her top sellers. Good news, indeed!
BookPALS is founded on a clear premise: children must be exposed to the magic of books in order to develop a love of reading. The world of literacy and literature is then opened to these children by the very people who make books come alive through their talent and training. Who better to instill that love than actors, gifted in the art of storytelling?
Lionel Logue was the Australian speech therapist who treated the stuttering King at a time the British people needed his guidance during The Blitz of 1940. Their mutual collaboration actually began in 1927, when he diagnosed poor co-ordination between the then-Duke of York’s larynx and thoracic diaphragm. Using tongue-twisters and vocal exercises, Logue’s treatment gave the Duke confidence to relax and avoid tension-inducing muscle spasms. Because of Logue’s novel approach, King George VI delivered his Coronation Address and radio messages with confidence. His crowning achievement came as he rallied his people in their initial stand against Nazi aggression.
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Because the Screen Actor’s Guild is giving Ernest Borgnine a Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday, Turner Classic Movies is spending an evening with the versatile actor. The tribute will take place this Saturday with some of the iconic films from Hollywood’s studio era.
I’ve been invited by the Los Alamitos / Seal Beach chapter of the local Rotary Club as a guest speaker at their February 15th luncheon. The topic will include my charity involvement with Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. This weekly meeting will take place at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach.
Let me welcome my first new library of 2011 (and my 49th national addition) to carry on their shelves – Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. Appropriately, this venue is located outside of Chicago in Harwood Heights. Their address is 4613 N. Oketo Ave.
I’ll be spending this week (January 9th – 13th) in Las Vegas participating in a poker tournament benefiting 
I can let you in on a little secret. I’ve contacted the 
Meanwhile in Australia, 
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