Sunday, September 11, 2016

Kay Thompson and Eloise

Exactly Who is the Author of Eloise?
Whenever I think of the Children's Book, Eloise, the image of a blonde haired little girl dressed in a white blouse, black pleated jumper, knee high socks, and Mary-Jane shoes scribbling her name in pink crayon comes to mind. Eloise isn't the average six year old. And that's why generations of readers have fallen in love with her.

Eloise was the brainchild of vocal coach/actress turned author, Kay Thompson. Kay Thompson (born November 9, 1909 as Catherine Louise Fink) was a child piano prodigy. By the time she was 16, she had performed with the St. Louis Symphony as a soloist. Despite her early success as a pianist, Kay, nicknamed Kitty, wasn't happy playing piano. Her real passion was singing. To hone her talent as a burgeoning singer, she began singing with local dance bands, where she ultimately became a band vocalist. It was around this time, Kitty moved to California to make the move to radio, ultimately landing spots as a singer on the Bing Crosby-Woodbury Show, and a spot singing alongside the harmony group, The Mill Brothers. Her stint with The Mill Brothers eventually led to her receiving her own radio show, Kay Thompson and Company which she acted as host and producer. Kay recorded a a handful of songs during the mid-late 1930s.

Kay made her movie debut in the 1937 musical, Manhattan Merry-Go-Round in which she performed two songs with her choir.
 In 1939, Kay teamed up with Andre Kostelanetz (who she had previously worked with in radio) on a show called Tune-Up Time. Tune Up Time was a turning point in Thompson's career. Judy Garland appeared as a guest on one of the episodes. Her guest appearance resulted in a long standing friendship between Thompson and Garland. Thompson also married Tune Up Time's producer, William Spier in 1942. 

In 1943, Thompson began working with MGM Studios as the Studios vocal arranger, vocal coach and choral director. She worked with Arthur Freed on many of his musicals including: Ziegfield Follies, The Harvey Girls, The Kid From Brooklyn, Till Clouds Roll By, The Pirate and Good News. During this time she worked closely with stars such as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and June Allyson.

In 1947, Thompson left MGM to star in her own cabaret act with the Williams' Brothers (Andy Williams was one of the Williams' Brothers) According to Sam Irvin's book From Funny Face to Eloise, Kay Thompson's cabaret act put her on the map.  "She just was everywhere," says Irvin. "She was chic and new and different. She wrote the material; she designed the wardrobe that she wore, which was slacks. You know, most restaurants back then had dress codes, and she'd show up and try to defy the code and get in. Some places she didn't get in, but she'd make headlines with it, and she would use that to help sell her line of pants, which were marketed exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue." (Irvin, From Funny Face to Eloise)

Though Thompson was a crucial component behind the scenes at MGM,  she did not receive many acting roles. The role she is best known for is Maggie Prescott, the fashion editor in the film Funny Face. She also starred in the movie Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon. 
 

The Birth of Eloise
Though Thompson officially came up with Eloise in 1954 during a singing gig, the character of Eloise had been alive within Thompson dating several years back. In 1947, Thompson was late to a rehearsal with the Williams' brothers. When asked why she was late, she replied in a little girl's voice with the remark: "I am Eloise and I am six!" Though the remark was said just to be funny, the line would later go on to be the famous first sentence of the famous children's book, Eloise. Thompson was known to often speak like a child herself. In many ways, the creation of Eloise was an outlet for her alter-ego self.  Kay is also believed to as a child had an imaginary friend named Eloise.
Eloise's appearance is believed to have been modeled after a young Liza Minnelli, who was Thompson's goddaughter. Like, her character, Thompson lived at the Plaza Hotel, and was known to have a brazen, larger-than-life personality.

Eloise Lives On 
Following Thompson's death in 1998, Eloise dolls, and other Eloise merchandise became available for retail sale. Thompson did not believe in capitalizing off her character; however given the immense popularity of the scamp six year old, there was a market for everything Eloise (from calendars to stationary to toys)
Subsequent Eloise books began surfacing in 2000. Some of these books include: Eloise's What I Absolutely Love Love, Eloise's Guide to Life on How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave, and Stay Six Forever, Love and Kisses, Eloise, Eloise at Christmas and Eloise: The Ultimate Edition,
The previously unreleased 1964 book, Eloise Takes A Bawth was released for the first time in October 2002.
A TV movie starring Sofia Vassilieva aired in April 2003. Another installation of an Eloise TV movie, Eloise at Christmastime aired in November 2003.
Eloise: the Animated Series came out in 2006.
In July 2010, room 1832, known as the "Eloise Suite" opened at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. Betsey Johnson designed the room.
Though Eloise mania has seemed to hit a low now, Eloise is still a beloved character in Children's Literature. And one of my all time favorite Children's Book Characters.

The Complete List of Eloise Books:
Eloise (Published 1955)
Eloise in Paris (Published 1957)
Eloise at Christmastime (Published 1958)
Eloise in Moscow (Published 1959)
Eloise Takes A Bawth (Published 2002)

Simon & Schuster also released "other" Eloise Books:
Eloise's Guide to Life (Published 2000)
Eloise at Christmas (Published 2003)
Eloise's What I Absolutely Love, Love, Love (Published 2005)
Love and Kisses, Eloise (Published 2005)



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