Virginia Gibson (born Virginia Gorski; April 9, 1925 – April 25, 2013) was an American dancer, singer and actress of film, television and musical theater.[1]
Virginia Gibson | |
|---|---|
 Gibson in 1967 | |
| Born | Virginia Gorski April 9, 1925 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 2013 (aged 88) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1937–1971 |
Early years
editGibson was born on April 9, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was of Polish and Irish lineage[2] and graduated from St. Alphonsus Parochial School.[3]
Career
editGibson started her career in musicals in her hometown of St. Louis. In 1937, she was one of 35 girls chosen for the St. Louis Opera Company's ballet productions.[4] She danced in the chorus of a production of The Student Prince there in 1940,[5] and in 1943 she was part of the dancing chorus of the summer season of the Muny Opera.[6] In the fall of 1943, she was one of three dancers from that group to sign contracts to perform in Roll Up Your Sleeves on Broadway.[7] She used her birth name on Broadway through 1949.[8] In 1947, she returned to perform at the Muny Opera as the star of No, No, Nanette.[3]
Gibson was signed by Warner Bros. in 1950[9] and made her film debut in Tea for Two (1950).[10] Billed as a starlet, she was a member of a group of Hollywood actors who traveled across the country in 1951-1952 promoting the 50th anniversary of movie theaters. With Roscoe Ates and Charles Starrett, she toured eastern Oklahoma greeting the public. In Hollywood, she played supporting or leading roles in a number of Warner Bros. musicals. Her most famous film role was Liza in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).[11] Warner Bros. elected to not renew her contract option. Gibson later said: "There are just so many musicals, and they had Doris Day. And who can shine in comparison to her vivacity?"[9]
On television, Gibson was a regular on Captain Billy's Showboat (1948).[12] She also starred in So This Is Hollywood (1955).[12]: 987 She was a regular performer on The Johnny Carson Show (1955–56).[12]: 540 In 1956, she returned to Broadway to play Ethel Merman's daughter in the musical Happy Hunting. She then became one of the stars of Your Hit Parade,[12]: 1209 one of the most popular TV shows of the 1950s, for one season. She had a three-month stint as a jazz singer on the TV version of Young Doctor Malone. From 1962 to 1971, she cohosted (with Frank Buxton[2] and later Bill Owen) the ABC-TV children's documentary program Discovery.[2]
Gibson also appeared in commercials for a cake mixes, cameras, candy bars, detergents and various soap products, hair sprays and paper towels.[13]
When her performing career ended, Gibson taught at the HB Studio in New York.[8]
Personal life
editGibson never married or had any children. She adhered to Roman Catholicism[14] and was a lifelong Republican who supported Dwight Eisenhower during the 1952 presidential election.[15]
Death
editOn April 25, 2013, Gibson died in Newtown, Pennsylvania[16] at the age of 88.
Awards
editIn 1957, Gibson was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Beth Livingstone in Happy Hunting.[17]
Theatrical appearances
edit- A Connecticut Yankee (Dancing Girl), 1943–44, Martin Beck Theater, New York
- Laffing Room Only (Dancer). 1944-45, Winter Garden Theater, New York
- Billion Dollar Baby (Chorine, Dancer), 1945–46, Alvin Theater, New York
- No, No, Nanette (Nanette), 1947, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- Babes in Toyland (Jill), 1947, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- High Button Shoes (corps de ballet), 1947, New Century Theatre, New York
- Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'! (Snow White), 1948, Adelphi Theatre, New York
- Along Fifth Avenue (Singer, dancer), 1949, Broadhurst Theatre, New York
- Bitter Sweet (Dolly), 1949, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- Bloomer Girl (Daisy), 1949, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- Irene (Helen), 1949, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- The Vagabond King (Lady Mary), 1949, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- The New Moon (Julie), 1949, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- Whoopee! (Harriet Underwood), 1950, St. Louis Municipal Opera
- The Great Waltz (lead dancer) 1953, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and San Francisco Light Opera
- Happy Hunting (Beth Livingstone), 1956–57, Majestic Theatre, New York
Filmography
edit- Tea for Two, Warner Bros., 1950
- Painting the Clouds With Sunshine, Warner Bros., 1951
- Goodbye, My Fancy, Warner Bros., 1951
- The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, Warner Bros., 1952 (uncredited)
- About Face, Warner Bros., 1952
- Stop, You're Killing Me, Warner Bros., 1952
- She's Back on Broadway, Warner Bros., 1953
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, MGM, 1954
- Athena, MGM, 1954
- I Killed Wild Bill Hickok, The Wheeler Company, 1956
- Once Upon a Honeymoon (Short), Jerry Fairbanks Productions, 1956
- Funny Face, Paramount Pictures, 1957
References
edit- ^ "VIRGINIA GIBSON Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved May 2, 2013. http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=90603
- ^ a b c Harris, Harry (July 7, 1963). "Virginia Gibson Profits From 'Sweet Young Thing' Image". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. p. Programs and Personalities p 2. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Chorus Girl In '43 Coming Back As Muny Opera Star". The St. Louis Star and Times. Missouri, St. Louis. May 13, 1947. p. 12. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "35 Ballet Girls Chosen for St. Louis Operas". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. October 11, 1937. p. 21. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dancing Chorus in 'The Student Prince'". The St. Louis Star and Times. Missouri, St. Louis. October 21, 1940. p. 15. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "These Complete the Dancing Chorus". The St. Louis Star and Times. Missouri, St. Louis. May 12, 1943. p. 17. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kid Regan's Column". The St. Louis Star and Times. Missouri, St. Louis. October 13, 1943. p. 19. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Virginia Gibson". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Standish, Myles (July 27, 1958). "Pert Gibson Girl -- Virgniia, That Is". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. p. 4 G. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kimbrough, Mary (January 8, 1952). "A Fan Letter From Joan Crawford". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. p. 3 C. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Virginia Gibson: Singer, actress and dancer who starred in hit". The Independent. May 20, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ "Virginia Gibson's Image". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. July 7, 1963. p. Programs and Personalities p 4. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2).
- ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, pg. 34, Ideal Publishers.
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2014). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2013. McFarland. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7864-7665-7. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ "("Virginia Gibson" search results)". Tony Awards. American Theatre Wing. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.