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.
Jane on the Town in Color
Year of Jane Russell: Day 68
This is one of my absolute favorite photos of Jane which is scanned from a Kodachrome slide that I own. It’s from the early 1940s and I used it in the book, though it’ll be printed in black and white so I’m pleased to be able to share the color version here.
Jane Sells War Bonds at I. Magnin
Year of Jane Russell: Day 67
I didn’t end up using it in the book, but this image of Jane promoting war bonds sales at the I. Magnin on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles is a personal favorite.
V For Victory
Year of Jane Russell: Day 66
Jane was 20 years old when this photo of her wearing a men’s sports coat was snapped in August 1941. The copywriter seemed to be low on info when describing the V-neck as standing for “victory,” and the coat being the latest beachwear fashion.
Jane Visits Camp Roberts
Year of Jane Russell: Day 65
In April 1941, Jane visited Camp Roberts for an Army Day Celebration that included an NBC radio broadcast. I love this snapshot of her during the visit and used it in the book.
Jane Visits March Field
Year of Jane Russell: Day 64
As the U.S. was bracing itself for war, Jane served as a morale booster for service members by making personal appearances. Here’s a snapshot of her in June of 1941 while visiting March Field in Riverside.
Jane the “Keep ‘Em Flying Girl”
Year of Jane Russell: Day 63
Jane’s popularity with military members resulted in her being bequeathed with many titles. In September of 1941, she visited the U.S. Naval Reserve Aviation Base at Long Beach where she was honored as the “Keep ‘Em Flying Girl.” Here, she is shown with fellow actor Wayne Morris who was serving as a recruiting officer at the time.