Jacqueline Susann

Jacqueline Susann (August 20, 1918 – September 21, 1974), author of Valley of the Dolls, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she was a child, her philandering painter father would send her to the movies while he met with his mistress. After the movie, he would pick her up and have her tell him what the movie was about so he could tell his wife about it when they returned home.

Related Topics:
August 20 - 1918 - September 21 - 1974 - Valley of the Dolls - Philadelphia - Pennsylvania

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At school Jackie was a lazy student, but she scored a 140 on a fifth-grade IQ test. Writing was always something she was praised for, and her mother encouraged her to become a writer; however, she had other plans. Jackie wanted to become an actress simply because of the glamour.

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In high school Jackie entered the wrong crowd; she smoked pot, popped pills, and became a big partier. After she graduated from high school, her mother wanted her to become a teacher, but she moved to New York to become an actress.

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Arriving in New York she got bit parts in movies and commercials. A year after arriving in New York she landed a decent theatrical job playing a lingerie model, earning $25.00 a week.

Related Topics:
New York

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After marrying Irving Mansfield, a press agent, she began to get better jobs. She was placed in news columns, and soon was playing a wacky supporting player in The Morey Amsterdam Show. She then got a spot on a Broadway show titled The Temporary Mrs. Smith (later titled Lovely Me) It was canceled after 37 shows.

Related Topics:
Irving Mansfield - The Morey Amsterdam Show - The Temporary Mrs. Smith

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In the early 1950s, she wrote her romance/science fiction novel Yargo.

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In 1955, she acquired her pet poodle Josephine and a contract to be the fashion commentator for Schiffli Lace on an all-night show called Night Time, New York which ran 1-7 a.m. weeknights. She wrote, starred in, and produced two live commercials every night.

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She would be the "Schiffli Girl" until 1961. She tried writing a show business/drug exposé that she was going to call The Pink Dolls, but instead she wrote her first successful book, Every Night, Josephine! which was based on her experiences with her poodle, whom she sometimes dressed up in outfits to match her own.

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Once she was famous, Irving devoted himself to supporting and helping her. After the 1960s, her last four years were spent glamorously and productively.

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When she was diagnosed with cancer on January 11, 1973, she was determined to finish her last novel, Once Is Not Enough. Like her other books, it too was a roaring success—a success she couldn't enjoy as she was too sick and drained by the chemotherapy.

Related Topics:
Cancer - January 11 - 1973 - Once Is Not Enough

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When she finally went to the hospital for the last time, she stayed in a coma for seven weeks before finally taking her last breath on September 21, 1974.

Related Topics:
September 21 - 1974

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Her last words were to her beloved Irving, saying, in true Jackie style, "Let's get the hell outta here, doll."

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