Useful Contacts

Lore & Background

After enlisting in the United States Navy and completing recruit training in Farragut, Idaho, Granger sailed from Treasure Island in San Francisco to Honolulu. Upon arrival, he was hospitalized for several days due to chronic seasickness and a 23-pound weight loss. As a result, his remaining military service was spent onshore. He was first assigned to the cleanup crew at an enlisted men's club at the end of Waikiki Beach, then to a unit in Honolulu that worked with Army Special Services, commanded by classical actor Maurice Evans. This unit put together and arranged entertainment for all troops in the Pacific. It was here that Granger met and mingled with visiting entertainers such as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, Gertrude Lawrence, and many others.

In Their Own Story

Granger's time in Honolulu proved pivotal both professionally and personally. While working with the entertainment unit, he had the opportunity to meet major stars like Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Rita Hayworth. It was also during this naval stint that Granger had his first sexual experiences—one with a hostess at a private club and another with a Navy officer visiting the same venue, both on the same night. He was startled to discover he was attracted to both men and women equally. In his memoir, he wrote: 'I finally came to the conclusion that for me, everything I had done that night was as natural and as good as it felt ... I never have felt the need to belong to any exclusive, self-defining, or special group ... I was never ashamed, and I never felt the need to explain or apologize for my relationships to anyone .... I have loved men. I have loved women.'

Reader's Guide

The useful contacts Granger made in Honolulu—including Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Rita Hayworth—were part of a broader network of entertainers visiting the Pacific theater. These connections were made through his assignment to a unit that worked with Army Special Services under Maurice Evans, which arranged entertainment for all troops in the Pacific. Granger also met Bing Crosby, Hedy Lamarr, and Gertrude Lawrence during this period. These relationships helped Granger build a professional network that would serve him after returning to civilian life. Upon his return, Goldwyn increased his weekly salary to $200 and presented him with a 1940 Ford Coupe. Through new acquaintances like Saul Chaplin and his wife Ethel, Granger met Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, and Gene Kelly, who invited him to his open house gatherings that included Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and Stanley Donen.

Did You Know?

• Granger met Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Rita Hayworth while serving in a Honolulu unit that arranged troop entertainment in the Pacific.
• During his naval service, Granger also met Bing Crosby, Hedy Lamarr, and Gertrude Lawrence.
• Granger's unit was commanded by classical actor Maurice Evans.
• Granger had his first sexual experiences—with both a woman and a man—on the same night in Honolulu.
• Granger lost 23 pounds during a 17-day crossing from San Francisco to Honolulu due to chronic seasickness.