blossom rock

Remembering Jeanette MacDonald and Blossom Rock today

Remembering Jeanette MacDonald and Blossom Rock today

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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.

Remembering Jeanette MacDonald and her sister Blossom Rock

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Today we remember Jeanette MacDonald, who died on January 14, 1965 at age 61.

We also remember her sister Blossom Rock, who died the very same date, at age 82, in 1978.

Two sisters who were close in life… and after Jeanette’s early passing, Blossom bravely determined that the sacrifices her sister made at the expense of her great love for Nelson Eddy should not be forgotten in history.

We are thankful that Blossom was persistent in wanting Jeanette’s real life to be known and understood, and that Jeanette be remembered in Hollywood history as a great movie star and singer and icon of her era.

Below, Blossom and Jeanette. Blossom was a character actress best known for her portrayal of “grandmama” in the 1960s TV series “The Addams Family.”

Listen to Jeanette MacDonald mp3’s:

Dream Lover

Italian Street Song

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life (with Nelson Eddy)

Juliet’s Waltz Song

Indian Love Call (with Nelson Eddy)

Will You Remember (with Nelson Eddy)

Jeanette MacDonald

Abive: young Jeanette. Below: young Blossom, who used the stage name of Marie Blake until later years.

The two sisters…

Jeanette MacDonald debuts on Broadway…

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The photo above is a closeup from Ned Wayburn’s “Demi Tasse Revue” which opened at the Capitol Theatre on October 24, 1919. Take a close look at the girl in the center of the photo…yes, she resembles Jeanette MacDonald but those dimples give her away. It’s Jeanette’s older sister Blossom, who spoke up to Wayburn and got Jeanette her first job in the same show. Below is the full lineup of dancing girls.

And a closeup from the program, showing her billing as Blossom McDonald, still using the original correct Irish spelling of their last name.

In this important show, George  Gershwin introduced his song “Swanee” while another actress had her own scandalous featured song. Recognize her?

It’s Mae West! But most important to readers here is Blossom’s younger sister, all of 16 when she landed her first small part. Already her beauty stands out above the others. Below, a signed portrait of Jeanette from 1920; note she’s still spelling her name “Jeannette.” But don’t be fooled by her waif-life beauty, the set of her chin and those determined eyes reflect a young girl ready for stardom.

 

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