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Hi! I am a huge fan of Esther Williams and since she stopped signing I would love to have an autographed photo:) I can buy or trade:) Pm me or post here;)
Thanks again so much.

Esther Williams never signed TTM. Anything will be either autopenned, preprinted or secretarial. Very tough autograph to find in authentic form. Here is part of an article I read a few years ago.

At another point in my life my friend got me a job signing Esther Williams's autograph for fans. In the 1940s and '50s Esther was a star of MGM water musicals: think Ginger Rogers with nose plugs.

I hated the job because I felt like I was wasting my time. I thought of myself as a misplaced generator of big ideas. But in hindsight I'd have to say that Esther Williams was my first marketing mentor, and later I built my own marketing career around rules I learned from lame tasks I did while working for her.

During my first week, Esther gave me three copies of her signature (different pens, different sizes) and told me to practice. I submitted my best shot to Esther and she said, "Make the E's loopier." I looped and resubmitted and then she gave me the go-ahead. Lesson #5: Quality assurance is part of marketing - you can't brand something that is inconsistent.

We had stacks of old MGM promotional photos in which she looks like a showgirl. But for the die-hard fans who requested it, I also had a headshot photo of Esther when she was about fifty years old. Lesson #6: Give the customers what they want.

We had 8x10s, but I only sent those if the person enclosed postage. Otherwise, Esther instructed me to send a 5x7. Sometimes people would request an 8x10, and even if they didn't send postage, I'd send a big photo. I figured it would make a happy customer and it wouldn't break Esther's bank - after all, she was still receiving residual checks from Million Dollar Mermaid. Lesson #7: Know when to follow rules and when to use your own judgment.

At the time I didn't understand that Esther Williams had spent a lifetime cultivating her own brand. I was lucky to see the intricacies of maintaining the brand, even if the operation was a little eccentric.

Sad to hear to that:( Well thanks Mods remove this post............

I have a casual photographed 8x10 glossy of Esther Williams, surrounded by a group of people, taken in the early 1940's I believe. The group is having cocktails somewhere, and are laughing. I don't believe it was an "official" photograph, just one that the photographer took in a casual setting. In the background is my husband's grandfather, Irving Lewis, who played trumpet with some of the big bands of the era (which is the reason we have this picture). Can I scan this photograph here, and hopefully find out who the rest of the people are in the picture. Can anyone here help me? I am not sure I have posted this in the correct place. If not, please forgive me. I am new. Thank you!