BILLIE DOVE, THE AMERICAN BEAUTY AND CINEMATIC GODDESS - Page 2
© Joyce E. Eberly
Her final role was in "Blondie of the Follies," in which she played a showgirl competing with Marion Davies for the affections of Robert Montgomery, who portrayed a playboy. At this time, Marion Davies was the mistress of William Randolph Hearst, who feared Dove was outshining Davies. Using his influence, Billie's role was reduced, making her the "heavy." Despite this, her role remained a significant one. Nevertheless, she decided to retire from films and raise a family with her second husband, Bob Kenaston, a rancher and real estate investor, in 1933. She was offered the role of Belle Watling in "Gone with the Wind," but refused.
After thirty-seven years of marriage, Billie divorced Kenaston and remarried for a short time, then was divorced. After Kenaston's death, she resumed his name.
She lived in Rancho Mirage for many years, but shortly before her death from pneumonia on 31 December 1997, she moved to the Motion Picture Country House in Woodland Hills, California.
Until her death, she retained her ageless beauty and spirit. As she said, "It is not how many years you have lived that makes your age. I think it is what you have up in your head and what you have here in your heart."
In his touching 1997 tribute to this lady, William M. Drew said, "Billie Dove still possesses the transcendent quality that has established her as a lasting legend and one of the cinema's true goddesses."
Read synopses, excerpts, and reviews of my three e-books:
The Tangled Web, http://londoncircle.com/tanglewb.html
Sins of the Fathers, http://londoncircle.com/sins.html
Captain of Her Soul, http://londoncircle.com/captainofhersoul...
Featured Course: Enhancing the People/Pet Partnership |
Go To Page: 1 2
