Classic Hollywood Trio: Kay Thompson
The Three Faces of Kay
Eloise
Kay Thompson is best known for her books illustrated by Hilary Knight about a precocious 6-year-old girl who lives at New York’s Plaza Hotel with her Nanny, her pug dog Weenie and her turtle Skipperdee.
“Funny Face”
Thompson managed to steal this 1957 musical from under the noses of Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn playing Maggie Prescott, the vivacious publisher of New York’s Quality fashion magazine.
Vocal coach and arranger
In 1943, Thompson signed with MGM to be the main vocal arranger for several of the studio’s musicals, including “Ziegfeld Follies,” and was coach to the likes of Judy Garland, Lena Horne and even Frank Sinatra.
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