Today in history…Nelson Eddy replaces Lily Pons in Los Angeles concert

While still under contract at MGM, but before he became a film star, Nelson Eddy marked time giving concerts on the West Coast. He was counting the days until his contract expired and it’s likely he would have left MGM at the end of 1933…had Jeanette MacDonald not come into the picture.

Just as Nelson Eddy was “discovered” in San Diego early in 1933, when he replaced an ill Lotte Lehman at a scheduled concert, we find that in November of that year, he replaced an ill Lily Pons in Los Angeles. By the way, Jeanette MacDonald was in the audience for this concert.

11/14/1933 from Hollywood Citizen News

Nelson Eddy, popular baritone, who will appear next Tuesday night in concert at Philharmonic Auditorium will include on his program the popular cowboy song, “The Last Round-up.”

Eddy’s program at Philharmonic will be the same as that he offered at San Diego, where he was called to take the place of Lily Pons when she canceled her engagement at the southern city.

The Philharmonic concert is the only one on the baritone’s schedule for Los Angeles this season. He will appear, however, with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the Bay City on Dec. 22 and 23.

Jeanette MacDonald’s 1962 Jaguar For Sale!

Jeanette MacDonald's 1962 Jaguar

Jeanette MacDonald‘s last car, a 1962 Jaguar, is for sale! Here’s the post from Craigslist:

Reply to: sale-909013759@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-11-06, 7:56PM PST

1962 Jaguar MK 2 All original, 3.8L 9:1 with 70k miles, CA car, silver blue paint, dark blue leather, interior wood is great, stored for 5yrs w/o starting, slight damage to back right panel/taillight from falling tool. Documented previous owner was famous singer/actress Jeanette MacDonald. $14900.00 OBO 858-729-4992

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy featured in Robert Osborne’s new book!

Leading Couples by Robert Osborne

The always wonderful Robert Osborne has a new book out, Leading Couples. And thank goodness he has a very nice section featuring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

Here’s a quote from the book: “Although it has become fashionable in recent years to poke fun at the Jeanette MacDonald–Nelson Eddy musicals, in their day they were more than immensely popular. They were innovative. As much movie stars as they were singers, the pair brought a sense of youthful exuberance to films such as Naughty Marietta (1935) and Rose-Marie (1936) that had been missing in much of the genre. Although the operetta had been a staple in the early talking era, too much bad acting had driven audiences away. Even critically acclaimed adaptations, like director Ernst Lubitsch’s witty pictures with MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier, had fallen out of favor. Nelson Eddy’s sincerity helped bring back the romantic side of the genre. MacDonald had the good sense to know when to play it straight and when to insert tongue firmly in cheek.”

There are a few good photos, one in color, and a slight hint at something more than just friendship between them: “The only real MacDonald-Eddy feud was between their fan clubs.” He also notes that Nelson painted a portrait of Jeanette that was used in one of their films but mistakenly identifies the film as Bitter Sweet. It was, of course, Sweethearts.

This is an enjoyable book and another definitely recommended for your Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy collection!

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