Resilient Facts About Betty Hutton, The Incendiary Blonde
No starlet in Hollywood fell quite as far as Betty Hutton. After losing her family and career, Hutton was found homeless and alone on the streets, struggling to find a place to sleep for the night.
This blonde bombshell was a mere echo of the beauty she used to be—and yet, her greatest tragedy was by far her devastating end.
1. She Had A Rough Start
Elizabeth June Thornburg, better known later as Betty Hutton, was born in Michigan, in the winter of 1921. She had a hard life right from the get-go. When she was only two years old, her dad abandoned the family. Devastated, her alcoholic mom struggled to make ends meet for her two little daughters and eventually decided to move to Detroit.
Little did Hutton know, her unusual childhood was only just beginning.
2. She Had A Gift
The Thornburg women changed their surname to Hutton when they moved to Detroit. Hutton’s mother quickly dropped her odd jobs when she realized she had great talent on her hands: Both her daughters could carry a tune.
As such, she decided to start a business selling the product she coveted the most: Drink...with a side of music.
Hutton's mother opened a speakeasy in the home, entertaining the guests by singing solo and with her daughters. Hutton was very young when she began to “sing for her supper"—but her mother was about to use her for SO much more.
3. She Branched Out
Because of her mother's illicit speakeasy, law-enforcement officials forced Hutton's family to move over and over again; they could never stay in one place for too long. But the hardship didn't end there. When nine-year-old Hutton landed a singing part in a school production, her mother decided to exploit her even further by hauling her all around Detroit.
Little Barbara Hutton sang her heart out for any groups that would listen, and pay to hear her.
Forced into the spotlight at such a young age, Hutton had no choice but to become fearless—and her determination took her to some of the toughest stages of her life.
4. She Found New Avenues
Hutton’s undeniable talent couldn’t confine her to the local bar. She was always destined for something bigger—but her road to fame was anything but easy. Eager to branch out, she tried her hand at Broadway, but sadly, it ended in disappointment. Still, Hutton wasn't about to give up just yet. When she returned to Detroit, her luck changed for the better.
She managed to win a contest to sing in Vincent Lopez's orchestra, which played for the radio too. Even more impressive? She was only 14 years old and earning $65 a week.
With a standout personality like Hutton's, it wasn't long before she carved out a niche for herself.
