2/28/2012:
North Dakota’s historically small population has nonetheless, been the home of many nationally known entertainers and performers. When 87-year-old Hollywood actress Jane Russell died on this date in 2011, many citizens were unaware of her North Dakota roots.
Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born in Bemidji, Minnesota in 1921 to native North Dakotans, Gustav and Geraldine Rhienhold. Her great grandfather was an 1882 postmaster in Manvel, Grand Forks County, and her mother grew up in Grand Forks. In a 2002 interview she recalled spending time with her cousins in Grand Forks when she was about 10.
Her father was retired from the military, and her mother performed with a traveling troupe of players. When the family moved from Grand Forks to California, Jane followed her mother’s path, studying acting and piano. After high school, she modeled and took acting lessons at Reinhardt’s Theatrical Workshop. Following graduation she studied modeling and embarked on acting lessons at a theatrical workshop. She soon caught the attention of Hollywood and movies.
Her Hollywood highlight may have been when she co-starred with Marilyn Monroe in the 1955 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes followed by a sequel of sorts, sans-Monroe, in Gentlemen Marry Brunettes.
But it was a Howard Hughes movie that launched her to public attention in the early 40s. As a movie star, Jane Russell was often referred to as a brunette “Bombshell” for her voluptuous figure. That image was originally promoted by millionaire Howard Hughes for his 1943 Western movie, The Outlaw, where Miss Russell’s plunging neckline caused a celebrated stir that was far more memorable than the Billy the Kid-based film.
The original marketing for The Outlaw highlighting her bust size, was exploitive, risqué and notorious for its day. But in the grand tradition of publicity, the blandly reviewed movie helped make Jane Russell a star and favorite of pin-ups and movie magazines.
She took advantage of her full-figured image later in life as spokes model in a popular series of television and magazine advertisements for Playtex brassieres. She was good natured about her image even as her popularity diminished and good roles became hard to come by. She did, however appear on television and even took a starring role on Broadway in 1971.
In her later years she was active in various charities and work inspired by the public profession of her Christian faith. Her films, especially the musicals, are still entertaining and fun examples of Hollywood tastes in the mid-20 century.
Dakota Datebook written by Steve Stark
Sources:
http://www.grandforksherald.com
www.hollywoodreporter.com
www. ndnb.com
www.walkoffame.com