Paige’s career breakthrough came during World War II when she sang an operatic aria for servicemen at the Hollywood Canteen, leading to a brief role in “Bathing Beauty” and a contract with Warner Bros. Her initial salary was $150 a week, a significant sum compared to her mother’s earnings during the Great Depression.
Her career saw her rise to $1,000 weekly, starring in films like “Two Guys from Milwaukee,” “The Time, the Place and the Girl,” and “Romance on the High Seas,” Doris Day’s film debut. Paige adopted her stage name from her grandfather’s surname and entertainer Elsie Janis, who performed for troops in World War I.
After her Warner Bros. contract ended in 1949, MGM’s Arthur Freed cast her in “Silk Stockings” alongside Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The film featured the memorable Cole Porter number “Stereophonic Sound,” which required her to perform challenging physical feats, leaving her bruised and battered.
Paige continued to perform into her 80s, opening a show called “The Third Act” in San Francisco’s Plush Room in 2003. Critics noted her vitality and spirit, qualities that outshone many younger performers.
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Paige faced a tough childhood after her father deserted the family. Her mother worked tirelessly at the Bank of Tacoma, and Paige’s drive for success was fueled by her desire to support her mother.
After leaving Warner Bros., Paige found success on television, starring in “It’s Always Jan” and appearing in series like “Flamingo Road,” “Santa Barbara,” “Eight Is Enough,” “Capitol,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Trapper John, M.D.” She played a memorable role in “All in the Family” and took over for Angela Lansbury in “Mame” on Broadway in 1968.
Paige also toured with shows like “Gypsy,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Born Yesterday,” and “The Desk Set.” Her last Broadway appearance was in “Alone Together” in 1984. She continued to entertain troops with Bob Hope, performing in Cuba, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam during the 1960s.
In 2020, Paige published her autobiography, “Reading Between the Lines: A Memoir,” recounting her experiences with stars like Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Lucille Ball. Paige’s personal life included brief marriages to restaurateur Frank Martinelli and writer-producer Arthur Stander, before marrying songwriter Ray Gilbert in 1962. Gilbert, who won an Oscar for “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” passed away in 1976, after which Paige managed his music company.
