4/28/41

Born Ann-Margret Olsson in Stockholm,Sweden.

Fall of '41
Moved to Valsjobyn, small village in northern Sweden.

Late 1941
Father leaves family for U.S.A.

Summer '43
Ann-Margret performs for Swedish soldiers at Grandmother's Bakery Café

11/29/46
Ann-Margret arrives in America on the SS Gripsholm. She speaks no English. Father takes her and her mother to see show at Radio City Music Hall.

Summer of '46
Ann-Margret and family settle in Fox Lake, Illinois. A couple of years later they move to Wilmette.

1950
Taking dancing lessons. Performs at the Marjorie Young Dance Recitals

1951
The Olsson family returns to Sweden for a visit. Ann-Margret's first motorcycle ride with Uncle Calle.

1954
Wilmette Jr. High Cheerleader

1955
Enters New Trier High School in Winnetka, outside of Chicago.


1957

Wins the Morris B. Sach's Talent Contest. Same year, enters and wins Don McNeil's Breakfast Club Talent Contest.

1958
Appears on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour Loses to a man who plays "Lady Of Spain" on a leaf.

July '58
Makes rounds of Chicago Talent Agencies.

August '58
First singing engagement at The Muelbach Hotel with Hal Munro in Kansas City ($98 a week with no expenses).

1959
Performs "Heat Wave" at New Trier High School. Much controversy over number between teachers and parents.

1959
Appears in Schaffer Pen ad in Life Magazine as a cheerleader.


June '59

Graduates from High School.

Summer '59
USO tour of Germany with Bobbie Brown.

Summer '60
Drops last name (Olsson) from her show business name.

Summer '60
Joins the trio "The Suttletones" and goes on the road.

July '60
Booked at The Villa Marina, Newport Beach.

August '60

Signs with manager Pierre Cossette.

August '60

Performs at The Riverside Hotel in Reno Visits the set of "The Misfits".

September '60

Plays Dunes Lounge, Las Vegas.

November '60
Meets George Burns and auditions for him. Gets the job to be part of his Las Vegas Show.

12/23/60
Plays The Sahara Hotel as part of The George Burns act for 10 days

1/4/61
Asked by 20th Century Fox for a screen test

1/6/61

Life magazine begins to cover the story behind her screen test.

1/11/61
Signs a recording contract with RCA Records.

1/13/61
Screen test at 20th Century Fox Studios.

1/18/61
Meets Roger Smith for the first time at the Chicago Airport.

1/21/61
Signed to 7 year contract with 20th Century Fox

1/27/61
Life magazine hits the stands with an 8 page spread on Ann-Margret and all that's happening to her.

2/28/61
First single "Lost Love" is released.

3/6/61
First RCA album released "And Here She Is. . . . Ann-Margret".

4/2/61
Appears on TV's "The Jack Benny Show"




5/61
Meets Frank Capra and is offered role in "Pocketful Of Miracles".

6/21/61
RCA single "I Just Don't Understand" is released and is her first "Hit".

6/61
RCA releases 2nd album "On The Way Up" 6/61 Buys a home for her parents.


Home - Current Events - Biography - Filmography - Discography - Live Performances - Roger Smith - Fun Stuff - Links