Beautiful dancer and Actress Nita Bieber was born in 1926; her father was an accomplished Opera singer who also played the Piano, and her mother Callie was a great dancer. Her younger brother Rodney and her 3 younger sisters all became accomplished dancers; too, with Linda doing ballet, Wanda playing the harp and Wilda continues to act and is a comedian even today. Nita started performing in public at age 5, when she did a decorous fan dance in a long, pink dress. After her graduation from Hollywood high school, Nita traveled as a dancer with a USO troupe. Nita became, like her Father, a great Opera singer, and then she started to focus on Dancing and Acting in which she became an accomplished dancer with her own Dancing group The Nita Bieber Dancers. As an Actress Nita has made films with some of the most famous and talented personalities in Hollywood. She worked with Judy Garland, Gloria Patrice, Jack Cole, and Dean Martin just to mention a few. She then joined the Jack Cole Dancers for a 9-month tour of the U.S., during which she became very prolific in both dancing and cooking.
In 1946, Nita appeared in a couple of films for Columbia Pictures, most notably "Rhythm and Weep" with the Three Stooges. In 1947, Nita appeared in 3 more films for Columbia Pictures, and also went to Monogram for a couple of flicks, most notably as Mame in the Bowery Boys movie "News Hounds". Nita was featured with a full-page photo on the cover of Life magazine, November 28, 1949. The Life Magazine article talked about her 7-year contract with MGM, and Nita's big dance number in the new movie musical in production, "Nancy Goes to Rio"; but it seems her dance number wound up on the cutting room floor, Nita was not in the final print (perhaps the director didn't want it to compete against Carmen Miranda) but the scene IS in the home video version out on DVD. One thing that few people know about Nita is that when she was 24, Nita was diagnosed with Polio in 1950. The doctors all said she would never walk again. But with the help of her mother, she was healed from the disease and within a year was back on stage dancing, and acting. Nita appeared in movies for MGM and Universal until 1955; she appeared in "Summer Stock" as the character Sarah Higgins, starring with Judy Garland and "Kismet" (1955) was her last movie for MGM under her 7-year contract.
But Nita was very busy outside of movies. Nita was the creator of her own Dancing group The Nita Bieber Dancers. The Nita Bieber Dancers did short performances produced in 1951-1952, for local television stations needing "filler" programming. Jerry Gray and the Band of Today (1950) with the Nita Bieber Dancers,Don Cornell Sings(1952)as herself. Nita Bieber and her Dancers did The Colgate Comedy Hour in (1954) with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Their song-and-dance numbers included: "Swing Low, Sweet Clarinet" and "Dance of the Peacock" and "Mondongo." The Nita Bieber Dancers were also headliners in Las Vegas: they appeared with such major acts at the El Rancho Vegas in 1951, along with Benny Goodman; and in 1952, the Frontier showcased the Nita Bieber Dancers (they were in good company, other acts in the Frontier at that time were the Marx Brothers, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Josephine Baker and April Stevens.,
Nita Bieber worked with such big stars as Tony Curtis (The prince who was a Thief), Hedy Lamar (A lady without a passport), Judy Garland (Summer Stock) a funny note is that Miss Bieber and Judy Garland were best friends at the time. Billy Benedict (News Hounds), Larry Fine (Rhythm and weep)
Nita's last Movie before she retired from the Entertainment Industry was "Kismet" (1955) with Howard Keel and Vic Damone. Nita Bieber got married with her Love of her life Dr. Jack Wall, a dentist and an active member of the University of Southern California. Nita and Jack met going to Avalon California on a steamer in 1949 while Nita was working in films and with her dancing group. They had 2 children Miles "Rocky" Wall their oldest son and Ivy Faulkner her youngest. Nita has 2 young Beautiful grand children from her Daughter Ivy. Nita now lives in Avalon on the Island of Catalina and her favorite thing to do is Exercise and enjoys her garden, and her family.
On February 17th 2007 their was a reunion of the women that appeared with the Three Stooges at the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank, California. The entire reunion event was created, and organized by Jim Pauley of Philadelphia. At the event which featured Gloria Patrice and all the women of the Three Stooges. It was the first time Nita and Gloria had seen each other since 1946. Nita Bieber and Gloria Patrice used to be, and still are, best friends and keep in touch with one another. That day, Nita also did an Interview for the Three Stooges Compilation DVD being produced by Sony Pictures.
Nita Bieber one of the most loved stars from the 40s and 50s. She was and she still is remembered. Fans for all over the world send her letters of admiration and respect. Beautiful, talented, Nita Bieber has captivated her fans for generations and will be for more to come. Though Nita is now retired from show business, her fans have fond memories of her and her great dancing and acting.
Personal Quotes
Nita (striking a cute pose): "I have to watch my figure." Leo Gorcey: "All of us are watching it.
