Last week Miss Jane Powell, age 17 (her studio says 16), had her first pin-up picture taken, an experience which both she and LIFE's photographer found thoroughly delightful. Her enthusiasm, however, may not be shared by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer, which regards winsome Miss Powell, its new singing sensation, as an asset to be developed slowly. For by the end of a day's picture-taking it was becoming apparent that the juvenile star of Holiday in Mexico (see pp. 87-88) had reached a more advanced stage of development than had been anticipated. Miss Powell, as this picture shows, fell into her poses with all the professional élan of an Esther Williams, suggesting hours of secret practice before her mirror.

     No motion-picture studio feels altogether eupeptic financially when its roster of stars fails to include an adolescent actress who can sing her way into the hearts of America's ticket-buying old folks with a clear, girlish Ave Maria. M-G-M was therefore understandably elated last week when New York critics bestowed such adjectives as "charming," "wonderful," "gifted" and "brilliant" on Miss Powell in her first big picture.

     The young soprano thus sought out by fame and flash bulb is a cheerful, thoroughly nice, slightly undersized teen-ager who stands 5 feet 1-3/4 inches, weighs 98 pounds and wears a size 7 dress. She has blue eyes, nut-brown hair and an attractive pan-shaped face. Her teacher describes her voice as "an outspoken coloratura with lyric possibilities." "It has the big volume without the big poitrine," says Joe Pasternak, her producer and movie god-father, who also developed Deanna Durbin. Although she cannot read music, has never studied harmony and plays only chopsticks on the piano, her natural musical talent allows her to cover with vigor and fidelity a range of almost two octaves and a half, from lower B flat to a good but not sensational high E. Although she is generous in her admiration for other singers, Miss Powell is outspoken about some of them. She thinks Judy Garland is currently "not in good voice" and that Lily Pons "flats a little." She admires Lauritz Melchior because he sings well "even though he smokes and everything."

     Outside of her D's, which for some reason she can't hear, Miss Powell's principal problems are men, whom she adores, and her home back in Portland, Ore., which she misses badly. It was back in Portland that Jane, then known by her real name of Suzanne Burce, was first spotted by the neighbors. Her father was manager of the building and Jane's warbles prompted other tenants to urge singing lessons. Soon she was singing on her own radio program and during a family vacation to Hollywood was snapped up by M-G-M talent scouts. Her family lives in a five-room bungalow in Hollywood.

     To Jane the M-G-M school lacks the allure of Grant High back in Portland. She is lonesome for the old gang. Jane believes she is becoming slightly less hep. She is wistful about the barenness of the Hollywood social set, where she says, "I'm too young for the old ones and too old for the young ones."

     It should not be thought, however, that Miss Powell goes unattended by the other sex. In her room are photos of young Marshall Thompson (of They Were Expendable), a few boys from Portland and young Roddy McDowall, who has inscribed the picture, "To My First Screen Flame."

     One man she worships with unadulterated devotion, however, is Walter Pidgeon. They first met at M-G-M Boss Louis B. Mayer's birthday party. After Jane had finished caroling her wishes for the future Gesundheit of Mr. Mayer, Pidgeon rushed over to the host. "Holy mackerel, that girl is terrific," he told Mayer. "Who is she?"

     "She's your daughter," Mayer explained.

     Apparently this happy and remarkable relationship, so lightly decided upon by Mr. Mayer, is to continue for some time, or as least as long as it provides suitable financial rewards. Mr. Pasternak sees in his mind's eye a series of movie stories based on the problems of growing up. In this first one Jane has met but not overcome the first problems of puppy love. This week she starts the next of the series, which deals with the relationship between mother and daughter and is appropriately titled The Birds and the Bees. Pasternak feels that Miss Powell's naturalness will be ideal for these roles. "There is no difference between her and other little girls," he points out. "She doesn't even look like an actress."

     - Jeanne Perkins
     Life Magazine, September 9, 1946