Betty's Final Days

In 1972, she accepted an invitation to present at the Academy Awards along with her old friend Dick Haymes. They opened the envelope for Best Musical Score. It was during the presentation that she became aware of a strange feeling in her chest. On her way to the airport after leaving the awards, she experienced trouble breathing. She was rushed off to St. John's Hospital in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had extensive treatments, and after she decided to go back to work.

She opened up Born Yesterday on January 24, 1973 at the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. What should have been a short term run proved to be longer. The show ran until mid-March. She accepted a booking in Tampa, but had reoccurring pains and was re-hospitalized. The cancer had moved. Following her surgery, she was able to spend some time in her Las Vegas home, but she deteriorated rapidly and was re-admitted to St. John's. At 5:15pm on July 3, 1973 Betty Grable passed away without celebrating the Fourth of July as she had hoped for.

Her funeral was held the following day in Beverly Hills. The chapel was filled with red carnations, Betty's favorite flower. During the service, many noted the organist played I Had The Craziest Dream.

As relayed in the book by Doug Warren, several weeks after Betty's death her daughter Jessie visited her mother's safety deposit box. At the very bottom lay an envelope containing a note in Betty's handwriting that read "Sorry, there's nothing more."

Aside from her well-known legs, Betty Grable was a star who would not only become one of the major cultural icons of the 1940s, but would also remain fondly remembered by fans and co-stars alike.