Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Famed actress and swimmer Esther Williams died today at 91 years of age.
Williams was famous for her aquatic acrobatics in the film musical spectaculars of the 1940s and 50s, like "Million Dollar Mermaid."
Williams had been a well-known champion swimmer before her celluloid career. But here's a little something you may not know: she first got her feet wet in a pool not far from here in Inglewood.
Her older sister taught her to swim and they paid the fee to use the pool by counting towels. By her teens, Williams was setting records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team.