ESTHER WILLIAMS DIES IN HER SLEEP-91

TO CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD FANS, SUCH AS MYSELF, IT IS A SAD DAY.
HOLLYWOOD MERMAID, ESTHER WILLIAMS, LEAVES  THIS WORLD FOR THAT GIANT POOL IN THE SKY. I'M SO GLAD IT WAS IN HER SLEEP.
BORN IN LOS ANGELES-WHEN INGLEWOOD WASN'T SO SKETCHY; SHE DIED THERE AS WELL.

 R I P (AUGUST 8, 1921-JUNE 6, 2013)

THE PASSING OF ESTHER WILLIAMS REMINDS ME OF SO MANY HAPPY TIMES.
FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE" WAS IN HER MOVIE, "NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER" (TO THIS DAY IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ROMANTIC COMEDIES). THE MOVIE OFFERS GLAMOUR, COMEDY , LOVE AND UNBELIEVABLE SWIMMING CHOREOGRAPHY. MY SISTER & I STILL QUOTE IT.

AROUND THE TIME OF THE 1994 GAY GAMES & CULTURAL EVENTS IV IN NYC-THE FIRST TIME I DARED TO DO STANDUP- ESTHER WILLIAMS INAUGURATED THE POOL/SPORTS ARENA USED FOR THE SWIMMING MEETS/COMPETITIONS. IT'S WHERE I FIRST SAW GREG LOUGANIS FLY IN THE AIR AND MAKE REPEATED, PERFECT DIVES AND MY HIGHLY SKILLED PERSONAL FRIENDS TOOK HOME THE GOLD & SILVER MEDALS, (TODD & MIKE RESPECTIVELY).

NOT LONG AGO I  WAS GLUED TO HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY "THE MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID" . SHE REVEALED A LOT: HER ABUSIVE EX HUSBAND , LORENZO LAMAS; HER AFFAIR; DABBLING IN LSD; OLYMPIC CONTENDER; BUSINESS WOMAN AND HER CROSS DRESSING BOYFRIEND, JEFF CHANDLER, AMONG OTHER TIDBITS.

ESTHER WILLIAMS HAD A MESMERIZING BEAUTY WITH A NON-TRADITIONAL WIDER SHOULDER PHYSIQUE! SHE WORKED AS A MODEL FOR I.MAGNIN THEN PARLAYED THAT SENSE OF STYLE & BEAUTY TO HOLLYWOOD.
THE CAMERA EMBRACED HER BEAUTY AND CAPTURED UNHEARD OF SWIMMING STUNTS PRODUCED IN HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN AGE.

A WORLD CLASS SWIMMING CHAMPION! DISCOVERED BY BILLY ROSE, SHE BECAME A SENSATION AT HIS SHOW "AQUACADE"

MGM SNATCHED HER UP. SHE BECAME FOR SWIMMING WHAT SONJA HENIE HAD BECOME TO ICE SKATING IN MOVIES.

WE WILL MISS YOU & NOW THAT "LIFE" COVER I HAVE FRAMED OF A VERY WET YOU WILL BE LOOKED AT WITH WARMER EYES AND A SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL THOSE GREAT MOVIES IN WHICH YOU SO BRILLIANTLY ENTERTAINED ME AND THE WORLD.