Betty Hutton

Known as one of the most versatile and energetic entertainers of all time, Betty Hutton has been a band singer, performed on and off Broadway, in motion pictures, on stage, and in nightclubs. Her acting range has proven her capable of both comedic and dramatic roles, in addition to the expected musical ones.

Betty Hutton was born Betty June in Battle Creek, Michigan, to a railroad worker and a homemaker. Her sister, Marion Hutton, also flourished in the entertainment industry as a singer with the Modernaires and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. In 1923, Hutton's father left the family and her mother moved to Detroit, seeking a better life for her children. At the age of nine, Hutton began her singing career in a school performance. With her mother's encouragement, she sang in beer gardens and for local and resort bands. In 1936 she traveled to Broadway, but returned to Detroit after being told she would never make it.

Determined to succeed, Betty Hutton continued to sing and dance in clubs in Detroit. At the Continental Club in Detroit, she got a break when Vincent Lopez signed her to sing with his orchestra under the name Betty Darling. In 1939, she performed in several short musical movies, such as One For the Book with Hal Sherman, Three Kings and a Queen, and Public Jitterbug #1 with Chaz Chase, Hal LeRoy and Emerson's Sextette. With determination and effort, Hutton finally made it to Broadway in 1940. She made her Broadway debut in Two For the Show with then newcomers Eve Arden, Alfred Drake, Richard Haydn, Tommy Wonder and Keenan Wynn.

She was well on her way to a successful musical career when she met producer B.G. DeSylva. He gave her a role in his Broadway musical, Panama Hattie. She sang "Fresh as a Daisy," "They Ain't Doin' Right By Our Nell" and "All I Gotta Get Is My Man." The chorus included such singing greats as Lucille Bremer, Janis Carter and Vera Ellen. When DeSylva took over Paramount in 1941, Betty Hutton's career only flourished more. She performed in 14 films in 11 years, including Happy Go Lucky, Annie Get Your Gun with Howard Keel, Let's Dance with Fred Astaire, and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. In 1952, after a dispute with Paramount, Hutton left Hollywood and films to perform on Broadway, in concerts and nightclubs and to record her works.

Without looking back on her film disappointment, Betty Hutton performed in London for three weeks at the Palladium Theater. In 1953, she returned to New York to perform in the Palace Theater with the Skylarks and comedian Dick Shawn. She performed many motion picture hits and received rave reviews. The next twelve years saw Hutton making television appearances on such programs as Gunsmoke and Burke's Law. In 1967, Hutton's life turned to despair as her mother passed away and she declared bankruptcy.

Getting her life back in order, Betty Hutton decided to pursue an education in 1974. She attended Salve Regina University and earned a bachelor's degree. Shortly after she earned her master's degree and was awarded and honorary Ph.D. With her newfound zest for life, she began teaching acting and singing classes at the university. In 1985 she received an Award of Achievement from the Musical Theater Society of Emerson College in Boston for her contributions to musical theater.

Despite many setbacks, Betty Hutton is recognized for her versatile singing and dancing techniques. With numerous successes, she remains a member of the American Guild of Variety Actors and lives a quiet life in Rhode Island.

Discography Notes

Perry is known to have recorded four songs with Betty Hutton, the first two on September 12, 1950, including "A Bushel & A Peck" and "She's a Lady", followed by two unreleased songs on June 19, 1952, including "The Last Straw" and "To Know You ( Is to Love You )", the latter which was remade with the Fontane Sisters in September of that year.