+++ Kathryn Grayson passed away on February 27, 2010
at her home in Los Angeles, California. She was 88 (b. February 9, 1922).
May her soul rest in peace. +++

There will be a tribute to Kathryn Grayson in a forthcoming issue of Lanza Legends.

That Midnight Kiss (1949) was Mario Lanza's first movie (slide 1). It is the first of two movies he made with Kathryn Grayson who to this day is a great friend of the Lanza family. Like all Lanza movies, it showcased his famous tenor voice. In this first film, he sang popular songs as well as opera arias, such as Celeste Aida (from Verdi's Aida) and Una furtiva lagrima (from Donizetti's Elisir d'amore). To MGM's surprise, the movie was a hit. There was no need to call him "a singing Clark Gable." MARIO LANZA was a winner!

The Toast of New Orleans (1950) was his next movie, also with Kathryn Grayson (slides 2-4). The song from this movie Be My Love became America's favorite song hit. It broke all sales records, selling over