One of twenty black and white premium photos issued by Motion Picture Magazine, circa 1946. The original item measures approximately 7-1/2 X 10 inches and is on a light stock paper. You can check current availability of this and other Motion Picture Magazine premiums on eBay.
The following text is what is printed on the back of the above premium. I've added spaces for new paragraphs for better online reading, but all text remains the same.
Given the source of the premium, Motion Picture Magazine, this is basically the studio bio for Betty Grable up through the time that this item was printed, circa 1946.
BETTY GRABLE--second time winner. Was through in pictures at 22, came back in colossal style at 23. She was born December 18, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Conn and Lillian Grable. Mr. Grable was a wealthy real estate broker and if Betty didn't come into the world with a gold spoon in her mouth, it was close to it.
At the age of four she was hoofing it in dancing school and manhandling a saxophone when she wasn't busy plucking discords on the ukulele. In short, she was an infant prodigy. At seven, she made her professional debut, in spite of the objections of her parents, who felt she was too young. She went on the air and appeared with such notables as Frank Fay, Jack Haley and others, on their visits to St. Louis.
Between her stage and radio dates, Betty managed to attend the Mary Institute, an exclusive school for girls in St. Louis. Summertimes, the Grable family used to vacation far from home. In 1929, Betty persuaded them to go to Hollywood, and once there she decided to stay. Her mother remained with her, while her father went home to his business. Betty took dancing and dramatic lessons; soon she became such a skilled tap dancer that the old Fox studio signed her up. She was only 14 at the time, but added two years to her age.
She became popular as a cute blonde and was signed by RKO and later by Paramount. But her roles became weaker and weaker. She was built up as a college girl in minor rah-rah pictures. Not caring to remain a perennial sophomore, she decided to quite pictures and take a crack at the stage. So she left Hollywood, apparently washed up, only to walk into a lead role in DuBarry Was a Lady on the New York stage, where she proceeded to steal the show and become the toast of the town.
In short order Hollywood was pounding on her door, but not until 20th Century-Fox offered her a contract exactly to her liking did she decide to return to films. She's been under their banner ever since, steadily and surely climbing to the very top of box-office favorites in colorful musicals which the public devours eagerly.
On the romance side, she's chalked up two marriages. The first one, in 1937 to Jackie Coogan, ended in divorce, but only after she had seen him through those trying days when he was attempting to recover some of his money earned as a child star. Those were heartbreak days for Betty, followed by more when her boy friend, Artie Shaw, eloped with Lana Turner. Later she appeared to find love with George Raft, but after a sensational courtship, that ended abruptly and a few months alter Betty became the bride of band leader Harry James. They have a small daughter and Betty appears to have found real happiness at last.
Her current film is 20th Century-Fox's Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe.