INTRODUCTION

HER STORY

QUOTES

When she came to MGM she was quite heavy and special foundation garments had to be designed for her, but she soon lost weight and achieved an almost perfect figure. In the process, however, her face became emaciated and studio designer Adrian had to compensate for this with hats and collars that made it appear broader.

She was a perfectionist in her work and personally - she would never go out until she looked her best so as not to disappoint her public.

Louis B. Mayer wanted a well-known leading man to star opposite Jeanette in "Naughty Marietta."  However, she had heard Nelson Eddy in concert and refused to do the film without him. That film saw the birth of America's Singing Sweethearts - the most successful singing team in the history of movies.

According to the book "Sweethearts" MacDonald and Eddy were lovers on and off from 1935 until her death in 1965.

"Rose Marie" was originally set for opera singer Grace Moore who backed out at the last minute and Jeanette got the role that was originated in 1928 by Joan Crawford.

In 1936 MacDonald and Eddy recorded "Indian Love Call" for RCA Victor - an instant success and best seller that remained on RCA Victors list of 50 best sellers for over eight years.

Rumour has it she was pregnant by Eddy three times and that she had two abortions and one miscarriage.

She entered her hand and footprints at Sid Grauman's Chinese Theater on 4 December 1934 with the inscription Continued Success Sid.

She was the youngest of three sisters.  Her sisters Elsie and Blossom were both musical but never achieved Jeanette's success.

Her first screen test was with another newcomer by the name of Archibald Leach who later would change his name to Cary Grant.

In 1931 rumors circulated in Great Britian and Europe that she had been killed in an automobile accident so she sailed to London and Paris to do concerts to dispel those rumors.

Jeanette's wedding gown was designed by costume designer Adrian.  It was a gown of flesh-pink organza over matching taffeta with leg-of-mutton sleeves and a high-neck collar trimmed with lace and a tiny spray of roses.  As she walked down the candlelit aisle alone, she carried a single rose and a pink satin prayer book.

In 1939 Jeanette was crowned "Queen of Hollywood" by a nationwide poll while the reigning King that year was Tyrone Power.

In May 1943 she made her Grand Opera Debut at His Majesty's Theater in Montreal, Canada singing the role of Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet."

Jeanette was a favorite of President Eisenhower and sang at the White House in November 1954.

In 1956 Jeanette did "The King and I" on stage and wanted badly to do the movie role but Deborah Kerr was chosen instead as Jeanette was now considered too old for movies.

Pall-bearers at her funeral included Presidents Eisenhower and Truman, Spencer Tracy, Ronald Reagan and her long time love Nelson Eddy.

Jeanette started out in show business with her sister Blossom who took her along to the theater where they both had a dance act.  Blossom later became a character actress under the name of Blossom Rock.

Her re-make of "Smilin Through" (only film together with husband Gene Raymond) was released on 7 December 1941, the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbor.

On 12 November 1952 Jeanette was surprised by Ralph Edwards on his televison show "This is your Life".

She was supposed to do the Broadway musical "Sunset Boulevard" in 1965.  However, a series of minor heart attacks made it impossible.

Her last professional appearance was with her husband, Gene Raymond, in a Canadian TV Program in June 1963.

In 1933 she did a second concert in Europe and it was in Belgium that she first met L.B. Mayer.

Mayer was enchanted with her and offered her a contract at MGM the most prestigious studio at the time. His main inducements to her were a large salary and the great Adrian as her costume designer.

She became a popular movie star overnight for Paramount Pictures in 1929 when she made the film "The Love Parade" with Maurice Chevalier (his first film).

Chevalier and MacDonald hated each other as she rebuffed his advances and he thought her a prude.