Happy May Day! A good time to watch “Maytime” with extra insight. “Nelson… could not sing and look at her without crying. [Director] Leonard finally instructed Nelson to look to the tree beyond and sing to the tree…” From “Sweethearts”, Chapter 11.
From the last will and testament of Nelson Eddy: “I believe the body is useless after death… let there be no sorrow over the remains, for at that time I believe the soul will have found its destined way to the infinite.” (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967.)
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.”
Bumping this post up for the holiday season. As we listen to endless replays of Bing Crosby in the malls, retirement homes, offices and radio, etc., one can only wish that Nelson Eddy’s Christmas album had received the love it deserved. Or that he (if not Jeanette MacDonald) had lived long enough to be publicly cherished in the 1970s and ’80s as nostalgic national treasures, as was the case with so many of the 1930s stars. But it was not to be, and both Nelson’s and Jeanette’s lives and remembrances remained shrouded with secrecy – and lies – which their legal spouses dragged out long after their deaths.
But we can celebrate Nelson and Jeanette this Christmas week with the love and hope and holiday spirit they brought to others while alive .. and still bring to new generations today.
And finally….here is a video of Nelson singing “Silent Night” in German…as his Russian character in Balalaika sings to Austrian soldiers during a World War I truce…an event that really happened in history! Let us hope that we can learn from history and create peace in the coming year!
Thanks to Angela Messino for the graphic above based on a screenshot by Lynda Tucker.
Bumping this post up for the holiday season. As we listen to endless replays of Bing Crosby in the malls, retirement homes, offices and radio, etc., one can only wish that Nelson Eddy’s Christmas album had received the love it deserved. Or that he (if not Jeanette MacDonald) had lived long enough to be publicly cherished in the 1970s and ’80s as nostalgic national treasures, as was the case with so many of the 1930s stars. But it was not to be, and both Nelson’s and Jeanette’s lives and remembrances remained shrouded with secrecy – and lies – which their legal spouses dragged out long after their deaths.