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Jacqueline Susann

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Jacqueline Susann was a prominent American actress and novelist.

Valley of the Dolls (1967) still 1
Valley of the Dolls (1967) still 1

She achieved immense success in the publishing industry during the 1960s and 1970s. Susann is most famous for her ability to write stories that captured public attention. She became the first author to hold the top spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for three consecutive novels. Her career moved through several different stages of entertainment. She transitioned from Broadway acting to television hosting and finally to world-famous authorship. This journey required great skill and an ability to observe people closely.

Susann was born on August 20, 1918, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Her father, Robert Susan, was a portrait painter born in Wilno, Imperial Russia. Her mother, Rose, was a public school teacher. Rose added an extra "n" to the family surname to help students pronounce it correctly. Because the legal name remained Susan, Jacqueline was officially recorded as Jacqueline Susan in census records. However, she chose to use the version of the name her mother created. As a child, Susann was described by teachers as an imaginative but inattentive student. In fifth grade, she earned an IQ score of 140, which was the highest in her school.

Her professional career began on the stage in New York City. After graduating from West Philadelphia High School in 1936, she moved to New York to act. Her first role was a small part in the Broadway comedy The Women in 1937. She later appeared in several other productions, including Banjo Eyes in 1941. Susann also explored writing for the theater alongside her friend, Beatrice Cole. They wrote a comedy titled Lovely Me, which opened at the Adelphi Theatre in 1946. Although the play only ran for 37 performances, it was considered an audience-pleaser. She later attempted another play called Cock of the Walk, but it was never produced.

Television provided Susann with a different kind of fame. Between 1948 and 1950, she appeared on The Morey Amsterdam Show. She played a character named Lola, who was a cigarette girl. In 1951, she hosted her own program called Jacqueline Susann's Open Door. This show was designed to help people find employment after facing hardships. Susann also worked as a spokesperson for the Schiffli Lace and Embroidery Institute. She wrote and starred in commercials for the company for six years. She once noted that being known only as the "Schiffli girl" was discouraging after years of hard work.

Writing eventually became her most significant professional achievement. Her first major success was a book about her poodle, Josephine. Titled Every Night, Josephine!, the book was published on November 16, 1963. It was an affectionate account of the dog's many adventures. The book was a massive success, selling 1.7 million paperback copies by 1973. It even reached number 8 on the Time magazine bestseller list. Susann loved this book more than any other she wrote. She even traveled on book tours wearing matching outfits with Josephine.

In 1966, Susann published her most famous novel, Valley of the Dolls. The story follows three women, Anne Welles, Neely O'Hara, and Jennifer North, over twenty years. The plot involves the characters using drugs known as "dolls," a term Susann coined for amphetamines and barbiturates. Some critics called the book a roman à clef, meaning characters were based on real celebrities. While many professional reviewers gave the book negative reviews, the public loved it. It reached number 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list in its ninth week. The book's success was described as being like a Cape Canaveral space shot.

Susann's impact on publishing was defined by her consistent commercial success. Following the hit of Valley of the Dolls, she wrote two more massive bestsellers. These were The Love Machine, published in 1969, and Once Is Not Enough, published in 1973. By completing this trio, she set a new record for consecutive number-one novels. Her ability to move between acting, hosting, and writing showed her versatility. She passed away on September 21, 1974, at the age of 53. Her life remains a significant example of how an artist can redefine their career through different media.

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