“So, close your eyes. No, not yet, after you’ve read this first sentence. So, what does a Canadian look like? Now close your eyes for 10 seconds. And imagine.
OK. Your answer was?
I’m betting that your first impression was of a male or female, Caucasian, with perhaps blond or brown hair. Tall and proud. Clean-cut. Well-mannered. Sort of Wayne Gretzky meets Anne Murray meets a Nelson Eddy-Mountie.”
I generally do not like to post negative comments about Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Goodness knows that they are camped up and made fun of enough without our contributing to it!
However, because the Wall Street Journal ran this interview with Gabriel Bryne, who is starring in a semi-staged concert version of Camelot, this mention of Jeanette and Nelson has been read by many.
Hopefully the old adage of “any publicity is better than no publicity” works here – and at least they spelled their names correctly! 🙂
Gabriel Byrne’s quote:
“I’m not required to be Plácido Domingo,” Mr. Byrne said. “But I do have to work with trumpets and violins and drums. And I’ve never been sung to before, except by my mother, in an unself-conscious way. My idea of musical acting had always been Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald, in the movies, giving each other those amazingly fake looks. I hoped I wouldn’t have to do that! When I look into Marin’s face and hear that incredible voice coming at me, I find that very moving.”
Hmm…methinks we should send Mr. Byrne a copy of Maytime to watch, what do you think?
From the Ohio Beacon Journal:
If it’s Thursday, this must be the mailbag . . .
Q: Whatever happened to the actors who had parts on the TV sitcom ”The Addams Family?” Particularly the actor who played Lurch.
A: Since more than 40 years have passed since the show’s heyday, many of its regulars are dead. Ted Cassidy, who played the butler Lurch, died in 1979 after heart surgery. Carolyn Jones (Morticia) died of cancer in 1983.
Jackie Coogan (Fester) died of a heart attack in 1984. Blossom Rock (Grandmama) died in 1978. Lots of showbiz history in those two. Coogan was a famous child star, and the Coogan Law protecting money made by child actors is named for him. (Coogan’s family had spent his movie income.) Rock was the sister of the actress-singer Jeanette MacDonald.
At this writing, John Astin (Gomez) is still with us and still working. Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley) was pretty much done with acting by the late ’70s but has worked on the crew for various productions as well as appearing at TV and movie conventions along with Felix Silla (Cousin Itt) and Lisa Loring (Wednesday), whose last screen role was more than 15 years ago.