Thursday, June 06, 2013
SWIMMER
I nominate Esther Williams as this week's heroine.
Technicolor Star Esther Williams Dead at 91
When I was a kid, I went to all the Esther Williams movies because she was in a lot of MGM musicals and I saw all of those.
She was special. Kind of wholesome.
She did the necessary romantic stuff but she seemed a breed apart. A bit distant from the other gals who, while interesting in their own way, were not somehow as "serious".
She was a champion swimmer and, as I look back, I don't think she compromised any aspect of that for the film she was in.
She may not have invented synchronized swimming but she could have.
I always worried that she was getting water in her nose. I got over that. Maybe she was a good role model. I can swim upside down under the water now and not get any in there.
There was a rumor that she had owned a house in our neighborhood. It is possible. It had shells and blue glass and stuff embedded in the walls around it. Nice.
Now, it is all covered over with one of those desert re-dos that rob a neighborhood of any individuality. Painted some shit brown color.
Esther was great. I liked her. And the best thing about her was that she always, always, had latin lovers like Ricardo Montalban. Fernando Lamas. That set me up to be a latino lover myself. Just today, I was able to flirt with a gardener working next door on some project or other.
Esther and me. We like the latin boys.
Saturday, June 01, 2013
HEROINE
At last, someone I knew has achieved hero/ine status
Jean Stapleton Who Played Archie's Better Angel Dies at 90
When I was a kid, I played organ in the Mountainhome Methodist Church. Assistant, usually in the summer.
In the process, I got to accompany various singers who came past the gate and got recruited, I don't think paid, into singing during the service.
One of these was a young actress at the summer theater, The Pocono Playhouse. She was Jean Stapleton.
We got to know each other and were friendly to the point that when she got cast in the musical Damn Yankees, I got in touch with her and we met for dinner and a personal back stage tour when she toured Boston, the tryout.
I was stage struck at the time and not doing very well in school, I don't know what year, and I got the idea that somehow, some way, Jean could help me go to New York and try to break into show business.
Insane.
She was very kind to me. She wrote to say that it was tough there and she suggested waiting the year out to see if I was really serious and not jump ship.
By that time, the ardor for the stage had cooled and, probably, I actually passed my courses that term, so I cooled off, stayed with the MIT plan and forgot the greasepaint.
I am so thankful she was straight with me about this at the time. An example of tough love.
Later on, I was in New York and met her outside her next show which was Funny Girl. No tour. Just a hello, how are you?
She was doing fine.
By that time, I had a job, I was doing OK and she was happy to hear it.
I thought she wouldn't remember me but she did and was very willing to hang out a bit. I did get to tell her I was grateful for her help in stopping me from running away with the "circus".
We laughed.
She had also been in Bells Are Ringing with Judy Holiday.
Next thing I know, she was Edith Bunker and that was that. No more shows. No more paths crossing.
She was older than me, I knew that. But I didn't get that it was 13 years. She had been working all that time in the theater and was just getting her first show at about 30 years old. She was a trouper.
She invented the character that became Edith Bunker for the Damn Yankees show. She played the sister in law (named Sister) to Joe Hardy who runs off to be a baseball star! So much running away.
She sang the signature number or one of them "You Gotta Have Heart". The other number was "Whatever Lola Wants", Gwen Verdon.
It was a great show and they are all in the movie which is very faithful. Only Tab Hunter is the young Joe Hardy. It is very good. One of the few successful screen transfers.
I might rent it again. Just to see Jean playing Sister.
I tired of the Edith Bunker thing but Sister is all Jean all the time.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
HEROINE
Dear Abby died today.
Pauline Phillips, Flinty Adviser to Millions as Dear Abby, Dies at 94
I remember when she came on the scene. A new voice in manners but also in social affairs and politics.
I do believe that "Abby" added to the momentum toward gay rights. I think that she provided a ballast through the stormy sailing of the 60s and 70s.
She was a strong liberal heart. Sensible and kind.
I might not always agree with her but just in her choice of questions to answer, she was a significant voice toward growth and change.
Her lights dimmed a while ago with the onset of Alzheimers so there is a good chance that she ended by not knowing who she was.
But when the lights were on, she knew and was willing to stand up for her beliefs no matter what. Straight from the shoulder.
