Clothes for Betty Grable paper doll with hands out

Paper dolls are figures cut out of paper, with separate clothes, that can be dressed and undressed. They have been popular toys for children, as well as collectors' items, for many centuries. The origins of paper dolls can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where tomb paintings depict children playing with paper dolls. In medieval Europe, paper dolls were also popular, and were often used as teaching tools to instruct young girls in the art of sewing and clothing design. Paper dolls became especially popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries when they were mass-produced and sold as cheap toys. Many popular children's books and magazines featured paper dolls as inserts or bonuses, and girls would often spend hours playing with them and creating new outfits for their dolls. Today, paper dolls are still popular, although they are not as widespread as they once were. They continue to be collected by enthusiasts and are often used as a creative outlet for artists and designers.

Betty Grable was born on 18 December 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her career as a chorus girl in the 1920s and made her film debut in 1929. However, it was not until the 1930s that she began to gain recognition for her work in films such as "Whoopee! (1930) and "The Gay Divorcee" (1934). In the 1940s, Grable became one of the most popular pin-up girls of World War II, with her iconic image appearing on countless posters and in magazines. She was known for her signature pose, showing off her famously long legs. Grable continued to act in films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, starring in such hits as How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Three for the Show (1955). She was one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood at the time. In addition to her acting career, Grable was also a talented singer and dancer. She recorded several albums and starred in musicals such as Mother Wore Tights (1947) and My Blue Heaven (1950). Grable retired from acting in the late 1950s and died on 2 July 1973 at the age of 56. She remains a beloved icon of Hollywood's Golden Age.