Mickey the Great

  At an astonishing span of 81 years, his is the longest film career of all time. He was, as a very young man, the biggest star in the world. He's worked with Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, and every ingenue in between, and he is, let's face it, the closest I will ever get to the aura of Ava Gardner, unless I somehow come up with the cash to buy those earrings she gave Lana Turner off of eBay. And thus, mulling over such weighty attributes, I argued myself into seeing Mickey Rooney in person.

  He's aged a bit, yes, but impish Andy Hardy is still intact. Touting 2008 as his 85th year in show business - he made his stage debut in a vaudeville act at just 17 months - Rooney, his humor, and his 8th wife, Jan, have melded songs, jokes, and affectionate husband-and-wife shtick into a thoroughly enjoyable and genuinely funny two hours of entertainment, Let's Put On A Show!, which is currently touring the United States.

  Physically unimposing though he appeared onstage, Rooney, 87, is still an Old Hollywood legend, the extent to which can really only be felt acutely in his presence. That is to say, he doesn't look the part of a star so much as he speaks it - the stories he tells, the fond memories of dear friends like Judy Garland and Ava Gardner, the latter whom Rooney shared a brief marriage with - even the songs he sings, or rather talks, are remnants of his long-buried stint as a superstar. But Rooney's talent for balancing out snippets of self-deprecation with honest accolades to his own success allow for such sugar-coated sentimentality: if Mickey Rooney can't reminisce about the glory days at MGM, then who can?!

  I was hoping for at least a tiny bit of interaction with Mickey when the show was over, but it proved to be a futile hope, as the program ran beyond its anticipated end time, and the lobby was nearly empty when I finally reached it. But I can't take a shred of disappointment from such a night, and I have consolation in the fact that he couldn't have missed seeing me out in that audience: I was the girl in the seventh row with stars in her eyes.


Visit Mickey Rooney's official website to see when he'll be in your area.

Hometown Homage

  If there ever was a moment for re-inforcing my hometown pride, it was the Christmastime discovery of a Hollywood homage in my very own downtown. Handsome actor Kerwin Mathews, perhaps best known for his swarthiness and swordfighting in films like The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and 1962's Jack The Giant Killer, was recently honored in his home city of Janesville, Wisconsin, just months after his July 5th death in San Franscisco at the age of 81.

  Mathews was born in Seattle but raised in Janesville (he attended high school with my grandparents), a city of around 60,000, and stayed close to his midwestern roots until his late twenties, when he left a high school teaching position to make a foray to Hollywood. Although he never achieved the fame of contemporary 1950s stars like William Holden or Spencer Tracy, with whom he starred in The Devil at Four O'Clock, he nonetheless found a particular genre of films which suited his acrobatic and acting abilities, and remains a cult favorite even today. He relocated to San Francisco in the 1970's, where he replaced a dwindling number of TV and film roles with an interest in dealing antiques and furniture; he remained in the city until his 2007 death.

The city of Janesville recently renamed a small street in its historic downtown area after Mathews, which I was giddy to find while home for Christmas break:

(I will, of course, completely overlook the fact that they spelled his name wrong, at least until I sit down to write my congressman about it).

Kerwin Photo Source

More Stars Than There Are In The Heavens

November 2, 2006, found a cavalcade of stars from Old Hollywood gathering at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood to pay tribute to beloved actress June Allyson, who passed away in July at age 88. The event, created and produced by celebrity producer/director Karen Cadle, featured personal tributes from, and conversations with, June's friends and former co-stars Patricia Marshall, Gloria De Haven, Margaret O'Brien and Debbie Reynolds, as well as appearances by numerous other contemporaries, and letter and video tributes from those unable to attend. Esther Williams, a close friend of June's who was initially slated to appear in the tribute, was ultimately not well enough to take part due to health issues that have reportedly since been resolved; no statement was made on the absence of her fellow presenters Cyd Charisse and Kathryn Grayson.

Through a little faith, a lot of persuasive talk and my abiding love of classic movies (and the grace of Ms. Cadle, who sold us desperate June fans tickets to a sold-out show), I had the incredible opportunity to attend this truly once-in-a-lifetime event earlier this month. The El Portal was the perfect setting for this intimate tribute, and its 350-seat Main Theatre housed such notable attendees as Tippi Hedren, Jane Withers, Tab Hunter and Marsha Hunt in the audience with us, all of whom offered sentiments and anecdotes about their relationship with Allyson. June's family was also there, including her husband, Dr. David Ashrow, and her son and daughter with first husband Dick Powell. Prior to the 7:30 presentation, the celebrities arrived in a parade of vintage automobiles before walking the red carpet into the theatre, with many stopping to pose for photographers, conduct interviews with local television stations, and graciously give autographs to those of us lingering hopefully by the theatre doors (Debbie Reynolds was by far the sweetest and most patient, and I still can't believe she gave me her signature).

Some of June's finest onscreen roles were showcased on a large screen above the stage, interspersed with commentary from on-stage guests Marshall, DeHaven, Reynolds, and O'Brien. Ms. Marshall sang a classy rendition of "The Best Things in Life Are Free" from Good News (1947), her only film with June; Ms. DeHaven, having starred as a sister to June's character on more than one account, spoke of their work at MGM in the 1940's; celebrity friend Reynolds helped to put June's place in cinema history (and further, her legacy with MGM) into perspective and talked kindly of June as both a dear professional and personal friend; and June's frequent co-star, childhood actress Margaret O'Brien, recounted several touching stories of June's kindness to the little girl twenty years her junior (she even went so far as to informally adopt only-child Margaret as a younger sister when asked to by the adoring little girl). The night's finale included a beautiful montage of both studio and candid portraits and stills of Allyson throughout her life, set to a stunning 1960s concert version of Judy Garland singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", made all the more poignant by the presence of Judy's son Sid Luft in the audience, too.

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Hollywood Salutes June Allyson was a touching tribute that undoubtedly would have mystified the very woman it was dedicated to, that humble little girl from the Bronx who became more than an actress whom millions of fan still adore: she was, and remains, a beautiful, talented woman loved by both those who had the privilege of knowing her, and those who never did. I only wish June had witnessed this testament to our dedication - this outpouring of most sincere affection and sentiment - before her passing.

I'll never forget such an incredible night...or such an incredible lady.

Peruse the following links for more information on these related topics:

The official June Allyson website

Hillary's Classic Cinema Obituary for June Allyson, July 2006

El Portal Theatre

Karen Cadle, Karen Cadle International

Suddenly That Name Will Never Be the Same to Her...

Yesterday, Chicago's very own Hollywood Boulevard hosted a truly once-in-a-lifetime event: a weekend screening of West Side Story, the 1961 blockbuster that took home an incredible 10 Academy Awards and remains one of the best beloved musicals, and soundtracks, of all time. If ever a movie was made to utilize all the glorious dimension and immense size of a theatre screen, Story is it, with its dazzling color, incredible choreography, unforgettable Leonard Bernstein score and inventive cinematography...and did we mention Natalie Wood?

Yesterday, as well, blog frequenter (and my younger sister, thank you) Kyleigh also had a once-in-a-lifetime experience: she had the great fortune to meet with Russ Tamblyn, one of her favorite actors of all time and a foremost character in WSS! Russ and former Story co-star (and rival gang member, for those enthusiastic Sharks and Jets fans) George Chakiris hosted the movie's screening and visited with fans in the lobby throughout the day. While Kyleigh didn't have a chance to speak to Mr. Chakiris, she did snatch a photo of him, and she dishes on her meeting with a movie star:

"In awe, I made my way into the line for autographs. My line moved somewhat swiftly and before i knew it I was next. My mom had to do most of the talking seeing as I was completely speechless. The Russ Tamblyn I had had the most adoration for since the second I saw West Side Story was sitting less than a foot away. My mom told him that his biggest fan was standing in front of him and at that second, he looked up from the West Side Story dvd he was about to autograph and with the biggest smile, stuck out his hand and asked for my name. Surprisingly enough, I was able (barely, but able) to tell him. My father explained that The Haunting was his favorite (of Russ's movies), and my mother's favorite was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and mine was West Side Story; once again, with a big smile, he told us how great that was. I was shocked at how down to earth he was! He asked me how to spell my name, and as I spelled it out he wrote it on my case and told me how beautiful the spelling of my name was. Thankfully my mom spoke up and asked if it was okay if I got my picture taken with him. My knees buckled as he put his arm on my shoulder and his face touched mine. I was completely numb and I walked away absolutely fulfilled...I wanted to talk to George Chakiris, but the theatre announcer told us it was time to go see the movie, so I didnt get a chance to interact with him. But I did get to see him, and thats good enough for me."

Kyleigh was at a loss for words when I asked her what seeing the film in that setting, and in those dimensions, was like, but she did say that she loved West Side Story even more after having experienced it in the theatre. And we celebrated a small victory - getting our parents to actually sit through it!

Kyleigh also adds: "Overall, I must say this was the best day of my entire life so if you get any opporitunity like this TAKE IT! Russ was unbelievably generous and the way George was giving out hugs and kisses, made me think that he was just as wonderful. This definitely proved that West Side Story is the paramount movie of all movies!"