Vera ellen what kind of cancer

She was certainly very slender in her younger years, but now, it appeared that something was just not quite right as even in White Christmas, her weight seems to drop off with each successive scene in the film. Since her face was naturally round, she still appeared healthy from the neck up and she was absolutely stunningly beautiful in that film.

I would be very interested in reading your article if you have some other information about her. Maybe it wasn't anorexia. It's possible that she had a metabolic disorder or some other malady. One correction -- Her beautiful face was not round. Pretty nasty, Anonymous, when all I said without hiding my identity was that I felt bad that she seemed unhealthy. Thank you, David, for reminding folks about the meanness of personal attacks -- I love Vera, always have, and did not say or intend anything critical about her.

ClassicBecky, I understand what you meant, Unfortunately some people always look for the worst meaning. They get hung up on sending critizem. I think you feel as I, that is.

Becky, I walk with you. Vera Ellen was a beautiful, talented, dancer, actress, and singer. In "White Christmas" and all of her films, she had exactly the athletic, low-fat physique that is normal for a professional dancer.

Her legs were long, muscular, and beautiful. As for the myth of her neck, quite a few photographs of her are available on Google Images, and she is wearing low-necked blouses in several of them. Her neck looks perfectly normal. In her final movie, "Let's Be Happy" , she wears a blouse that leaves her entire neck completely visible, and it's obvious that there's nothing wrong with it.

I love Vera Ellen and can't help but notice the similarities of her shape, looks, hairstyle, etc which look exactly like the original Barbie doll. I just read about the woman who invented Barbie and can't help but think that she was not honest about who she designed the doll after because I think it was Vera.

Vera played in White Christmas in and Barbie debuted in so the timeline fits. Anyone else see the resemblance besides me? The very first time I saw White Christmas I thought that, and still have the Barbie doll, that gave me that idea! SO, I'm not crazy! I just watched some of this movie tonight and thought she looked like a vintage Barbie. Yes, she would have been the perfect model for Barbie.

She brought such joy to the screen. She was lovely and left us way too soon. Thankful for the gifts she shared with the world. I didn't ever know she was anorexic. She was a great dancer and I am very sad that her life was not happy. Anon just because someone wrote in a book that Vera was Anorexic doesn't make it true. In fact just the opposite. We are often too eager to believe stories unverified out of sympathy or other more cruel emotions.

Then add-ons like 'peculiar eating habits' and it takes on a life of its own. I've heard the most ridiculous untrue stories about myself just because I'm naturally slim. Women especially can be so cruel to other women. I am also very thin due to some health issues.

She probably was dressed in costumes that covered her arms, chest, neck to hide the protruding bones on her chest, the thinness of her arms and as for the neck, just a variation on fashion. I have to do the same thing. There is a reason that I ended up on this page. Simply stunning and talented! Long before my time. A shame she didn't do more but at least she survived Hollywood.

She was thin but look at Fred Astaires body. Both very thin, both dancers that take dancing very serious. Do people speculate him as anorexic! Anyone that dances even if just on a friday night knows how much energy it takes and calories it burns. Imagine doing that for hours every day. I don't know if she was anorexic or not but look at Fred Astaires body.

Both are dancers that take dancing very serious. Anyone that dances even if just on a Friday night know how much energy it takes imagine doing that for several hours daily. I have never hreard anyone claim he was anorexic. I looked her up on the net and it says she had anorexia In White Christmas her thighs were the same size as her calf.

Vera Ellen was a marvelous dancer and White Christmas shows that talent off magnificently. She did, however, have the smallest waist I have ever seen on a human being! Scarlett O'Hara would have been envious. I have been reading a lot about the beautiful Vera-Ellen and one thing is heavy on my heart There are really no mentions of having family members around her. I noticed her gravestone was so plain and simple.

What became of her estate?? What a talent. I have just watched her with Danny Kaye in Wonder Man, and her dance routine just blew me away. I had not seen that movie in over 20 years and bought it the other day to watch again. Vera-Ellen I thought was a wonderful actress who had grace and beauty and one of the best woman dancers I have ever seen, that is why I came on the internet to read about her life. Again such a wonderful and beautiful actress and best female dancer of all time.

I watched it again last night and realized that she was a far better dancer than Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Juliet Prowse, or anyone I have ever seen. I also agree with other posters about the Barbie doll looking exactly like her. I thought that while watching the movie.

Even the face is similar. I envy the figure she had. She does not look too thin or anorexic in White Christmas like some are saying. White Christmas on TV right now. My favorite Christmas movie since I was a little girl. Always amazed by Vera Ellen's dancing and beauty. My fav is "Mandy", does anyone know if the live productions of White Christmas include Mandy? I think her body is incredible! The stage production does not have "Mandy". I've seen it twice different years in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theater, and honestly was extremely disappointed at the changes from the film to the musical.

I don't understand taking out songs in a musical as beloved as "White Christmas" only to add more songs The additional Irving Berlin songs are good all well known songs , but leave the original ones in. They had a lot of different numbers in it - all Irving Berlin songs. Sally Struthers appeared as the general's made and Stacey Keach was the general in the production I saw. In so true it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen from any woman in my entire life and I am over 80 years old next week which will be August 30th the date Vera became an angel I am going to visit her grave site in Sylmar California.

So much talent and beauty, we have been watching White Christmas every year since I can remember I was born in and received some of the first Barbies for Christmases in the late 's. My 5 daughters and I became big fans of White Christmas and they are the ones that noticed how Vera Ellen looked like the vintage Barbie Dolls. My two youngest girls now 23 and 25 became known among family and friends for singing "Sisters". They still get Barbies for Christmas but their favorites were the ones dressed in different blue dresses similar to the ones in White Christmas.

That movie gives me the most Christmasey feeling ever! I always watch it on June 25th--halfway from last Christmas and halfway to the upcoming Christmas. I love to watch Vera--her dancing is as easy for her as breathing is for me. I have always been fascinated with Ms. Ellen, she is such a spirited dancer. As I watched White Christmas as I do every year I note that her costume in "Mandy" is padded from the waist down instead of being form fitted.

I also believe that she wore padding to fill in her bustline, and that's why she could not wear anything low cut. I saw this with great respect for her, she was exquisite and mesmerizing to watch.

I have loved so many of the 'Classic' entertainers. I had hoped to find that Vera had descendants and was saddened to hear of her loss of her daughter. I think she was a bright and shining star and seemed a gentle soul. Sharing my love of old movies with my Granddaughter brings me great joy Vera is and will continue to be remembered and well loved.

Angel Wings. Beautiful, energetic, love of performing shown through the camera lens. White Christmas is watched several times a year in this household.

I enjoy it as much now as I did then. There's a picture of Vera as a presenter at the Academy Awards the year after White Christmas was released. Her neck is smooth and lovely. The high necked costumers in White Christmas were merely a design chose. Whether or not she was anorexic is irrelevant ,but if she was then a trauma such as losing her baby can trigger such an illness and there is no reason to vilify her for that.

She was a beautiful and highly talented lady. Why would she be vilified for having an eating disorder? It's a medical condition. There are people on here acting as if having an eating disorder is a horrible crime that that Vera-Ellen should be defended against. She was very thin in White Christmas and those high neck dresses stood out next to the low-cut dresses that Rosemary Clooney wore. There were a few scenes where she was a leotard with a scarf. It was so odd that I had to go online during the movie and find out why she was so obviously hiding her neck.

It looks like she's also hiding her neck in the photos provided for this article by her friend No way to tell for sure if she was anorexic or not, but she was lovely, a fantastic dancer, and had possibly the finest legs in cinema history, even better than Cyd Charisse's. I too am interested in what type of cancer she died from. I have always loved watching Vera Ellen. She was just fabulous and so beautiful and graceful.

With all the dancing she did, I am sure she was too tired to eat right and that led to maybe a lack of appetite but if her friend said she was not anorexic, then I believe him. The movie was made in and you can clearly see in several of the costumes that her neck was smooth, beautiful and unlined. She was such a talented woman, what they call now a triple threat; for she could sing, act, and dance.

How tragic was the death of her daughter - certainly a good reason to withdraw from public life. We are fortunate to have her grace, beauty and talent preserved forever on film. The Barbie doll was not designed after Vera Ellen or any other movie star.

The original "Barbie" was a German doll known as "Bild Lilli" and was inspired by a racy German cartoon. Ruth Handler of Mattell saw the doll and bought the rights to produce it in America. She renamed it "Barbie" after her own daughter. There were almost no changes made from Bild Lilli to the first version of Barbie, so any resemblance to Vera Ellen is coincidental. Vera Ellen was not unusually thin for a small-framed female professional dancer of her calibre.

As far as the neck covering, give me a break! It was the '50s. Neck scarves were stylish. Her clothing was beautifully designed to flatter her slender frame and act as a counterpoint to the relatively buxom figure of Rose Marie, who also looked gorgeous, but in a completely different style. I find it ridiculous that a woman can work as hard as she did to achieve excellence in her field, and yet 3 decades after her death people are talking like she couldn't have done it without anorexia.

Was she anorexic? I have no idea. Could she have been that slender and not have been anorexic? My mother immigrated here from Holland and for obvious reasons took a liking to Vera. So much so I was named after her. People often ask, if I am named after a family member, because it is old name.

I just say, no, I am named after Vera Ellen. My sisters and I grew up watching Vera Ellen along with all the other fabulous actors in White Christmas. Each year we would wait with baited breath and watch the entire movie without blinking. Vera was a phenomenal dancer and I am glad to find out I can watch her in other productions as well. To be honest, her thinness does not seem natural in this movie and it was always a point of discussion.

I hope that she did not suffer from anorexia in her 30's. It may well have been from over working. Watch Dancing with the Stars and see how much weight those dancers loose from the begining of the season to the end. I am sad to hear of the loss of her child and later divorce. I hope that she was surrounded with loving friends all her life. The love and admiration of her fans is a special thing. Her legacy lives on.

Posted by Stacey, I am not a member. What an enormous and vibrant talent - along with all her co-stars in those films. I'm a huge Danny Kaye fan, and when I saw her dance in Wonderman she just left you absolutely amazed. Her energy and ability made you not take your eyes off her. When she danced, she was in a world of her own - seemed like a nice place.

All I can say is: thank you Vera-Ellen! I know it's not much, but it's all I got. She was the most talented artists ever!

I wonder if she had thyroid problems and had to have surgery. That would explain the weight loss and high necklines. Vera-Ellen was the most talented and most beautiful female dancer in Hollywood. I developed a crush on her the first time I saw "On The Town". It's a shame MGM dubbed in another singers voice in her movies.

She had a very pretty voice. She sang and danced delightfully in a rather long number. It was live TV back then so the number was not done in takes Vera-Ellen was definitely the best!

I thought she was the cutest lady in the film White Christmas! Loved her in it too! Vera-Ellen was not anorexic. According to the biography of her "Vera-Ellen the Magic and Mystery her apparent weight loss in "White Christmas was due to her grueling rehearsal that at times even made her feet bleed. Vera-Ellen like Fred Astaire were perfectionists when it came to their art of dancing. Edith Head the Paramount costume designer had to keep taking her costumes in due to this weight loss from rehearsals.

She ate a diet that included a great deal of red meat mostly steak because at the time it was thought that it built muscle. There is a newsreel from of Judy Garlands "A Star is Born" premiere and Vera is wearing a strapless dress that shows her neck and her neck is smooth and unwrinkled the reason she wore the high necklines was due to she thought her neck looked too long in the films shots of here and wanted to disguise what she thought a figure flaw. You can find the newsreel of "A Star is Born" on Youtube.

It could be that they were doing all they could to make her look younger than Rosemary mother hen since she was actually older and she was supposed to be her baby sister. I know at that time it was considered bad taste or improper for younger women to wear "sexy" clothing. Gosh, I remember having to wear hats and gloves. Point is that we all who comment here loved her, sick or not. I fall in love with Vera-Ellen every time I watch "White Christmas" She was so beautiful, a great actress and fabulous dancer with the greatest legs ever!

Wish I could've met and known her; she was the best; my fantasy love! Not sure if Vera suffered from a eating disorder or if she danced her ass off and that made her thin but I don't understand the comment that Anorexia is a spirit that dominates the person.

Does anyone know what type of cancer she died from? I read somewhere it was Lung. I can not imagine she was a smoker and danced the way she did.

Beautiful woman and her dancing still leaves me breathless. When I was 10 years old in I saw White Christmas for the first time. Even at that young age I was amazed at the shear talent and beauty of Vera. Since then I have seen everything she has done on celluloid.

In my opinion, she was the most talented female dancer of the 20th century, surpassing all others. I just ordered Vera Allen's book on Amazon I have no doubt Vera was anorexic. Fred Astaire also had his quirks about eating too.

Both were obsessive about perfectionism. Those who push themselves to the limits are, not just dancers. I am a perfectionist myself. It's very easy to get OCD about things I adore Vera. Just a thought here. Everyone is quick to call her anorexic, however have you ever considered the amount of energy she was burning dancing and practicing?

It would take an enormous amount of caloric input to keep up with her burn. My take is, she probably wasn't anorexic as much as she probably didn't eat and carb up like she should have.

Just go google 'vera ellen tap dancing on her toes" and think of the fact that many times they did these numbers in one entire take. It took LOTS of practice to preform these flawlessly in their entirety. I have loved watching Vera Ellen in White Christmas over the last years. I must have watch White Christmas at least 50 times! It is one of the most beautiful movies ever made and one of my favourites.

It saddens me to hear, how at the end of her life- like many dancers, the studios killed their movie careers. She was one of the best and will always remain in my heart. This movie represented such a beautiful era of movie making which we will never see again. How said is that. Thank God that we have DVD's that we can watch these musicals, over and over again. I believe they brought a lot of joy into people's lives and they still do to this day. And lastly, yes, she was a fantastic, fabulous, talented dancer!!!

Tina R. Just finished watching White Christmas with my son, 15 years of age. We love the show and Vera-Ellen. They float and glide seamlessly. Vera-Ellen was considered by many in Hollywood as technically the best female dancer, who was paired with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

When watching her later films, it is. While the front of her neck appears all right, there is one film that is not mentioned where you CAN see how her thinness, where it be anorexia related or not, may have been reason for studio execs to have her costumes altered.

In one scene, she dances at a ball with O'Connor. As she turns with him, one can see the bones in the back of her neck, which are not normally seen in most people. Perhaps for this reason, her costumes were altered to hide this, much as Barbara Billingsley in "Leave It to Beaver," always wore pearls as June Cleaver, to hide the hollow in her neck.

The same may even be said for Rosemary Clooney in "White Christmas" with her wide shoulder fitted dresses that furled out more at the bottom, to help narrow the appearance of her waist, as she was more full figured than Vera-Ellen.

I will not speculate on the reasons for her thinness, but rather on reasons for the high-neckline costumes in her later films. Regardless, she was a spectacular dancer and one of my all-time favourites, ever.

There are many pics showing Vera Ellen looking lovely including her neck and frankly, in many pics, her legs look curvy and pretty even though they are slender. Kate Middleton comes to mind. I don't see the skinny bony legs of anorexia.

One showing her in a short santa suit and perched on a chimney particularly show legs that look healthy. Perhaps it is just easier to believe rumors and negative press. As a former dancer, I have seen girls that have anorexia and most cannot perform well. Vera Ellen danced so well that I cannot believe she was ill and performing in that way. So true. Vera only ever appeared very thin in White Christmas and as we know she had many heavy musical numbers which require endless rehearsal.

Which in turn causes stress and exhaustion. Just Vera in a black corset neck visible , then in a wonderful black dress with flashes of yellow under-frills. This, I think, is her best solo number, and the movie - despite its silly story - has her best dances with Astaire. I agree. The "Naughty But Nice" number is indeed one of Vera's best. Not only does she dance superbly in this number but she dances in heels and must maneuver that long dress while she does some incredibly difficult choreography.

So what if she was hiding her neck. That did not take away her sweetness, her beauty and her incredible talent. I wish everyone would stop belaboring this already. Enough is enough! Vera Ellen was very unlikely 'Anorexic'.

Other women seem to want to believe every thin woman is so. Rosemary Clooney was admittedly outspoken and would have suggested such if true.

However Rosemary fondly remembered Vera as being very porfessional funny and practised her craft a lot. White Christmas had an outstanding cast. No doubt Vera wanted to be at her best which can be very stressful hence the weight loss.

Notice; there are no pics of her that thin other than from WC. Anorexia doesn't go away after one movie. People who write books on Hollywood stars make up all kinds of crap for the public's titilation and it obviously works as some readers quote from these fictions as 'fact'.

Diane Hirshfield; I so agree. I guess spreading lurid accusations regarding Golden Age movie stars will never cease. And sells books to the gullible in our society. The 'recluse' accusation is the silliest. Just because former stars chose a normal life outside of show business in their later years is as normal as it gets. But rag media would rather you believe they never leave the house. Plain ridiculous! I agree Moonraker, especially about accusations of her being anorexic.

There is zero evidence of that. But I have heard over and over again I know, that doesn't mean it's true that after the death of her daughter, she never recovered from that, and became reclusive. I guess, as a diagnosis, probably deep depression. But the anorexia is not true. She did it in White Christmas with the underrated but extremely talented Danny Kaye. I am mesmerized when I am watching both of those numbers. I only watched White Christmas for he first time three years ago I cant beleive I have been missing this great classic all these years.

I have always loved the Hollywood classics especially the musicals when I saw Vera in "Wonder Man" made in with Danny Kaye and then in "White Christmas" you can see a big difference in her appearance.

She was stunning and talented. And I'm saddened that she was ill but she was the most talented dancer I've ever seen on the silver screen. Her hard work will always be appreciated by those of us who love the classics! Vera was amazing. White Christmas is now a tradition to watch in my house just as Its A Wonderful Life as been the past 25 years. Merry Christmas everyone. Vera Ellen was just amazing. Beautiful figure and the best dancer I've ever seen. Merry Christmas to all!!

She looked so much better dancing with Fred Astaire than Ginger Rogers. She was slim and small just like Fred. I always felt Ginger was to big for him! I was a big fan of Vera Ellen's, also. I ate like a horse! The work keeps you thin. Her dancing was exquisite. And with that much work and training to be that good, she could have easily worked off any amount of calories. And I have no idea how anyone who danced like that could have an eating disorder that would have severely limited her energy.

I don't see how she could have had anorexia with all that physical activity. Not only does it work off calories, but she wouldn't even have much time to eat. It's inactivity that often causes someone to eat too much. When I'm really busy, I don't even think about eating. May she rest in "heavenly peace. Beautiful talented actress and dancer. White Christmas is a life long favorite.

In this film, she appears fit, trim,and athletic in production dance numbers most notably the "You Make Me Feel So Young" dream sequence with Charles Smith. She also appears to be carrying significantly more weight in this film than in "White Christmas" 8 years later. The comparison of Miss Ellen's appearance between the two films is quite striking, enough to justify concerned speculation, in my opinion. How sad that so many of the comments here address the subject of anorexia and not her extraordinary talent.

She was a wonderful dancer and actor. Every time I'd watch White Christmas I was struck by her vivaciousness and how light she was on her feet. So sorry she was a recluse in the end. Such a lovely, talented woman. I watched White Christmas again last night, after previously reading about her "anorexia" and while watching I was thinking there's no way she could dance those numbers and be anorexic. She was such a powerhouse dancer, something had to fuel that energy I would kill for her legs.

Through one number after another in "White Christmas", Vera Ellen astonishes in her ability to dance through a number of choreographic styles with grace and authority. There is no comparison on film. That this is still talked about in and of itself speaks to her talent and versatility. Enough said. Gosh she was so talented and beautiful, I'm sure just as much inside as on the outside.

I'm sure she is smiling down from heaven as each family gathers around every Christmas season to watch her shine on the big screen. She's probably smiling down from heaven right now as many families gather around the tv to watch her shine on the big screen! Thankyou Vera Ellen for being a part of our family tradition, and many others, every Christmas season!!!

Saw White Christmas again a few days ago which always brings a tear to the eye seeing how beautiful and brilliant she was with such a sad time to come. I watch White Christmas every year without fail about a week before Christmas.

Have been for about 40 years. Never knew Vera had such problems because she is such a wonderful part of the show and does not display any issues at all. Will continue to watch it every year until I am gone.

Thanks Vera for many enjoyable memories. After reading this blog last nite, I looked at a ton of images for her. If she had cancer, who knows for how long, that takes a toll on ones looks, especially if she got treatment for it, which I would think she did. Happy Holidays! To everyone here i'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas this Christmas Eve from Newfoundland ,Canada and I know you are all doing what i'm doing right now enjoying White Christmas on the Tv sipping some egg nogg or maybe something else.

Enjoy and god bless. Yay Newfoundland! I love this movie, I watch it every year. I think Ms. Vera-Ellen had the most perfect figure. Standards are different today than they were back in her day.

The average woman in was 5ft2, lbs, 36B Today, the average woman is 5ft4, 38DD Of course to our modern eyes she seems tiny. I'll bet back in the day she was seen as smaller than average but not frighteningly so. I have watched Vera Ellen on many occasions. She was a wonderful dancer and a delightful, energetic screen luminary.

Have a great Christmas. Last night, watching White Christmas I could not help notice her excessive thinness. Her legs were shapely but emaciated and her waist synched in below her ribcage seems painfully thin.

I googled her to see if she had suffered from anorexia because even for a dancer being a former dancer myself , her proportions seemed unusually thin. Why do people imagine that somehow an illness like anorexia is a blot or stain that diminishes a very exceptional talented, star like Vera?

The human species produces exceptional people who often suffer from various health concerns. We look at what these people accomplish and try to educate ourselves about health issues, such as anorexia. Denying a diagnosis on the basis that it diminishes the sufferer or attacking anyone who raises the subject perpetuates misunderstanding and stigmatizing major illnesses particularly mental illness. A mental illness such as anorexia should no more affect our view of Vera and her achievements than a diagnosis of heart disease or diabetes.

Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby died of heart attacks. Yet our views of their performances are not in any way affected by this information. Does Rosemary Clooney's bi-polar disorder change that she gave a great performance in White Christmas?

Not in the least. Vera remains a great performer whether or not she suffered from anorexia. She lived at a time when little was known about this disorder. One can understand the pressure in Hollywood to be thin. Many stars such as Judy Garland were given diet pills and even speed to control their weight. Perhaps, we will never know whether she suffered from anorexia however, it's immaterial to enjoying her performances. If she was ill it is only her own business! Even then, I could see her talent and feel her energy as she twirled and leapt across the screen.

With every viewing of that movie, I find myself in awe of her performance. The fact that Ms. Ellen did just that is, in my opinion, a true testament to her massive talent.

Personally, I consider Ms. I always assumed that her high necklines throughout the movie were based on the styling concept of only flaunting one body part at a time. In that case, showing a lot of leg calls for covering the rest of the body, for balance as well as modesty. And maybe part of it was personal preference, because I believe every woman feels self-conscious of at least one part of her body.

Perhaps for Ms. Ellen it was her neck, and if it was, then she had her reasons. Regardless, I think she looked breathtaking throughout the entire film! Considering the sheer physicality of her dancing, I understand how she would have lost weight throughout the filming of this movie, so I think there are many factors that require consideration rather than speculation or accusation.

Instead, I choose to focus on Vera Ellen as a brilliant entertainer and nothing less than a force of nature on the dance floor. When she danced, it was obvious there was nowhere else that she would rather be — and I am so grateful that she shared her passion and her immeasurable talents with the world!

Thanks for letting me voice my opinion, and happy new year! I didn't think White Christmas was shown on television at that time. Why is anorexia different? Vera Ellen's achievements are if anything even more remarkable given the debiliating effects of anorexia.

In the world of dancers, anorexia is nothing new. So many sufferers like Evelyn Hart deny that they have a problem yet accomplish tremendous things. If anything, we should celebrate a remarkable woman. One with not only talent but phenominal strength of character and courage.

A person who makes the world a better place for their being in it. In the past on a small screen, Rosemary Clooney seemed frumpy compared to slim Vera. It was the first time I noticed Vera's emmaciated thighs. I recently went to a party where a friend of mine told me she was anorexic. We're very fortunate as a society that we can discuss such sensitive subjects without judging.

It's easy to tell someone that they should love their body but many people are raised with an idea that they have to be perfect to be acceptable. If we cannot as a society discuss such subjects, how can we help people to move past these models of perfection. It has not been established that Vera-Ellen even had anorexia.

It's all from the rumor mill! You overweight women can say all you want but I'll tell you this. I'm an attractive well built man in my 30's with a six figure income and my own house with no debts and I would lick her legs and body from head to toe. Vera Ellen is gorgeous. Call her anorexic, I don't care. If she were around today, I would be going after her and her alone.

That's the truth, ladies. Deal with it. She's so sexy, Wow. The reason I looked her up, other than the fact she was so talented and beautiful, is that I noticed, in addition to covering her neck, she always wore sleeves. I had a friend who lost lots of weight due to having mono, and wore sleeves to cover her skinny arms.

It is so sad that she lost her child. Thank you for your insight into her life. Why do you assume every woman who thinks Vera Ellen may have been anorexic is overweight?

Also remember the camera adds 10 pounds. I think she looks alarming and I'm accused of being too skinny! I agree Patty C, just because some people believe she may have had anorexia does not mean they are overweight themselves.

Look at her knuckles- arthritis for sure. Probably a lot of pain from that. I have just watched Vera-Ellen in "White Christmas". I loved her performance. It is easier to recognize when one has experienced it themselves. Pamela again, two other thoughts, I did read that her mother told her she needed to stay thin to be a dancer. When Parents talk to children it is taken wrong with some.

I saw this in eating disorder hospital, family therapy, etc. Now people don't care if the whole breast falls out I love watching Vera. I don't know if she had a eating disorder. But if you are a dancer or take dance classes I did for 8 years 4 days a week your body is much leaner, firmer and muscular. Even I would lose weight under These circumstances, for an already slim, healthy person, it makes sense that they would lose weight!

They didn't have shakes and bars for quick meals! Again, who ever started the Anorexia thing should rethink the Diagnosis and look at the whole picture. Also, people who dance for a living Or other Body involved careers are obsessed with what they look like and sometimes might Go overboard She had way too much energy to be anorexic! Lots of dancers that train for hours every day are as slim as she was. Everybody is for that matter but she really shines.

As far as often dubbing her singing voice goes maybe her voice wasn't as great as her dancing? Our family loves White Christmas and our copy has a interview with Rosemary at the end of the movie and she says herself, that she could sing but not dance and Vera could dance, but not sing.

The studio dubbed Veras voice. I do see someone commented that theyve seen Vera singing and I'll have to check that out somewhere on YouTube.

Both were unbelievably talented women! Wish they still made them like that! Serveral brought up anorexia its been discounted many times nothing but a rumor. She never received the recognition she deserved.. Let's remember her as a great dancer and nothing less..

How many of you actually lived in the 40s? I did. It was common to have a tiny waist and be thin. Eating was not a hobby or a past time. Snacks did not exist except for potato chips and pretzels. Often these items were homemade as a treat.

Pop or soda was not common to consume daily. It was a treat as well. Everyone I knew was thin. None of us were anorexic. We are so thankful and grateful to have "White Christmas" as a part of our family tradition. It would not be Christmas with out it. Every year I watch it, I get inspired and spell bound by Vera. She in an incredibly tallent and there is no other like her. She fascinates me when I see her dance and I get up and start dancing too.

Every year I think "How does she do that? I have always wondered what inspired her to dance. There are a lot of cold facts and speculations about Vera. I wonder if she knew how much she was loved and how she was a part of family traditions and the inspiration she brought.

I am really thankful to have seen her and have her be a part of history that I can share with others. She was a Silver Screen Treasure and we are so lucky to have had her to watch every year and to celebrate Christmas with. Thank you Vera-Ellen! As a young adult with my own family, we would often watch "White Christmas" during the yule season at my mom's. She would always comment that Vera-Ellen could have been my mom. Apparently, my dad before marrying my mom had something going on with Vera-Ellen.

After my mom died, I was going through some old letters and I found several from Vera-Ellen to my father. I have a feeling that there may have been a effort to "support the troops" through Hollywood celebs.

The celebs or someone acting on their behalf would correspond with members of the army. Other famous alumni include Doris Day and Tyrone Power. Harry Hessler and his wife operated the dancing school until sometime in the s. The historic building is a residential home today. Rosemary was from Maysville, Kentucky, located about an hour southeast of Cincy. As a teenager in the s, she won as one of the weekly performers on the national radio program Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

On the set of White Christmas. Her singing voice was usually dubbed including her numbers in White Christmas. She retired from performing at age 38 after appearing on television in The Dinah Shore Show in While married to her second husband, millionaire Victor Rothschild, Vera-Ellen gave birth to her only child in After her divorce from Rothschild in , Vera-Ellen kept a very low public profile. She allegedly gave a couple of interviews, one in the late s and one shortly before her death.

Vera-Ellen Westmeier Rohe died at age 60 in from ovarian cancer. She even saw the hyphen in her dream. Labels: rick29 author , seven things to know , vera-ellen. Bill O October 12, at AM. Rick29 October 12, at AM. Jeff Flugel October 14, at AM. ClassicBecky October 14, at PM.

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