Champion swimmer Esther Williams’ movie career thrived during the forties and fifties when Technicolor and Cinemascope ruled. Young girls everywhere suddenly wanted to learn the art of synchronized swimming. When MGM had their gigantic costume clearance sale, we were lucky to scoop up one of Esther Williams’ actual swimsuits for two dollars. It’s a one piece shiny peach colored suit lined in flesh colored fabric, and it has “MGM Esther Williams” printed on a tag inside. We’re still trying to figure out what movie she wore it in. Esther was smart – her last marriage was to an adoring younger man who took care of her until she died peacefully at 91.
8 Comments
Yes indeed. Thanks for the memories. Those movies were great fun. Did she ever date Fernando? RIP Miss Williams.
And great score for you Janet! I have a few fun items from the FOX lot inventory.
alot of men were only interested in the part without that swim suit.
Her movies were fun and she always looked great in or out of the water! I thought she had been married to Fernando about 30 years. What a life.
Esther Williams was a slimy creep!
The ridiculous statements she made about actor Jeff Chandler, her then boyfriend that died almost 40 years earlier were a disgrace, especially since everyone that knew Chandler called bullshit on Williams.
can you post a pic of the swimsuit?
It’s not particularly fancy – but typical of the era. I don’t have it framed (always meant to) and it’s tucked in a drawer somewhere.
Esther always had a mean streak….whether Jeff wore garters and nylons we will never know. He seemed a bit strange in his movies.
Jeff Chandler was my teenage hero and I have been fascinated by him all my life.Only because he was a man’s man of course.I do not have any interest in gay men now or ever.God forgive Esther Williams for destroying the manly image of a really good guy.