Eleanor Holm

FLASHBACK

Whenever Eleanor Holm, whomVanity Faircalled a "semi-nude descending a submarine staircase," got out of chlorinated water, she went straight into hot water. Fifty years ago this month the Olympic backstroker splashed through the first of her newspaper "scandals." On a steamer headed for the Berlin Games, she was dropped from the Olympic team for drinking champagne—losing her chance to defend her 1932 title. Later, while starring in Billy Rose's dazzling Aquacade, she beguiled him away from funny girl Fanny Brice (and eventually divorced him in the "War of Roses" brouhaha). Through it all Holm behaved so sleekly one can only raise an eyebrow at that old Brice gag "Wet she's a star, dry she ain't."