Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Betty Hutton, R. I. P.

I have distinct memories of going to see Annie Get Your Gun at the Palace Theater in Mexia, Texas. The theater has been gone for 50 years now, but my memories of Hutton's performance remain.

thedesertsun.com | Betty Hutton, 86, star of 'Annie Get Your Gun': "Betty Hutton, who exploded onto the silver screen in such films as 'Annie Get Your Gun,' 'Incendiary Blonde' and 'The Greatest Show on Earth,' has died.

The Palm Springs actress turned 86 a couple weeks ago.

Details, including memorial arrangements and when she died, were unavailable Monday evening, though they are expected to be announced today.

In recent years, the reclusive former actress gave few interviews from her Smoketree home.

Her last 'public' appearance in the media was a 2000 'Private Screenings' interview on Turner Classic Movies in advance of the release of 'Annie Get Your Gun,' Turner's No. 1 requested classic movie before its release.

'Annie Get Your Gun,' released in 1950, wasn't released on DVD or video until after 2000 because the rights were held by the Irving Berlin estate."

13 comments:

Unknown said...

The difference between Betty Hutton and the ones you name is that Hutton had talent.

Anonymous said...

The Los Angeles Times carried no story at all on Betty Hutton's death, and I've sent them a query as to why they carried nothing. On the other hand, the Riverside Press-Enterprise carried her story on page 3 in their News section, complete with photo, and directly under their coverage of former President George H. W. Bush's need for hospitalization after playing golf in 93-degree weather last weekend.

Betty Hutton was an icon in musical films -- no question about that. Her dynamic personality and seemingly limitless energy won't be seen again. She was a real musical comedy star and will not be forgotten by those of us who were fortunate enough to see her films.

Elinor Lynch

Unknown said...

I agree, Elinor. Maybe TCM will run some of those movies this week.

Cap'n Bob said...

Didn't she give up her career suddenly to work at a homeless shelter or church soup kitchen?

Unknown said...

She had some problems with drugs and alcohol and eventually did wind up cooking at a church or something like that.

Anonymous said...

TCM is interrupting its schedule to show Betty Hutton movies on Thursday afternoon.

Elizabeth Foxwell said...

Betty Hutton became a housekeeper to a Catholic priest whom she admired tremendously.

I always thought she could go toe to toe (or lung to lung) with her biggest rival, Ethel Merman.

Let's not forget Hutton's terrific performances in "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" and "The Greatest Show on Earth" (doing much of her own stunt work on the trapeze), or Bob Hope's apt description of her as "a vitamin pill with legs."

Unknown said...

Thanks, Richard, for the TCM heads-up.

And Beth, I didn't know she did her own stunts in that movie. Cool.

Anonymous said...

Just for the record, this morning's LA Times' belated coverage on Betty Hutton took up virtually the entire page in the California section, with two photos of Betty -- one a studio shot as Annie Oakley and the other showing her pouring coffee during the 1970's at the rectory of St. Anthony's church in Portsmouth, R.I. where she worked as a housekeeper. Under Fr. Maguire's guidance she rid herself of addiction to to sleeping pills, converted to Catholicism, finished high school, earned a degree, and later taught college courses at Salve Regina College. She moved back to California in 1996 and died at her home in Palm Springs of complications from colon cancer. A memorial service will be at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palm Springs on March 23.

Elinor Lynch
Palm Desert, CA

Unknown said...

Thanks for the update. I got Miracle of Morgan's Creek from Netflix a few months ago, and it was great. Time for a Betty Hutton revival?

Anonymous said...

FRESH AIR had a decent eulogy for her today, on NPR. Sad, odd coincidence that a clothing-store chain should have a "Anything You Can Do" television ad campaign begin at about the same time as her death.

Unknown said...

Should have had her and Howard Keel doing it.

Anonymous said...

I was sad to hear of Betty’s passing. She was a tremendous actress, singer, and comedian.

She will be missed by her many fans.

I have posted a piece about her on my blog. Please feel free to stop by, read it, and post your own thoughts.

http://moretexastruth.blogspot.com
texastruthblog@yahoo.com