Marion Hutton
Encyclopedia
Marion Hutton was a United States
singer and actress.
, their father abandoned their family when they were both young: he later committed suicide
. Their mother worked a variety of jobs to support the family until she became a successful bootlegger
. Both sisters sang with the Vincent Lopez Orchestra
.
and was invited to join the Glenn Miller Orchestra
in 1938. "I was only seventeen then [...] and so Glenn and Helen [Miller] became my legal guardians. He was like a father because I never had a father I remembered." Hutton was not allowed to sing in the nightclubs due to the fact she was underage. Glenn Miller and his wife Helen Burger Miller signed papers to officially declare themselves foster parents in order to serve as Hutton’s charperone in the nightclubs which allowed her access in these venues. Marion Hutton considered herself more an entertainer than a singer. Hutton remained an important part of the Miller band. She remained with Miller on and off until the orchestra disbanded in 1942.
Jeanine Basinger
, a film historian and professor at the University of Connecticut, refers to Marion Hutton in her chapter on Marion's younger sister, actress and singer Betty Hutton
in the 2007 book The Star Machine. Basinger feels that in the early forties, Marion was more popular than her sister Betty. Marion Hutton had a small role in the film Orchestra Wives
(1942; Twentieth Century Fox), in which the Glenn Miller Orchestra starred. After Glenn Miller joined the Army
in 1942, she went with fellow Miller alumnus Tex Beneke
and the Modernaires on a theater tour. The next important event in her entertainment career was a role in In Society with Abbott and Costello
in the mid-1940s. Marion Hutton appeared with the Desi Arnaz
orchestra in October 1947 at the Radio City Theatre in Minneapolis. As the 1940s wound down, so did Marion's career. Her last film role was in 1949, acting in the Marx Brothers
' Love Happy
. Looking back on her first marriage, in 1974 she told George T. Simon, "[W]hat I wanted most of all was to be a wife and mother. I had no drive for a career."
television producer Jack Philbin in 1940. She and Philbin had two sons, John and Phillip. Her next marriage, to writer Jack Douglas, produced a third son, Peter. Marion Hutton's last marriage was in 1954 to Vic Schoen
, an arranger for the Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby
, among other artists in the 1940s.
In 1981 with increasing financial problems Marion Hutton and her husband Vic Schoen
moved from Irvine, CA to Kirkland, WA
(a suburb of Seattle) and founded Residence XII, a drug addiction center to help alcoholics and addicts. She was the executive director. Schoen
and Hutton performed many fund raisers for this addiction center. Hutton and Schoen
had both struggled with alcoholism
and in the 1970s both were finally able to quit drinking and joined AA
. They attended meetings regularly until the late 1980s and helped many struggling alcoholics by recounting their anecdotes and life lessons they had learned throughout the years. Schoen
arranged music for Glenn Miller
Remembered, a PBS production video taped in Seattle, 1984, starring Tex Beneke
and Marion Hutton.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and actress.
Biography
Born as Marion Thornburg, the elder sister of actress Betty HuttonBetty Hutton
Betty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedienne and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg, daughter of a railroad foreman, Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum . While she was very young, her father abandoned the family for...
, their father abandoned their family when they were both young: he later committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Their mother worked a variety of jobs to support the family until she became a successful bootlegger
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
. Both sisters sang with the Vincent Lopez Orchestra
Vincent Lopez
Vincent Lopez was an American bandleader and pianist.Vincent Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York and was leading his own dance band in New York City by 1917...
.
Early career
Marion Hutton was discovered by Glenn MillerGlenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
and was invited to join the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony...
in 1938. "I was only seventeen then [...] and so Glenn and Helen [Miller] became my legal guardians. He was like a father because I never had a father I remembered." Hutton was not allowed to sing in the nightclubs due to the fact she was underage. Glenn Miller and his wife Helen Burger Miller signed papers to officially declare themselves foster parents in order to serve as Hutton’s charperone in the nightclubs which allowed her access in these venues. Marion Hutton considered herself more an entertainer than a singer. Hutton remained an important part of the Miller band. She remained with Miller on and off until the orchestra disbanded in 1942.
Jeanine Basinger
Jeanine Basinger
Jeanine Basinger , a film historian, is Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies and Founder and Curator of The Cinema Archives at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut....
, a film historian and professor at the University of Connecticut, refers to Marion Hutton in her chapter on Marion's younger sister, actress and singer Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedienne and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg, daughter of a railroad foreman, Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum . While she was very young, her father abandoned the family for...
in the 2007 book The Star Machine. Basinger feels that in the early forties, Marion was more popular than her sister Betty. Marion Hutton had a small role in the film Orchestra Wives
Orchestra Wives
Orchestra Wives is a 1942 American musical film by 20th Century Fox starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, and Glenn Miller. The film was the second and last film to feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is notable among the many swing era musicals because its plot is more serious and...
(1942; Twentieth Century Fox), in which the Glenn Miller Orchestra starred. After Glenn Miller joined the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1942, she went with fellow Miller alumnus Tex Beneke
Tex Beneke
Gordon Lee Beneke , professionally known as Tex Beneke, was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. His band is also associated with the careers of Eydie Gorme...
and the Modernaires on a theater tour. The next important event in her entertainment career was a role in In Society with Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
in the mid-1940s. Marion Hutton appeared with the Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...
orchestra in October 1947 at the Radio City Theatre in Minneapolis. As the 1940s wound down, so did Marion's career. Her last film role was in 1949, acting in the Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
' Love Happy
Love Happy
Love Happy was the 14th and last starring feature for the Marx Brothers. The film stars Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and, in a smaller role than usual, Groucho Marx, plus Ilona Massey, Vera-Ellen, Paul Valentine, Marion Hutton, Raymond Burr, Bruce Gordon , and Eric Blore, with a walk-on by Marilyn Monroe...
. Looking back on her first marriage, in 1974 she told George T. Simon, "[W]hat I wanted most of all was to be a wife and mother. I had no drive for a career."
Marriages
Hutton was married three times. She married publicist and future Jackie GleasonJackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
television producer Jack Philbin in 1940. She and Philbin had two sons, John and Phillip. Her next marriage, to writer Jack Douglas, produced a third son, Peter. Marion Hutton's last marriage was in 1954 to Vic Schoen
Vic Schoen
Victor "Vic" Schoen was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000...
, an arranger for the Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, among other artists in the 1940s.
Later years
In 1965 according to the New York Times, Marion Hutton sought treatment for various addictions. Hutton went back to school in her late fifties. She received two psychology degrees and found work at a local hospital.In 1981 with increasing financial problems Marion Hutton and her husband Vic Schoen
Vic Schoen
Victor "Vic" Schoen was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000...
moved from Irvine, CA to Kirkland, WA
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
(a suburb of Seattle) and founded Residence XII, a drug addiction center to help alcoholics and addicts. She was the executive director. Schoen
Vic Schoen
Victor "Vic" Schoen was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000...
and Hutton performed many fund raisers for this addiction center. Hutton and Schoen
Vic Schoen
Victor "Vic" Schoen was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000...
had both struggled with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and in the 1970s both were finally able to quit drinking and joined AA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
. They attended meetings regularly until the late 1980s and helped many struggling alcoholics by recounting their anecdotes and life lessons they had learned throughout the years. Schoen
Vic Schoen
Victor "Vic" Schoen was an American bandleader, arranger, and composer whose career spanned from the 1930s until his death in 2000...
arranged music for Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
Remembered, a PBS production video taped in Seattle, 1984, starring Tex Beneke
Tex Beneke
Gordon Lee Beneke , professionally known as Tex Beneke, was an American saxophonist, singer, and bandleader. His career is a history of associations with bandleader Glenn Miller and former musicians and singers who worked with Miller. His band is also associated with the careers of Eydie Gorme...
and Marion Hutton.
External links
- Marion Hutton's son: Peter Hemming www.peterhemming.com