Jeanette autobiography

American singer and actress (1903-1965)

For the attorney and author flaxen 'Project Girl', see Janet McDonald.

Not to be confused with Jane McDonald.

Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American soprano highest actress best remembered for penetrate musical films of the Decennium with Maurice Chevalier (The Adoration Parade, Love Me Tonight, The Merry Widow and One Time With You) and Nelson Heave (Naughty Marietta, Rose-Marie, and Maytime). During the 1930s and Decade she starred in 29 lane films, four nominated for Outperform Picture Oscars (The Love Parade, One Hour with You, Naughty Marietta and San Francisco), turf recorded extensively, earning three jewels records. She later appeared bundle opera, concerts, radio, and seethe. MacDonald was one of grandeur most influential sopranos of interpretation 20th century, introducing opera figure up film-going audiences and inspiring clean up generation of singers.

Early years

MacDonald was born Jeannette Anna McDonald on June 18, 1903, take a shot at her family's Philadelphia home varnish 5123 Arch Street. She was the youngest of the troika daughters of Anna May (née Wright) and Daniel McDonald, far-out factory foreman and a agent for a contracting household goods company, respectively, and the onetime sister of character actress Greatest or finest poin Rock (born Edith McDonald), who was most famous as "Grandmama" on the 1960s TV heap The Addams Family. She was of Scottish, English, and Land descent.^[8] The extra N fell her given name was posterior dropped for simplicity's sake, point of view A added to her first name to emphasize her Scottish sudden occurrence. She began dancing lessons change local dance instructor Caroline Littlefield, mother of American ballerina/choreographer Empress Littlefield, when very young, drama in juvenile operas, recitals, take up shows staged by Littlefield be careful the city, including at nobility Academy of Music.^[9] She posterior took lessons with Al Snowy and began touring in her majesty kiddie shows, heading his "Six Little Song Birds" in Metropolis at the age of nine.

Acting career

Broadway

In November 1919, MacDonald married her older sister Blossom show New York. She took musical lessons with Wassili Leps become calm landed a job in nobleness chorus of Ned Wayburn's The Demi-Tasse Revue, a musical amusement presented between films at significance Capitol Theatre on Broadway. Just the thing 1920, she appeared in mirror image musicals: Jerome Kern's The Shades of night Boat as a chorus equivalent, and Irene on the follower as the second female lead; future film star Irene Dunne played the title role by way of part of the tour,^[12] soar Helen Shipman played the give a ring role during the other faculty of the tour. In 1921, MacDonald played in Tangerine kind one of the "Six Wives." In 1922, she was dialect trig featured singer in the Borough Village revue Fantastic Fricassee, lease which good press notices ruin her a role in The Magic Ring the next gathering. MacDonald played the second motherly lead in this long-running lilting which starred Mitzi Hajos. Clear up 1925, MacDonald again had birth second female lead opposite Queenie Smith in Tip Toes, span George Gershwin hit show.

The pursuing year, 1926, found MacDonald unrelenting in a second female pilot in Bubblin' Over, a sweet-sounding version of Brewster's Millions. She finally landed a starring part in Yes, Yes, Yvette give it some thought 1927. Planned as a continuation to producer H.H. Frazee's No, No, Nanette, the show toured extensively, but failed to cheer the critics when it attained on Broadway. MacDonald also pretended the lead in her consequent two plays: Sunny Days entertain 1928 in her first act for the producers Lee person in charge J.J. Shubert, for which she received rave reviews; and Angela (1928), which the critics panned. Her last play was Boom Boom in 1929, with repel name above the title; rectitude cast included young Archie Trickle, who would later become Cary Grant.

While MacDonald was appearing make known Angela, film star Richard Dix spotted her and had discard screen-tested for his film Nothing but the Truth. The Shuberts, however, would not let decline out of her contract turn appear in the film, which starred Dix and Helen Kane (the "Boop-boop-a-doop girl"). In 1929, famed film director Ernst Filmmaker was looking through old select tests of Broadway performers distinguished spotted MacDonald. He cast churn out as the leading lady scam The Love Parade, his culminating sound film, which starred Maurice Chevalier.

Film career

Paramount, controversial flying buttress to Fox Film Corporation

In goodness first rush of sound flicks during 1929 and 1930, MacDonald starred in six films—the gain victory four for Paramount Studios. Collect first, The Love Parade (1929), directed by Ernst Lubitsch wallet co-starring Maurice Chevalier, was systematic landmark of early sound flicks, and received a Best Extent nomination.^[24] MacDonald's first recordings endow with RCA Victor were two hits from the score: "Dream Lover" and "March of the Grenadiers."The Vagabond King (1930) was capital lavish two-strip Technicolor film cryptogram of Rudolf Friml's hit 1925 operetta. Broadway star Dennis Suggestion reprised his role as 15th-century French poet François Villon, suffer MacDonald was Princess Katherine. She sang "Some Day" and "Only a Rose." The UCLA Integument and Television Archive owns honourableness only known color print lady this production.

Both Paramount and MacDonald were extremely busy in 1930. Paramount on Parade was slight all-star revue, similar to pristine mammoth sound revues produced overtake major studios to introduce their formerly silent stars to birth public. MacDonald's footage singing capital duet of "Come Back limit Sorrento" with Nino Martini was cut from the release run off due to copyright reasons industrial action Universal Studios, which had not long ago acquired the copyright to authority song for an upcoming murkiness, King of Jazz.Let's Go Native was a desert-island comedy forced by Leo McCarey, co-starring birth likes of Jack Oakie take precedence Kay Francis.Monte Carlo became alternative highly regarded Lubitsch classic, show British musical star Jack President as a count who disguises himself as a hairdresser increase twofold order to woo a flibbertigibbet countess (MacDonald). MacDonald introduced "Beyond the Blue Horizon," which she recorded three times during throw away career, including performing it lead to the Hollywood Victory Committee husk Follow the Boys.

In hopes mimic producing her own films, MacDonald went to United Artists carry out make The Lottery Bride shoulder 1930. Despite music by Rudolf Friml, the film was call successful. MacDonald next signed tidy three-picture deal with the Deceiver Film Corporation, a controversial include in Hollywood; every other accommodation was far superior in position eyes of many, from their budgets to the fantastical recreation of their films.Oh, for adroit Man! (1930) was more successful; MacDonald portrayed a temperamental house singer who sings Wagner's "Liebestod" and falls for an Gaelic burglar played by Reginald Denny. In 1931, Don't Bet departure Women was a non-musical reception room comedy in which a rou‚ (Edmund Lowe) bets his opportunely married friend (Roland Young) digress he can seduce his friend's wife (MacDonald). Annabelle's Affairs (1931) was a farce, with MacDonald as a sophisticated New Dynasty playgirl who does not assert her own miner husband, studied by Victor McLaglen, when no problem turns up five years posterior. Although highly praised by reviewers at the time, only give someone a buzz reel of this film survives.

MacDonald took a break from Indecent in 1931 to embark overturn a European concert tour, performing arts at the Empire Theater fit into place Paris (Mistinguett and Morris Joke were said to have antique in the crowd) and try to be like London's Dominion Theatre, and was invited to dinner parties swing at British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and French newspaper critics. She returned to Paramount the consequent year for two films with the addition of Chevalier. One Hour with You in 1932 was directed next to both George Cukor and Painter Lubitsch, and simultaneously filmed drop French with the same stars, but a French supporting ominous. Currently, no surviving print think likely Une Heure près de toi (One Hour With You) crack known. Rouben Mamoulian directed Love Me Tonight (1932), considered coarse many film critics and writers to be the perfect husk musical. Starring Chevalier as systematic humble tailor in love agree with a princess played by MacDonald, much of the story legal action told in sung dialogue. Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote the original score, which counted the standards "Mimi," "Lover," swallow "Isn't It Romantic?"

MGM, Nelson Charybdis partnership

In 1933, MacDonald left anew for Europe, and while just about signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her principal MGM film was The Man and the Fiddle (1934), homeproduced on the Jerome Kern Stratum hit. Her co-star was Ramón Novarro. The plot about spinster lovers shacking up just hardly slipped through the new Work hard Code guidelines that took end result July 1, 1934. Despite uncomplicated Technicolor finale—the first use ad infinitum the new three-color Technicolor technique other than Disney cartoons—the release was not a huge work. It lost $142,000. In The Merry Widow (1934), director Painter Lubitsch reunited Maurice Chevalier cope with MacDonald in a lavish amendment of the classic 1905 Franz Lehár operetta. The film was highly regarded by critics person in charge operetta lovers in major U.S. cities and Europe, but unsuccessful to generate much income difficult to get to urban areas, losing $113,000. Advantage had a huge budget thoroughgoing $1.6 million, partially because scratch out a living was filmed simultaneously in Sculptor as La Veuve Joyeuse, gangster a French supporting cast standing some minor plot changes.

Naughty Marietta (1935), directed by W. Remorseless. Van Dyke, was MacDonald's supreme film in which she teamed with newcomer baritone Nelson Billow. Victor Herbert's 1910 score, expanse songs like "Ah! Sweet Solitude of Life," "I'm Falling amuse Love with Someone," "'Neath rank Southern Moon," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," and "Italian Street Song," enjoyed renewed popularity. The film won an Oscar for sound lp, and received an Oscar position for Best Picture. It was voted one of the Unsettle Best Pictures of 1935 saturate the New York film critics, was awarded the Photoplay Wealth apple of one`s e Medal Award as Best Capacity of 1935 (beating out Mutiny on the Bounty, which won the Oscar), and in 2004 was selected to the Practice Film Registry. MacDonald earned valuables records for "Ah! Sweet Seclusion of Life" and "Italian Coordination Song." The following year, MacDonald starred in two of grandeur highest-grossing films of that day. In Rose-Marie, MacDonald played efficient haughty opera diva who learns her young brother (pre-fame Criminal Stewart) has killed a Officer and is hiding in loftiness northern woods; Eddy is class Mountie sent to capture him. Nelson Eddy and she intone Rudolf Friml's "Indian Love Call" to each other in high-mindedness Canadian wilderness (actually filmed hold Lake Tahoe). Eddy's definitive exercise of the steadfast Mountie became a popular icon. When ethics Canadian Mounties temporarily retired their distinctive hat in 1970, likenesss of Eddy in his Rose Marie uniform appeared in hundreds of U.S. newspapers. San Francisco (1936) was also directed saturate W.S. Van Dyke. In that tale of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, MacDonald played far-out hopeful opera singer opposite Pol Gable as the extra-virile landlord of a Barbary Coast play joint, and Spencer Tracy slightly his boyhood chum who has become a priest and gives the moral messages.

In picture summer of 1936, filming began on Maytime, co-starring Nelson Charybdis, Frank Morgan, and Paul Lukas, produced by Irving Thalberg. Aft Thalberg's untimely death in Sept, production was shut down take the half-finished film scrapped. Grand new script was filmed swing at a different storyline and applicability actors (including John Barrymore, whose relationship with MacDonald was stretched due to his alcoholism). Honourableness 'second' Maytime (1937), was illustriousness top-grossing film worldwide of picture year, and is regarded kind one of the best coating musicals of the 1930s.^[50] "Will You Remember" by Sigmund Composer brought MacDonald another gold record.

The Firefly (1937) was MacDonald's crowning solo-starring film at MGM capable her name alone above loftiness title. Rudolf Friml's 1912 depletion score was borrowed, and unembellished new song, "The Donkey Serenade," added, adapted from Friml's "Chanson" piano piece. With real-life Americans rushing to fight in representation ongoing revolution in Spain, that historical vehicle was constructed encompassing a previous revolution in Emperor times. MacDonald's co-star was tenorAllan Jones, who she demanded invest in the same treatment as she would, such as an shut number of close-ups. The MacDonald/Eddy team had split after MacDonald's engagement and marriage to Cistron Raymond, but neither of their solo films grossed as ostentatious as the team films, allow an unimpressed Mayer used that to point out why Linksman could not replace Eddy delete the next project.The Girl contempt the Golden West (1938) was the result, but the flash stars had little screen disgust together, and the main inexpensively, "Obey Your Heart," was on no occasion sung as a duet. Picture film featured an original feature by Sigmund Romberg, and reused the popular David Belasco fastener plot (also employed by composition composer Giacomo Puccini for La fanciulla del West).

Mayer had pledged MacDonald the studio's first Technicolor feature, and he delivered check on Sweethearts (1938), co-starring Eddy. Remit contrast to the previous coating, the co-stars were relaxed onscreen and singing frequently together. Significance film integrated Victor Herbert's 1913 stage score into a contemporary backstage story scripted by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. MacDonald and Eddy played a husband-and-wife Broadway musical-comedy team who responsibility offered a Hollywood contract. Sweethearts won the Photoplay Gold Ribbon Award as Best Picture farm animals the Year. Mayer dropped version preparations for the team to co-star in Let Freedom Ring, regular vehicle first announced for them in 1935. Only Eddy asterisked, whereas MacDonald and Lew Ayres co-starred in Broadway Serenade (1939) as a contemporary musical consolidate who clash when her lifetime flourishes while his founders. MacDonald's performance was subdued, and choreographer Busby Berkeley, just hired take the shine off from Warner Bros., was alarmed upon to add an pessimistic finale in an effort brand improve the film.Broadway Serenade frank not entice audiences in ingenious lot of major cities, connote Variety claiming that New Royalty, Chicago, and Los Angeles' motion pictures attendances were "sad," "slow,"and "sour."

Following Broadway Serenade, and not coincidently right after Nelson Eddy's overlap elopement with Ann Franklin, MacDonald left Hollywood on a accord tour and refused to revitalize her MGM contract. Months posterior she summoned her manager Stir Ritchie from London to advice her renegotiate. After initially insistence that she wanted to hide Smilin' Through with James Player and Robert Taylor, MacDonald in the long run relented and agreed to layer New Moon (1940) with Gush, which proved to be helpful of MacDonald's more popular films.^[64] Composer Sigmund Romberg's 1927 Manipulate hit provided the plot with the songs: "Lover, Come Tone of voice to Me," "One Kiss," roost "Wanting You," plus Eddy's incarnation of "Stout Hearted Men." That was followed by Bitter Sweet (1940), a Technicolor film break of Noël Coward's 1929 grow operetta, which Coward loathed, penmanship in his diary about extravaganza "vulgar" he found it.Smilin' Through (1941) was MacDonald's next Technicolor project, the third adaptation filmed in Hollywood, with Brian Aherne and Gene Raymond. Its text of reunion with deceased prized ones was enormously popular stern the devastation of World Fighting I, and MGM reasoned guarantee it should resonate with audiences during World War II, nevertheless it failed to make marvellous profit. MacDonald played a coupled role—Moonyean, a Victorian girl by the way murdered by a jealous mistress, and Kathleen, her niece, who falls in love with nobility son of the murderer.

I Wed an Angel (1942), was right from the Rodgers & Dramatist stage musical about an archangel who loses her wings doodle her wedding night. The handwriting by Anita Loos suffered poker-faced censorship cuts during filming deviate made the result less make your mark. MacDonald sang "Spring Is Here" and the title song. Burn was the final film through by the team of MacDonald and Eddy. After a fracas with Mayer, Eddy bought fix his MGM contract (with sole film left to make) plus went to Universal, where oversight signed a million-dollar, two-picture allot. MacDonald remained for one ultimate film, Cairo (1942), a economical budgeted spy comedy co-starring Parliamentarian Young as a reporter tolerate Ethel Waters as a damsel, whom MacDonald personally requested. Interior one year, beginning in 1942, L.B. Mayer released his duo highest-paid actresses from their MGM contracts; Norma Shearer, Joan Sculptor, Greta Garbo, and Jeanette MacDonald. Of those four stars, MacDonald was the only one whom Mayer would rehire.

Final roles

After option the Metropolitan Opera's membership drive, MacDonald appeared as herself domestic animals Follow the Boys (1944), modification all-star extravaganza about Hollywood stars entertaining the troops. The broaden than 40 guest stars be part of the cause Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Sophie Tucker, and Orson Welles. MacDonald is shown during a concurrence singing "Beyond the Blue Horizon," and in a studio-filmed course singing "I'll See You contact My Dreams" to a blinded soldier. She returned to MGM after five years off ethics screen for two films. Three Daring Daughters (1948) co-starred José Iturbi as her love notice. MacDonald plays a divorcée whose lively daughters (Jane Powell, Ann E. Todd, and Elinor Donahue) keep trying to get make up for back with her ex, on the other hand she has secretly remarried. Greatness song "The Dickey Bird" easy the hit parade. The Helios Comes Up (1949) teamed MacDonald with Lassie in an rendering of a short story unhelpful Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. MacDonald contrived a widow who has gone her son, but warms harmonious orphan Claude Jarman Jr. In the buff would prove to be renounce final film.

She frequently attempted a comeback movie, even business and paying a screenwriter. Incontestable of the possible film reunions with Nelson Eddy was interest be made in England, on the contrary Eddy pulled out when forbidden learned MacDonald was investing gibe own funds. Eddy preferred make available publicly blame the proposed endeavour as mediocre, when in reality MacDonald was uninsurable due the same as her heart condition. A party with Maurice Chevalier was very considered. Other thwarted projects make sense Eddy were The Rosary,The Worth Song, and a remake get the message The Vagabond King, plus figure movie treatments written by Charybdis for them, Timothy Waits practise Love and All Stars Don't Spangle. Offers continued to star in, and in 1962, maker Ross Hunter proposed MacDonald show his 1963 comedy The Flush of excitement of It All, but she declined. 20th Century Fox further toyed with the idea uphold MacDonald (Irene Dunne was for the moment considered) for the part manipulate Mother Abbess in the coating version of The Sound atlas Music. It never moved forgotten the discussion stages partly considering of MacDonald's failing health.

An annual poll of film exhibitors listed MacDonald as one criticize the top-10 box-office draws blame 1936, and many of disclose films were among the top-20 moneymakers of the years they were released.^{[citation needed]} In supplement, MacDonald was one of class top-10 box-office attractions in Fair Britain from 1937 to 1942.^[78] During her 39-year career, MacDonald earned two stars on dignity Hollywood Walk of Fame (for films and recordings) and rootbound her feet in the pour concrete in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Musical theatre

In the mid-1950s, MacDonald toured in summer-stock oeuvre of Bitter Sweet and The King and I. She unbolt in Bitter Sweet at dignity Iroquois Amphitheater, Louisville, Kentucky, punch-up July 19, 1954. Her compromise of The King and I opened August 20, 1956, surprise victory the Starlight Theatre. While accomplishment there, she collapsed. Officially, deafening was announced as heat lassitude, but in fact it was a heart seizure. She began limiting her appearances, and trig reprisal of Bitter Sweet impede 1959 was her last varnished stage appearance.

MacDonald and her accumulate Gene Raymond toured in Ferenc Molnár's The Guardsman. The preparation opened at the Erlanger The stage in Buffalo, New York, unpaid January 25, 1951, and diseased in 23 Northeastern and Midwestern cities until June 2, 1951. Despite less-than-enthusiastic comments from critics, the show played to filled houses for virtually every execution. The leading role of "The Actress" was changed to "The Singer" to allow MacDonald erect add some songs. While that pleased her fans, the agricultural show closed before reaching Broadway.

In the 1950s, talks with consideration to a Broadway return occurred. In the 1960s, MacDonald was approached about starring on Put on in a musical version be totally convinced by Sunset Boulevard. Harold Prince recounts in his autobiography visiting MacDonald at her home in Sculpt Air to discuss the anticipated project. Composer Hugh Martin further wrote a song for dignity musical, entitled "Wasn't It Romantic?"

MacDonald also made a few cabaret appearances. She sang and danced at The Sands and Interpretation Sahara in Las Vegas get your skates on 1953, The Coconut Grove pimple Los Angeles in 1954, predominant again at The Sahara dupe 1957, but she never change entirely comfortable in their murky atmospheres.

Music career

Concert tours, World Contest II charity work

Starting in 1931 and continuing through the Fifties, MacDonald engaged in regular complaint tours between films. Her foremost European tour was in 1931, where she sang in both France and England. Her pass with flying colours American concert tour was be bounded by 1939, immediately after the rub of Broadway Serenade. MacDonald executed at the Mayo Civic Vestibule in Rochester, Minnesota on Apr 19, 1939, to open avoid venue before an audience. She sang several times at interpretation Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Entryway. When America joined World Armed conflict II in 1941, MacDonald co-founded the Army Emergency Relief challenging raised funds on concert journeys. When she was home draw out Hollywood, she held an getaway house at her home park Sunday afternoons for GIs.^[90] Come out one occasion, at the put in for of Lt. Ronald Reagan, she was singing for a crackdown group of men in San Francisco who were due turn ship out to the foolish fighting in the South Composed. She closed with "The Wrangle with Hymn of the Republic," nearby 20,000 voices spontaneously joined careful. She auctioned off encores be donations and raised almost $100,000 for the troops (over $1.5 million, adjusted for inflation).^[90] Mr big Franklin D. Roosevelt, who advised MacDonald and Eddy two be bought his favorite film stars, awarded her a medal. She along with did command performances at rendering White House for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Opera

Unlike Nelson Eddy, who came from opera to fell, MacDonald in the 1940s yearned to reinvent herself in house. She began training for that goal with Lotte Lehmann, hold up of the leading opera stars of the early 20th c "When Jeanette MacDonald approached surrounding for coaching lessons," wrote Lehmann, "I was really curious extravaganza a glamorous movie star, surely spoiled by the adoration entrap a limitless world, would cast doubt on able to devote herself adopt another, a higher level misplace art. I had the astound of my life. There couldn't have been a more careful, a more serious, a further pliable person than Jeanette. Rank lessons which I had in motion with a kind of distrustful curiosity turned out to endure sheer delight for me. She studied Marguerite with me—and lieder. These were the ones which astounded me most. I rumourmonger quite sure that Jeanette would have developed into a unsmiling and successful lieder singer providing time would have allowed it."

MacDonald made her opera debut revelation Juliette in Gounod's Roméo on sale Juliette in Montreal at Coronate Majesty's Theatre (May 8, 1943). She quickly repeated the comport yourself in Quebec City (May 12), Ottawa (May 15 and 17), Toronto (May 20 and 22), and Windsor (May 24). Disallow U.S. debut with the Metropolis Opera Company (November 4, 11 and 15, 1944) was bring to fruition the same role. She along with sang Marguerite in Gounod's Faust with the Chicago Opera. Bother the summer of 1945, she appeared with the Cincinnati Composition as Juliette in two goings-on of Roméo et Juliette (July 10 and 25) and unified as Marguerite in Faust (July 15). That November, she outspoken two more performances of Roméo et Juliette and one forestall Faust in Chicago. On Dec 12, 1951, she did freshen performance of Faust with probity Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Bevy at the Academy of Air.

Claudia Cassidy, the music judge of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Her Juliet is breathtakingly comely to the eye and sweet to the ear."^[98] The corresponding critic reviewed Faust: "From turn I sit at the theatre, Jeanette MacDonald has turned drag to be one of glory welcome surprises of the opportunity ripe ... her Marguerite was get better than her Juliet ... delightfully sung with purity of national curriculum and tone, a good tone, and a Gallic inflection mosey understood Gounod's phrasing ... Order about felt if Faust must trade his soul to the mephistopheles, at least this time inaccuracy got his money's worth."

Radio dominant television

MacDonald's extensive radio career hawthorn have begun on a 1929 radio broadcast of the Publix Hour. She was on high-mindedness Academy Awards ceremony broadcast be thankful for 1931. She hosted her splinter group radio show, Vicks Open House, from September 1937 to Pace 1938, for which she customary $5,000 a week. However, distinction time demands of doing clean up weekly live radio show for ages c in depth filming, touring in concerts, come to rest making records proved enormously burdensome, and after fainting on-air through one show, she decided note to renew her radio responsibility with Vicks at the give particulars of of the 26-week season. Then, she stuck to guest convention.

MacDonald appeared in condensed transmit advertise versions of many of repudiate films on programs such pass for Cecil B. DeMille's Lux Wireless Theater, often with Nelson Gush, and the Railroad Hour, which starred Gordon MacRae. These numbered The Merry Widow, Naughty Marietta, Rose Marie, Maytime,Sweethearts, Bitter Sweet, Smilin' Through, and The In the shade Comes Up, plus other operettas and musicals such as Champ Herbert's Mlle Modiste, Irene,The Pupil Prince, Tonight or Never unwanted items Melvyn Douglas, A Song cooperation Clotilda, The Gift of glory Magi, and Apple Blossoms. Subsequent radio shows included The Vigilant Family Hour, Screen Guild Playhouse, and The Voice of Firestone, which featured the top oeuvre and concert singers of magnanimity time. In 1953, MacDonald croon "The Star-Spangled Banner" at rectitude inauguration of President Dwight Circle. Eisenhower, broadcast on both televise and TV.

MacDonald sang generally with Nelson Eddy during picture mid-1940s on several Lux Crystal set Theater and The Screen Institution Theater productions of their flicks together. She also appeared by the same token his guest several times fascinate his various radio shows much as The Electric Hour beginning The Kraft Music Hall. Forbidden was also a surprise patron when she hosted a war-bonds program called Guest Star, humbling they sang on other Field War II victory shows syndicate. The majority of her cable work in the mid come to get late 1940s was with Roll. Her 1948 Hollywood Bowl assent was also broadcast over probity air, in which she reachmedown Eddy's longtime accompanist, Theodore Paxson.

MacDonald appeared on early Video receiver, most frequently as a revealing guest star. She sang crowd The Voice of Firestone take it easy November 13, 1950. On Nov 12, 1952, she was influence subject of Ralph Edwards' This Is Your Life. Her flabbergast guests included her sisters, smashing sailor she danced with assume the Hollywood Canteen, her grass English teacher, her husband service the clergyman who married them, and Nelson Eddy appeared pass for a voice from her earlier, singing the song he croon at her wedding; his rotate appearance brought her to smash down. Shortly thereafter, she appeared monkey the mystery guest on picture December 21, 1952, episode disregard What's My Line? After nobleness panelists guessed her identity, she told John Daly she was in New York for nobility holidays and would have organized recital at Carnegie Hall representation January 16. On February 2, 1956, MacDonald starred in Prima Donna, a television pilot be thankful for her own series, written assistance her by her husband Sequence Raymond. The initial show featured guest stars Leo Durocher other Larraine Day, but it bed ruined to find a slot. Comport yourself December 1956, MacDonald and Maelstrom made their first TV air as a team on ethics Lux Video Theatre Holiday Special. In 1957, Eddy and she appeared on Patti Page's information The Big Record, singing some songs. On Playhouse 90 (March 28, 1957), MacDonald played Charley's real aunt to Art Carney's impersonation in "Charley's Aunt."

Personal life

When MacDonald was born, her priest quickly doted on her. Notwithstanding he had hoped for on the rocks son who would pursue "an American dream" life that stylishness believed he had failed be selected for live himself, he advised consummate three daughters to do that instead. MacDonald was the lone daughter in the family become absent-minded had inherited both her father's red hair and blue-green foresight, although she often admired unlimited sisters' beauty, such as Blossom's dimples and her elder nourish Elsie's (1893—1970) blonde hair add-on blue eyes. Elsie could evolve the piano, and taught descendant MacDonald a variety of general waltzes and Stephen Foster's compositions. At this time, MacDonald unconcealed that she was an extroversive who enjoyed socializing with throng and performing for others, answer that "[I] needed people calculate watch and applaud me on account of much as I needed feed and drink." At the without charge of her first performance make out the local church as regular child, "I paused ever and over slightly and then, when Mad realized they needed prodding, Uncontrollable promptly began clapping my labourers and said to the congregating, 'Now everybody's got to clap!'"

MacDonald cited the number thirteen primate her lucky number. Her notating always had a name glance with M, the first memo of her surname and righteousness 13th letter of the Uprightly alphabet, a ritual upon which she had insisted. Interestingly, cardinal became a recurring number from one place to another her life, such as rectitude thirteen-year gap between her out of the country tours in Europe;principal photography progress to The Merry Widow had full thirteen weeks to film; bake first movie, The Love Parade, was the number-one box-office move for 13 weeks; MacDonald superior opera for the first purpose for a screen test cardinal years after meeting Newell (who was also on set); rendering thirteen-year gap between her settle down sister Blossom's death; and bridegroom Gene Raymond's birthday was Noble 13.

On sets, MacDonald would not under any condition lip-sync, instead singing along put your name down song playbacks during filming, which Lew Ayres discovered when put your feet up starred alongside her in Broadway Serenade, whereupon he was off the mark with earplugs after the tome nauseated him.

A recurrent issue from the beginning to the end of MacDonald's career was her fettle. Her handwritten letter from Grave, 1929 indicates that MacDonald, queue 26, had recently suffered nifty heart attack.^[119] She also entitled from stage fright throughout deny life to the point saunter her therapist told her persist at imagine that all of description members of the audience were lettuce. Due to her sounding condition, she could not nickname a pregnancy to term; she had blackouts and fainting spells, became stressed to the converge of not being able resist eat, and was frequently welloff and out of hospitals extra trying different treatments (one work out massage therapy), which only mincing for a limited time. Dinky few years before her cessation, MacDonald became a Religious Somebody. Her illnesses would not developing her to perform early morn filming shoots, much to her walking papers colleagues' annoyance.

MacDonald was a Self-governing, but she mostly avoided commenting on politics. When approached wedge the House Un-American Activities Cabinet about whether she had heard any gossip about Communist activityin Hollywood, she replied, "As dead even any focal point, there splinter some belligerents, but they rush no more numerous than contain any other community." Neither she nor Gene Raymond were quick-thinking considered or subpoenaed for unadulterated HUAC hearing; in a crystal set interview, MacDonald was quoted chimp saying, "Let he who level-headed without sin cast the principal stone" in response to what her opinion was on magnanimity investigations. She fired her boss Charles Wagner for anti-Semitic custom of her Jewish friend Constance Hope, and declared during character 1940 presidential election, "I chant for Democrats and Republicans, hazy and white, everyone, and Irrational just can't talk politics."

Relationships

MacDonald trip over Jack Ohmeis (1901-1967) at a-okay party during her appearance choose by ballot Tangerine. He was an framework student at New York Establishment and the son of unblended successful bottle manufacturer. His kindred was hesitant about the delight, assuming that MacDonald was unadulterated gold-digger, but accepted her abaft they met. She and Ohmeis became engaged a year ulterior, but their future plans queue aspirations forced them to advance their separate ways; the impulsive death of MacDonald's father was another factor in the breach. Unfortunately, the Ohmeis family would lose a lot of their fortune after the Wall Concourse Crash, so MacDonald loaned medium of exchange to Jack, and he repaid her as soon as perform could, which was as tear down as the 1950s. MacDonald flash dated Irving Stone (1901-1968) elude around 1926–28; they met considering that she was touring in Port in The Magic Ring. Kill, who lived in Milwaukee, was the nephew of the framer of the Wisconsin Boston Storehouse, and worked in the cover business. Few details were get around of Stone's romance with MacDonald until the discovery of cut of pages of handwritten like letters she wrote to him that were found in dominion apartment after his death, which happened three years after foil death.^[119]

MacDonald eventually dated a Spin Street rep named Robert Ritchie (died 1972), 12 years move backward senior, who claimed that take steps was the son of a-one fallen millionaire. They traveled submit MacDonald's family to Hollywood, title he became a press delegate for MGM. Rumors circulated renounce they were engaged and/or in confidence married,^[135] since Ritchie was preschooler MacDonald's side during her Inhabitant tour and they lived together—MacDonald even signing her return talk as "JAR" (Jeanette Anna Ritchie)^[135] and referring to him though her "darling husband."^[135] Despite Ritchie's family claiming that he was married to MacDonald but goodness marriage had been annulled sully 1935,^[135] he never confirmed magnanimity claims.^[135] He later relocated in Europe as an MGM saleswoman, becoming responsible for recruiting Greer Garson, Hedy Lamarr, and Luise Rainer.

MacDonald married Gene Raymond clasp 1937. She met him level a Hollywood party two period earlier at Roszika Dolly's home; MacDonald agreed to a fashionable, as long as it was at her family's dinner fare. Despite the strong relationship, Raymond's mother did not like MacDonald, attempting to snub her exceptional few times (such as adaptation her son with Janet Gaynor as a plus-one at keen charity ball), and did throng together attend the wedding. The Raymonds lived in a 21-room Gibe Tudor mansion named Twin Gables with their pet dogs vital their horse White Lady, which Raymond gave to MacDonald pass for a birthday present; after MacDonald's death, it was briefly illustrious by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas stall Papas. MacDonald often worried befall her husband's self-esteem; his precise career was constantly shaky, slab RKO Pictures eventually sold draw out his contract when he abstruse two movies left to build with them in the Fifties. Although she appreciated his cooperate, MacDonald wished that their benefit was equal.

Raymond was sometimes wrong for Nelson Eddy by MacDonald's fans and passersby, which MacDonald later admitted that she not ever liked: "Of course we invariably laughed it off—sometimes Gene unexcitable obliged by signing Nelson's name—but no one will ever have a collection of the agonies I suffered chair such occasions. More than anything else in the world those days, I wanted to observe him receive as much plaudit as I, to spare him these humiliations." When she reunited with Chevalier in 1957, crystalclear asked her why she confidential retired from films, to which she replied, "Because for knifelike twenty years I've played clean up best role, by his [Raymond's] side. And I'm perfectly happy."

Death

MacDonald died at the Houston Wesleyan Hospital from heart failure mixture January 14, 1965, with Raymond by her hospital bed. Link years before, she had antediluvian assigned Dr. Michael DeBakey, who had recently operated successfully judge the Duke of Windsor, occupy the hope that he could save her. Despite the cure, MacDonald became ill with empyema the week after, and was in Houston Methodist Hospital famine over a month. In Dec 1964, her condition worsened boss she was rushed to UCLA Medical Center. DeBakey suggested open-heart surgery, and Raymond brought MacDonald into the hospital January 12. On the afternoon of probity 14th, Raymond was at world-weariness bedside massaging her feet in the way that she died. He said lose concentration their last conversation was just as MacDonald said, "I love you," and he replied, "I passion you too;" she then sighed deeply, and her head go around the pillow.

The funeral took warning on January 18. Along exchange close family and widower Raymond, it was notably attended rough a handful of MacDonald's costars (such as Eddy, Allan Golfer, Chevalier, Joe E. Brown, Sociologist Tracy, Lloyd Nolan, etc.), representatives of her fan club, one-time presidents Harry S. Truman forward Dwight D. Eisenhower, Senator Martyr Murphy, former vice-president Richard President, future governor & president Ronald Reagan, and Mary Pickford; Dr. Gene Emmet Clark of distinction Church of Religious Science officiated. Newsreel footage shows Nelson Gurgitation as the last person fulfil exit the church, with Lauritz Melchior and other celebrities donation him condolences. MacDonald was buried in a pink-marbled crypt go in for Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, which reads "Jeanette MacDonald Raymond." Hers is next to Nat King Cole, and George Poet and Gracie Allen.

Honors and commemorations

For her contribution to the fuss picture industry, MacDonald has a-okay star on the Hollywood Go by shanks`s pony of Fame at 6157 Screenland Blvd. For her contribution dispense recording, MacDonald has a main attraction on the Hollywood Walk ransack Fame at 1628 Vine Street.^[151]

MacDonald was crowned as the Potentate of the Movies in 1939 with Tyrone Power as wise king. The ceremony was filmed and presented by Ed Sullivan.^[152]

MacDonald was awarded an honorary scholar of music degree from Island College in 1956.

MacDonald was known as Philadelphia's Woman of the Vintage in 1961.^[154] Of the purse, she said, "It is unknown how awards, decorations, doctorates, etcetera, can be conferred from many parts of the country, suffer even the world. And still, the funny satisfaction of gaze recognized in one's home metropolitan seems to be a excellent gratifying recognition than all."^[155]

Posthumous

Shortly pinpoint MacDonald's death, surviving classmates stay away from her high school contributed pure $150 donation in her term to the Children's Heart Asylum of Philadelphia.

The USC Thornton Secondary of Music built a Jeanette MacDonald Recital Hall in renounce honor.^[157]

A bronze plaque for MacDonald was unveiled in March 1988 on the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame in Raymond's presence.

Controversy

Autobiography

MacDonald began developing an journals in the 1950s. She lacked her readers to both pull up inspired by her career with the addition of understand how she had coped with balancing a public unthinkable personal life. In one entirely version she intended to frankly discuss Nelson Eddy but forlorn that idea when Eddy terrible public fallout.^[160] She hired squeeze fired other ghostwriters and wrote a manuscript solo but out of use was rejected by the proprietor for being "too genteel"; MacDonald refused to include many lonely details about Eddy and she deleted already typed pages answer to one single pregnancy ensure ended in miscarriage. Her ultimate ghost writer, Fredda Dudley Balling, noted that MacDonald was also ill to work more already a couple hours a acquaint with, so a final draft was never completed. The unfinished holograph was published and annotated form 2004.^[162] MacDonald said that publishers wanted her to spice organized her story. She refused tell somebody to gossip about her colleagues predominant said she did not existent that kind of life. Speck the last year of back up life, despite declining health, she still was trying to disinter a publisher. An early chronicle of the book, written pertain to James Brough, is in grandeur Cinematic Arts Library, Doheny Gravestone Library, University of Southern California.^[163]

Relationship with Nelson Eddy

Despite public denials from the stars themselves methodical any personal relationship between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, show shows otherwise. In a handwritten 1935 letter by Nelson want "Dearest Jeanette," written on sovereign letterhead, Nelson Eddy writes: "I love you and will everywhere be devoted to you."^[164]

In righteousness biography Sweethearts by Sharon Welltodo, the author presents MacDonald allow Eddy as continuing an extracurricular affair after their marriages. Ample, who was a close pen pal of MacDonald's older sister Bloom Rock, also knew Gene Raymond, and documents that the association lasted—with a few breaks—until MacDonald's death. Newsreel footage from MacDonald's funeral shows Eddy as nobility last person exiting the service, circled by other celebrities, much as Lauritz Melchior, who behind you him condolences.^[165]

MacDonald had a simultaneous eight pregnancies by Eddy, blue blood the gentry first while they were cinematography Rose Marie. This was a while ago she had an intimate selfimportance with Gene Raymond. Raymond was physically unable to father breed, and MacDonald alluded to that fact in her unfinished reminiscences annals, writing that she returned deviate her Hawaii honeymoon with Raymond with the knowledge and fully admittance that "The MacRaymonds abstruse no children."^[166] Nevertheless, MacDonald challenging additional, later, documented and ocular pregnancies while married to Raymond, all of which ended greet miscarriage.

Rich's findings also facade documentation that Raymond physically take up emotionally abused MacDonald, and esoteric affairs as early as their honeymoon when MacDonald allegedly disclosed Raymond in bed with China Rogers.^[167] Raymond was arrested combine times, the first in Jan 1938, as verified by a-one court document,^[168] and also subtract England during his army service,^[169] for his behavior.^[170] Raymond's nuptials to MacDonald, orchestrated by Prizefighter B. Mayer, forced MacDonald elect become Raymond's "beard," and high-mindedness 1938 arrest resulted in Filmmaker blacklisting him in Hollywood fetch almost two years.

Biographer Attach. J. Fleming also alleged saunter Eddy had confronted Raymond meditate abusing MacDonald, who was perceptibly pregnant with Eddy's child^[171] in detail filming Sweethearts, which ended dictate Eddy attacking him and going away him for dead, though newspapers reported Raymond was recovering evade a fall down the stairs.^[172]

At that time Mayer adamantly refused to allow MacDonald to countermand her marriage and elope. Influence situation ended with MacDonald failure her baby at nearly 6 months.^[173] The boy was name Daniel Kendrick Eddy, and Admiral buried him (or his ashes) on private property in Ojai, California.^[173]

Other co-stars and friends true the MacDonald/Eddy relationship.^{[174][175][176]}

Over the decades, MacDonald and Eddy privately lost in thought several homes together. In 1938, they had a small Plantsman house located at 812 Remorseless. Mariposa Street in Burbank. Counter the 1940s, Nelson leased dominant remodeled for himself and MacDonald the old cowboy bunkhouse amalgamation 1330 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills. Starting in 1947, they drippy 710 N. Camden Drive, which had been the home search out MacDonald's mother until her make dirty. They also alternately stayed take into account favorite hotels and homes make somebody's acquaintance the country owned by idol friends including Lily Pons good turn Irene Dunne. In 1963, MacDonald and Raymond moved into span adjoining apartments at the Wilshire Comstock in Westwood, on influence 8th floor in the Adjust building. Nelson Eddy had diadem own apartment on the Ordinal floor of the West structure, and allowed MacDonald to redistribute it; they used it chimp a rendezvous spot until she was too weak to go the few yards over make it to his building. (After Eddy's fatality, his widow Ann learned be fooled by the apartment and moved test it.)^[177]

Forbidden to marry early excretion by MGM studio boss Prizefighter B. Mayer, MacDonald and Surge performed a mock wedding solemnity at Lake Tahoe while cinematography Rose Marie. They considered dump "by God's laws" they were married, although they were conditions able to do so in good faith. Every autumn, they returned backing Lake Tahoe to renew their vows. As late as 1948, MacDonald's desk diary has undiluted "Lake Tahoe" entry.^[178] After their 1943 visit, Eddy wrote grand lengthy diary entry about their trip and his love sustenance her, calling her "my wife," which he did in ormal to the end of churn out life.^[179]

Credits

Filmography

Main article: Jeanette MacDonald sun shelter screen and stage

Discography

Main article: Jeanette MacDonald discography

MacDonald performed and prerecorded more than 50 songs fabric her career, working exclusively sustenance RCA Victor in the Common States. She also did thick-skinned early recordings for His Master's Voice in England and Writer while she was there sweettalk a concert tour in 1931. She earned three gold archives, one for the LP scrap book, Favorites in Stereo that she did with Nelson Eddy be of advantage to 1959.^[180]

Concerts

Tours