Esther Williams RIP -- June 7, 2013

I was sad to learn that Esther Williams had died.  We are running out of MGM stars.  In this image, from the wonderful site LucyWho (http://www.lucywho.com/), she poses with Mickey Rooney.  Esther Williams was an athlete who planned to swim in the 1940 Tokyo Olympics, but they got cancelled because of other matters.  She performed with Billy Rose's Acquacade along with Johnny Weissmuller at the 1939 and 1940 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island.  She made a series of popular Technicolor musicals at MGM.  She tried to branch out into more serious roles, but audiences weren't prepared.  She wrote an excellent autobiography where she shared difficult details of her life.  She did a lot to promote swimming.