DEBBIE REYNOLDS

by Shirley A. Ramaley

In 1952 Debbie Reynolds was one of the co-stars of “Singin’ in the Rain,” along with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Conner. It was one of the greatest musicals of all time. At the time I was a junior in high school. Along with friends, we lined up outside the movie theaters to see this movie. I saw it five times.
 
Although Gene Kelly is reported to have originally objected to Debbie Reynolds being cast in the film, because she couldn’t tap dance, Reynolds’ hard work paid off and she put in a top-notch performance. She was every bit the star with Kelly and O’Conner. I still think of that film as one of my favorites. When it left the main theaters in the large metropolitan city, where I grew up, my friends and I traveled to small neighborhood theaters across town every few months, to see the movie again.

Reynolds was also in many other movies in the 50’s including “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady,” Three Little Words,” Skirts Ahoy!” “Give a Girl a Break” and “The Tender Trap,” among many others.

She continued on in the 60’s with many films. One of my favorites was “How The West Was Won” in 1962. Other 60’s films were “The Pleasure of His Company” and “The Second Time Around.” She was always a refreshing and delightful actress.

Born Mary Frances Reynolds in 1932, in El Paso, Texas, her family eventually moved to California. In 1948, Reynolds entered the Miss Burbank beauty contest, sponsored by Lockheed Aircraft. Each contestant was given a free blouse, silk scarf and lunch, the reason many of the girls participated. Reynolds, at the age of 16, won that contest.

Two of the judges for the beauty contest were scouts from Warner Brothers and MGM. Both wanted to offer her the chance to screen test. They tossed a coin and the Warner Brothers scout won. The screen test went well and Reynolds was offered a contract, which paid the huge sum of $65 a week.

Jack Warned changed her first name to Debbie. He wanted her last name to be Morgan but she refused. I’m glad she did. The studio wanted her to leave public school and go to the studio school, but her mother didn’t like that. Instead, special arrangements were made for Reynolds at a high school in Burbank.

She was in several movies for Warner Brothers – “June Bride” in 1948 with Bette Davis and “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady” in 1949 with June Havor. After that, Reynolds went to work for MGM. Reynolds’ impressive appearance in “Three Little Words” at MGM, with Fred Astaire and Red Skelton, led to the standard seven-year contract. She would earn an even higher salary – $300 a week. 

By the mid-1950’s Reynolds was one of the most popular Hollywood stars. She married Eddie Fisher in 1955 and had two children, Carrie and Todd. Both of them went on to achieve success in Hollywood. 

In 1959, in a very well publicized break-up, involving Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor, Reynolds and Fisher parted. I remember when Fisher left Reynolds and thinking, “How could he do that to wonderful Debbie Reynolds?” Clearly, at least among my friends and everyone I knew, we were all on Reynolds’ side in the break-up.

Time passes on though, and in 2001, Reynolds starred in a made-for-TV movie, “Those Old Broads,” with Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins and Shirley MacLaine. In fact, Reynolds never stopped performing. 

The publicity from her marriage break-up didn’t hurt her career, but eventually the Hollywood musicals were no longer being made. So in the late 60’s Reynolds shifted gears. She went to work in stage musicals, television and nightclubs. She even made an exercise video. And back to films, she starred in the movie “Mother” in 1996. She has had a successful multi-faceted career.

Reynolds also starred in Las Vegas Casino productions. In 1966 or 1967, she had her show at a major casino. I lived in Las Vegas at the time. My father and his wife were in town and I took them to the Debbie Reynolds show, as I knew Dad liked her.
 
During the delightful show, Reynolds at one point walked around the audience. She stopped at our table, picked up Dad’s spoon, and actually took a bite of his dessert, and said into the microphone, “Ummmmmmmmmmmm, delicious.” My Dad just loved it, and that is a precious memory for me. So thank you, Debbie Reynolds. My Dad is gone now, but that memory lingers on.

Reynolds was also a Girl Scout when she was a girl, and then a troop leader. Girl Scouts is something she continues to support. Her hand and footprints are preserved at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. In 1997 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award in comedy. These are just a few of her accomplishments and awards.
 
Debbie Reynolds was and is a star. I “grew up” with her and still enjoy her today. May she continue to have many more years of entertaining people. She is special.


more articles by Shirley A. Ramaley