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1921	21 November	Born Vivian Stapleton in Newark, New Jersey, USA.
1923		Vivian first captivates audiences at the tender age of 18 months.
1933		Attends the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
1936		Starts touring with various novelty bands, at the age of 15.
1941		Meets & signs up with talent representative Manny Franks. He suggests she lose 40 pounds.
1942		After seeing Vivian perform 20th Century Fox offered & Vivian signed a contract with the studio.   After only a few weeks of pruning Vivian made her film debut in "Thru Different Eyes" (1942). This film showed little promise as it paled alongside her show stopping work on the stage.
1944		Vivian threatens to quit unless her roles improve. Fox gives the “Cherry Blonde” the Technicolor escapism film "Greenwich Village" (1944) as a peace offering. She becomes an instant hit with the public.
1945	February               September	Manny Franks & Vivian marry at a registry office in Hollywood. They have a 2 day honeymoon in New York.   Vivian is offered the role of Emily Edwards in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “State Fair” (1945), After Alice Faye turns it down. It is Vivian’s most remembered performance of the 1940’s.   Is cast as Carol in “Doll Face” (1945) her first top billing role in a film.
1946		Vivian does her last film for 20th, “Three Little Girls in Blue” (1946).
1947		Vivian decides to end her association with Fox, & buys up the remainder of her contract.   She returns to the stage, touring in various musicals & in vaudeville acts.   While performing in a nightclub Vivian was booed off the stage, this forced her to reinvent herself as a comedic performer.
1949		Frank Losser casts her as Adelaide in his musical comedy “Guys & Dolls”.
1950	24 November	So impressed with Vivian’s talents & portrayal of Adelaide Losser enlarges her part.   The curtain raises on “Guys & Dolls”, at the 46th Street Theater, New York. Vivian gave a delightful performance, was raised to top billing & became the “Toast of Broadway”.   For her part as Adelaide Vivian won a Donaldson award for best newcomer of the year, a New York Theater Goers award for Best Musical comedy star of the year & the National Film Society American Classic Award.   Vivian’s song “A Bushel & a Peck” became the no 1 hit of the 1951/53 season. The show ran for 2 ½ years.
1952		Briefly reappears on screen as Pinky Lee’s co-host in the television series "Those Two” (1952 – 1953). Has to leave the show when “Guys & Dolls” moves to England.
1953	28 May	Vivian continues her success at the London Coliseum in England.   Performs her signature role for Queen Elizabeth II.   Meets Samuel Goldwyn in the wings one night & her promises her the film role of Adelaide.
1954		Vivian replaced Shelly Winters in the dramatic Broadway play "A Hat Full of Rain”. She then consequently toured with the show.
1955		Goldwyn kept his word & Vivian immortalized her portrayal of Adelaide in the film “Guys & Dolls” (1955).   While still filming “Guys & Dolls” Vivian appeared as a surprise guest for Laurel & Hardy in "This is Your Life".
1956		Vivian divorces her first husband of 11 years, talent representative, Manny Franks.   Vivian continues to tour in National, Regional & Stock shows.
1958		While filming “Public Pigeon No1” (1958) with Red Skelton, Vivian meets the President of Universal Studios and Vice President of Decca Records, Milton Rackmil.
1959		Back on Broadway in "Say Darling"(1959).   Married Milton Rackmil. With her second marriage Vivian decided to retire from the stage & screen, but cut various mercury records during this time including: "Annie Get Your Gun", "Pal Joey", "The Great White Way" & "Vivian Blaine Live in Hollywood".
1961		Divorces Milton Rackmil.   Back to show business, Vivian tours in various National, Regional & Stock shows.
1963		Back on Broadway in "Enter Laughing"(1962).
1966		“Guys & Dolls” revival at the Lincoln Center. Performs “Adelaide’s Lament” at the White House for President Kennedy.
1967	18 March	Asked to perform “Adelaide’s Lament” at the White House for President Johnson.
1969		Hal Prince cast Vivian as Hortense in the National Tour of "Zorba". The tour did well running for about a year.
1971	21 November	Vivian sang her signature song "Adelaide's Lament" at the "25th TONY Anniversary" an awards show which aired on National TV on November 1, 1971. This led to a revival of her TV career were Vivian guest stared in soap operas like: "Fantasy Island", "Love Boat", & "Viva Los Vegas”. Vivian also secured a semi regular role on the soap opera spoof "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (a big T.V. series in the 1970’s).   In the fall Vivian was back on Broadway succeeding Jane Russell as Joanne in “Company” and played it until the show closed in January 1972. This was an important and successful transition into older parts for Vivian.   Vivian turns 50
1973		In the summer Vivian appeared in summer stock with Robert Alda, Hildegarde, Lynn Bari and Selma Diamond in "FOLLIES". At some point after that Vivian was cast in the national road tour of "TWIGS".   Vivian married Stuart Clark.   Appears on many of the "Best Dressed" lists, she was to make the list every year until 1983.   Vivian continues to work on the stage & appears in a number of low budget Science Fiction films like: "Richard" (1972), "The Dark" (1978), "Parasite" (1982), & "I'm Going to Be Famous" (1983), among others.
1982		Appears in her last film Parasite (1982) as Miss Daley
1983		Vivian releases her last record “Vivian Blaine for you” (1983, Aei).
1984		Guest starred in the popular TV series “Murder She Wrote”. This was her last TV appearance.   Vivian steps in for a few weeks, in the reworked "Zorba" with Anthony Quinn. This was her last performance.   Continues to give interviews about her life & career.
1995	9 December	Sadly Vivian passed away, in New York, USA, from congestive heart failure.
1998		The original cast album of Guys and Dolls was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
2002		BFS the first & only website dedicated to Vivian is created.
2004		A PBS special by Michael Kantor called “Broadway the American Musical” showed a clip of Vivian & Sam Levine in the Broadway Production of Guys & Dolls.