Music: Dizzy-Making

Kay Thompson had been writing music for Hollywood musicals for years, and auditioning her own songs. M-G-M Producer Arthur Freed would say: "Kay, you sang that great. You are terrific. Now, who will we get to sing it?" No candy-box beauty, lean, angular Kay Thompson was simply one of the well-paid but subsidiary hirelings that some Hollywoodians call "movie trash." Last week, movie trash had become nightclub treasure.

In the polar calm of Hollywood's Ciro's, whose audiences are notoriously cool to anyone who isn't yet fashionable in Manhattan, Kay Thompson was packing them...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!