Posts in Category: Collection Spotlight

Premiere Couple

Year of Jane Russell: Day 78

Robert Waterfield was cool to Jane’s film career when she was first cast in The Outlaw, but later came around and would accompany her to Hollywood events.

Jane & Robert – the Russ-field Years

Year of Jane Russell: Day 77

After Robert Waterfield retired from football, he and Jane started their own production company called Russ-field. This photo, from that period, is probably my favorite of the couple.

Jane & Robert in the Screening Room

Year of Jane Russell: Day 76

In 1945, Howard Hughes allowed Jane to be loaned out to star in Hunt Stromberg’s Young Widow. Here. Jane and Robert Waterfield view the film, though he seems more amused by it than Jane!

Back in Van Nuys

Year of Jane Russell: Day 75

After the 1945 football season, the Cleveland Rams relocated to Los Angeles, which meant Jane and Robert Waterfield were able to return home. Initially, they moved into his mom’s house in Van Nuys, which is where they are shown here.

Jane and Robert in Cleveland

Year of Jane Russell: Day 74

After being discharged from the Army, Robert Waterfield went back to UCLA’s football team. Upon graduating, he was drafted by the Cleveland Rams where he quickly led them to a championship title in 1945. Jane’s film career was in Howard Hughes-induced limbo, so she moved to Cleveland with her husband where they resided in a small apartment.

Wartime Couple

Year of Jane Russell: Day 73

Shortly after getting married, Robert Waterfield reported to Fort Benning, Georgia for infantry training. Jane soon followed, and relocated to Columbus, GA. Waterfield played football and basketball for the 176th Infantry teams, and was discharged after injuring his knee. Here’s Jane, tending to the injury. 

Jane & Robert Elope

Year of Jane Russell: Day 72

Jane and Robert Waterfield dated on and off for around four years and were married in Las Vegas in April 1943. Here’s the couple after they returned to the Valley following the elopement.

Jane and Bob

Year of Jane Russell: Day 71

Jane’s first husband, Robert Staton Waterfield was born in 1920 in New York, but moved to Van Nuys at a young age. He played football for UCLA and would go on to have phenomenal career as the quarterback for the Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams.

Meet Robert Waterfield

Year of Jane Russell: Day 70

Jane and Robert Waterfield met when both were attending Van Nuys High School, but they did not start dating until Jane’s senior year, which was two years after he graduated. Here’s the pair around the time they eloped in 1943.

Jane Supports Her City Slicker

Year of Jane Russell: Day 69

Here’s Jane in 1945 with Peter Lawford and Ann Rutherford at an amateur basketball game between Spike Jones’ City Slickers and the Birmingham Hospital team. Next to Jane with number 77 on his sleeve is husband Bob Waterfield who was playing for the City Slickers. We’ll learn more about him starting tomorrow.