Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jeanette MacDonald’s death at age 61. She is pictured above on the set of her favorite film, Maytime (1937). Also remembering today Jeanette’s sister Blossom, who ironically died 13 years to the day after Jeanette, at age 82. In a radio interview Blossom gave some months after Jeanette’s death, she sounds loving and sad about her sister but practical and down-to-earth. Which is why she was a steadying figure for Jeanette, whose life was often fairly dramatic. And that’s what she was like when I knew her. She would sometimes confirm or clarify the most heartbreaking stories and remain dry-eyed, whereas we’d walk out of there and head back to our car, bawling our eyes out. You can listen to her interview below. Remembering both sisters today with love.
Oscar-winning child actor Claude Jarman, Jr. has died at age 90. He is best known for The Yearling (1946), in which his beautiful portrayal earned him a Juvenile Oscar. Three years later, he was Jeanette’s co-star (along with Lassie) in her last film, The Sun Comes Up. Read his obituary at this link.
Special offer! Order today the new 2025 Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy calendar AND the book Jeanette MacDonald: A Pictorial Treasury – 50th Anniversary Special Edition and save $5 plus pay only one shipping charge!
The latest Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy magazine, Issue #78, was officially released at our Los Angeles event!
Journal #78 features our Interview issue, with transcripts of the following:
1) an annotated, little-known 1959 interview with Jeanette, in which she speaks candidly on some different topics than other interviews, discussing friendships ranging from Jean Harlow to Woody Van Dyke. She also has stories to share about director Ernst Lubitsch (who once proposed marriage to her!), Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Louella Parsons, opera vs concerts, youth and maturity, and her Broadway career.
2) the only known excerpt from Nelson’s interview with Tony Thomas, in which he discusses the phases of his career.
3) the very important Blythe Kearney interview which includes a transcript of her edited video clip (on YouTube) but also additional content from the 3-hour full interview. Why is this interview so vital? Because Blythe is someone who personally knew Jeanette for years and had a frank conversation with her about her relationship with Nelson and how Gene Raymond dealt with it. Blythe’s grandmother, Mary Blythe (of the Barrymore family; John Barrymore was her cousin) was a lifelong friend and confidante with Jeanette from their high school years onward. Blythe spent time with Jeanette as a child, when Jeanette came to visit and stay with her grandmother. On some trips young Blythe, who often stayed with her grandparents, shared a bedroom with Jeanette. Over the years, Jeanette related to Blythe many anecdotes about her career and life. Also as a child, Blythe spent a day with both Jeanette and Nelson, when they showed up together on a very private vacation. They stayed at the Princess Martha Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. And took Blythe with them on an outing one day to nearby Sunken Gardens, where Blythe had the opportunity to observe them as a loving couple, when they weren’t hiding the intimacy of their relationship. Blythe’s commentary on why Jeanette remained married to Gene Raymond, and the difference between her “loving” someone vs “being in love” with Nelson, is quite insightful.
4) Terry Kilburn, the child star who played “Brother” in the movie Sweethearts.
This beautiful glossy magazine contains additional information, documentation and many photos.
Remembering Nelson Eddy today on the anniversary of his passing at age 65. June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967.
From the person who probably knew him best, here’s what Jeanette MacDonald had to say about Nelson Eddy in 1935: “No other man on the screen gives such an impression of eagerness and sincerity as Nelson Eddy. He is unique in this respect…. It is this boy-like quality which appeals most to women – the quality of unsophisticated eagerness in a mature and attractive man. He is exactly the same on the screen as he is off … anxious to please … the least theatrical artist I’ve ever known. There’s not an ounce of affectation in him. He was destined for stardom from the beginning.”
Join us to celebrate the June birthdays of Jeanette and Nelson! We are meeting at the Smoke House in Burbank, with new and returning guest speakers. Our meal is a lavish buffet brunch in the famous restaurant plus a special birthday cake. The restaurant opened in 1946; Jeanette and Nelson ate there, as did most of the Hollywood stars of the day. It’s across from Warner Bros. studios so remains popular with industry folks today. Price includes food, our private room and everything except alcoholic drinks (other than the free mimosas that come with the buffet) which can be ordered from your server.
One of our guest speakers will be Cora Sue Collins, famed child actress from “Naughty Marietta”, “Queen Christina” and other great MGM films.
Jun 18, 2024 update: Our meeting time has been slightly adjusted, please be there at 11:30 am!
Details:
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024
Location: The Smoke House restaurant, 4420 W Lakeside Dr, Burbank (across from Warner Bros. studios) Time: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Admission: $100/person
The buffet food choices include tri-tip steak, ham, turkey, along with vegetarian choices including salads, omelets, waffles, crepes station, soups, coffee, etc.
No physical tickets are needed; please keep your emailed receipt plus we will have a master list of paid reservations at the door. If your reservation includes more than one person, please note their names in the “order notes” section when you check out. Thank you.
ALSO: those interested can join us on Saturday morning, June 22, for an all-day driving tour of Jeanette and Nelson’s homes. There’s no charge for this but if you’re interested, please note that in the “comments” section so we can coordinate drivers and cars.
Click here to get your ticket(s)! There’s limited seating so please reserve now.
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ALSO: those interested can join us the day before, on Saturday morning, June 22, for an all-day driving tour of Jeanette and Nelson’s homes (including “Mists”). There’s no charge for this but if you’re interested, please note that when you make your reservation in the “order notes” section. There will also be some planned events on Friday, June 21, likely visiting their final resting places and exploring Hollywood landmarks. If you’re coming from out-of-town, you might want to stay for a long weekend, from Thursday night until Monday. For anyone needing an affordable hotel for the weekend: We have reserved a block of rooms at a discount rate of $139 plus tax. You MUST mention that you’re with the Mac/Eddy group to get the special rate (give them the code “MAC”) and it’s recommended that you make your reservation quickly before the rooms are gone. The hotel does allow cancellations so call them for details. The hotel price includes a full breakfast buffet:
Holiday Inn Express 22617 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills
Phone: 818-222-2299
Group code: MAC
January 14 is the anniversary of the passing of two MacDonald sisters. In life they were very close so it’s ironic that they both died on the same day but different years; Jeanette MacDonald in 1965, Blossom MacDonald Rock in 1978. Without Blossom’s friendship, we would not be here today. In the early 1970s when Hollywood secrets still could not be told, her viewpoint was: “My generation, we can’t talk about it. Your generation doesn’t care.”
Remembering them both today with love and respect.
