Product Description

She was born Virginia Katherine McMath, but the world would come to know her—and love her—as Ginger Rogers: Broadway star, Academy Award-winning actress, and the ultimate on-screen dancing partner of the inimitable Fred Astaire. In Ginger: My Story, the legendary entertainer shares the triumphs of a remarkable career that began when she won a Texas dancing contest at age fourteen; the joys and heartbreaks of her five marriages; her relationships with some of Hollywood's major leading men, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and damaged daredevil billionaire Howard Hughes; and the strength of her religious convictions that got her through thick and thin.

Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs from the author's personal collection, Ginger is an enthralling, behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood life during the Golden Age of movies by one of its most enduring stars.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89757 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-01
• Released on: 2008-08-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780061564703
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
Winning a dance contest in Texas launched the 14-year-old Virginia Katherine McMath on her acting career and eventful personal life, episodes, emotions and dialogue from which she recreates here in exhaustive detail. Now 79, this devout Christian Scientist recalls her early vaudeville days in a determinedly upbeat tone, as well as her stage and film hits, including the 10 musicals-- Top Hat , Swing Time , etc.--in which she and Fred Astaire co-starred. Also discussed is Rogers's Oscar-winning Kitty Foyle and acclaimed roles in Hello Dolly and Mame . The author brightens an uninspired narrative style with backstage and Hollywood anecdotes and names, and tells of her five husbands--and of her romances with the likes of Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Howard Hughes. She also encountered political figures--from U.S. presidents to the shah of Iran and Juan Peron. Recommended for fans who cherish every scrap of trivia about their idol. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Rogers is a consummate storyteller in addition to being an entertainment legend. In this autobiography, she chronicles her rise to stardom and describes her various dramatic and musical film roles. She also reviews her five marriages and various romances, while charmingly setting the record straight on her partnership with Fred Astaire. Although candid in her revelations, she respects the people and events that touched her--there is no tabloid gossip here. The positive influence of her mother, Lela, and open testimony to a deep religious faith figure strongly in her life's story, which is rich in detail and humor. Rogers shines through as a vivacious, talented, and self-confident individual with an earthy response to her amazing career. This delightful chronicle of 50 years in entertainment is refined, well-written fun. Recommended for circulating libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/91.
- Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Serviceable autobiography of the dancer-comedienne-leading lady, now 80. Rogers does an always absorbing job of recreating her legendary career without ever quite capturing the voice we all remember from her films. As a young comedienne, she often gave a mischievous, sassy edge to her roles, coming on fast and smart. The woman who writes this book, however, has been a nondrinking, largely nonsmoking Christian Scientist all her adult life--not the opinionated, raspy personality the ``Ginger'' implies. Rogers has been the victim of husbands given to partying, drink, and philandering rather than a woman chasing her own satisfactions. Born Virginia McMath in Independence, Missouri, she was stage- struck early, winning dance contests and then joining the vaudeville circuits at 14; luckily, she had a wise mother who guided her professionally for much of her life while allowing Rogers to make her own mistakes romantically. They parted company briefly when, at 17, Rogers married Jack Culpepper, 29, who turned out to be a drunk. At 19, the performer was the toast of Broadway, starring in Florenz Ziegfeld's production of George and Ira Gershwin's Girl Crazy and off on a rocket that took her through 19 films before Flying Down to Rio teamed her with Fred Astaire. She doesn't mention her wit for stealing scenes in those earlier films but makes clear that she was an accomplished artist with strong film presence even before her teaming with Astaire. Rogers describes the making of each of the team's musicals, her hard times with director Mark Sandrich (Top Hat), love for George Stevens (Swing Time, her favorite--but really not the team's best film, which is Roberta). Marriage to her idol Lew Ayres dissolved after six years, an on-and-off romance with Cary Grant fizzled. Keeps you rapt, mostly. High point: the Oscar for Kitty Foyle. (Black-and-white photographs--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

One of the Best Books I've Ever Read
I am a great fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. When I learned that she had written an autobiography, I wanted to read it right away. This book was so good and informative, that I read all 450 pages within a few days. In her book, she talks about her childhood, her devotion to her mother, Lela, her stage career, her romances, and her movie career. I reccomend this book to any Ginger Rogers or Astaire and Rogers fan.

Ginger's memoir is truly a delight!
According to one writer and critic 'Ginger my story' was greeted with 'critical yawns' upon it's publication in 1991. Personally I couldn't disagree more. Reading this book was a truly heartwarming experience from beggining to end. Ginger writes candidly about her upbringing, her early experiences on the vaudeville circuit, her hollywood film career (including the pitfalls of being a woman in Hollywood) and the sad story of her five marriages which all ended in divorce. Ginger tells delightful anecdotes about her encounters with other famous folk - George Gershwin, FDR, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Noel Coward, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra etc. It is wonderful to know how devoted she was to her mother Lela (to whom the book is dedicated) and the chapter where she describes how she coped with Lela's death is truly poignant. The most interesting parts for me was where she describes how christian science had helped her through life and how she had had used it to help others (she cured her third husband of warts and her fourth husband of boils!). I did feel quite sad though reading this knowing that Ginger was no longer with us (it's a shame she couldn't have used christian science to save herself from diabetes;she died from the disease in April 1995) for I would surely have written to her congratulating her for having written such a wonderful memoir.

A book I'll always remember
Not being an avid "autobiography" reader, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can honestly say that even if you aren't a reader you will like this book. It has surprises out of nowhere & it's enjoyable.

I'd recommend this book to anyone.