Bernadette Schwartz, 1947-2016

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Friends, it’s been a very long night. Neither my husband Jake or I could really fall sleep until about two hours ago, literally. And our sleep was brief…because the phone call finally came a little while ago.

 

Yes, our good friend Bernadette Schwartz (pictured above at the Nelson Eddy Drive dedication) left us early this morning. For over two decades she handled our Jeanette and Nelson social media and fan groups, she has been my right arm, my friend, my helper, my sounding board, someone who could be trusted with any information, the person who could quickly find a photo I needed among 5,00 plus stored online, or a newspaper clipping or a quote from one of our sources when I was buried in my computer, working. She was there for me recently when I myself was in the hospital (coming to camp out at our place was an almost 4-hour bus ride one way for her), encouraging me and happy to just sit patiently whether I was screaming in pain, venting my frustration, or trying to learn to stand up and walk again after fracturing my back. Bern always had compassion, tolerance, a wry commentary or a chuckle and a witty commentary to lighten the mood in any situation. She was kind to all the fans and treated them with dignity and respect whether they were in their teens or their nineties. The outpouring of love on the Facebook groups she moderated is a testimony to the kind of person she was – and is.

 

 
By the way, the above amusing photo was taken on a special day a few years back when she and a few other of my trusted researchers got together to surprise me with not only their handmade outfits but a crazy, fun day together laughing ourselves silly…laughter is so healing when you’re dealing with tragedy. (From left to right: Cecilia Rodriguez, Bern, Angela Messino, Patrice Messina, Anne Billingsley and Maria Escano.)

 

The photo below is of Bern and the bust of Anna May Wong sculpted by Nelson Eddy:

 

And below, with Gene London who owns many of Jeanette’s film gowns and some of Nelson’s as well. Bern helped coordinate with Gene our being able to view his amazing collection:

 

 
 

Most of all, Bern had unshakable loyalty. That’s a rarity when you’re dealing with anything Hollywood. I’m just glad she’s not suffering anymore and I’m certain she’s broken free and is soaring now.

 

The photo above was at a club meeting at Maria Escano’s home, pictured are (from left to right) Roy and Anne Billingsley, Angela Messino, Cecilia Rodriguez and Bern. And below with Maria Escano:

 

More photos, at the Smoke House restaurant where Jeanette and Nelson ate across the street from Warner Bros. Studios and not far from their hideaway home on Mariposa in Burbank. Also with Vivienne Clowes-Hollins and Katie Gardner:

 

And finally, a wonderful shot of my daughter Juliet, me, Bern and Lee Quindlen (one of my “Sweethearts” sources) in NYC:

 

We love you, Bern, and all your dedication and hard work on behalf of Jeanette and Nelson. And thank you again for your friendship.
***
For those of you who want to attend Bernadette Schwartz’s funeral and/or send flowers or perhaps make a donation in her name, here are the details:
 
Viewing is from 5-8 pm on Friday, April 15 at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home located at 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin, NJ. Phone: 609-597-4411.
 
The church service is Saturday, April 16 at 11 am at St. Mary’s Parish located at 747 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat, NJ. Phone: 609-698-5531.
 
For those wanting to send flowers, please use this florist who was Bern’s good friend: Peggy Ann The Girls Florist, 18 Indian Rd, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Phone: 609-597-1599.
 
And finally, for those wanting to make a charity donation in Bernadette Schwartz’s name, she always said if she won the lottery she would donate to St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Donations can be made at their website: https://www.stjude.org/ or by calling: 800-805-5856.
 
Hugs to all…

Jeanette & Nelson tribute show in Dublin, Ireland!

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Calling all Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy fans in Dublin!

Join Sandra Oman and Simon Morgan for their tribute show, “Will You Remember?” on Friday, August 19, 2016 at the National Concert Hall. From the promotional material:

Sheldon Nulty Music presents soprano Sandra Oman and baritone Simon Morgan in an unforgettable tribute to Silver Screen Icons of the ’30s and 40s, Jeannette MacDonald andNelson Eddy, in song and projected images.  All of their famous cinematic hits –  Will You Remember?; Rose Marie; Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life; Lover Come Back to Me; Wanting You; – will be interspersed with stories of their public persona and private lives.  A concert for all lovers of opera and the Silver Screen!

For ticket information contact Sandra here or on her Facebook page.

 

Important updates re: the May and June upcoming events!

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The Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy events upcoming are going to be AMAZING. Two are upcoming and information about each plus tickets are at these links: Sturbridge, MA on May 1st, and Los Angeles on June 26.

I am not going to discuss the literally mind-blowing new information that will be presented at these meetings, and anyone who is helping me put either of these events together is advised NOT TO MENTION A WORD OR HINT ANYWHERE or on social media as to what will occur at either one of them.

The program that was originally scheduled to be presented in Los Angeles contains very vital information that most people were unaware of. For this we had a few guest speakers lined up to present this jaw-dropping info and get it on record.

However, the speakers scheduled for LA have as of this week all been shifted to the Sturbridge event which will begin, by the way, by my playing my recent audiotaped interview with the gal mentioned in an earlier post, who was in the Houston Methodist Hospital on the same floor as Jeanette because Michael DeBakey was her doctor as well. She discusses how one particular day Nelson, who was staying in the hospital “family room”, was frantically running up and down the hallway, alternately angry or in tears, going in and out of Jeanette’s room trying to get faster help for her, etc.

Then in Sturbridge I will speak on other matters and we will present the fascinating program that was originally planned for LA.

As for the Los Angeles meeting, may I suggest in no uncertain terms that you find a way to be there. These events are open to the public, you do not have to be a Mac/Eddy Club member to attend. (That is, like-minded folks are welcome to attend. We have a very clear policy stated in the “Terms of Service” posted on this website, and any potential dissenters should not purchase tickets, will not be admitted and/or will be escorted out.)

In my honest opinion, if you are able to manage it you should attend BOTH meetings, as the Sturbridge in a way sets the stage for some information that will be discussed later in Los Angeles.  In recent years, probably the most important and highly emotional LA event was the one in which Madeline Bayless brought the actual gold charm bracelet that Nelson gave to Jeanette. Last June’s event was also one of tremendous emotion and new information.

This June promises to AT LEAST match the the intensity and revelations of those mentioned above. We will have to make a decision on how much of the event video will be posted online due to the nature of the material.

So if you care about finally solving some decades-old mysteries that have eluded us with this story, or want to be there to witness a truly amazing afternoon, I again suggest that you make every effort to attend these events if at all possible.

We need a fairly accurate head count for food so I’m asking you to make your reservations THIS WEEK for either event. Again, the ticket links are here:  Sturbridge, MA on May 1st, and Los Angeles on June 26.

Thank you!

 

Health update on Bernadette Schwartz, our social media mod

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The photo above is Bernadette Schwartz standing next to the mailbox and entrance gate of 1330 Angelo Drive, high up in the hills above Benedict Canyon, overlooking the city of Los Angeles. There on the adjoining property behind the gates, further along the private road was a Jeanette-Nelson hideaway home, a bunkhouse that Nelson remodeled and that they called “Mists.”

Since 1998, Bern Schwartz has admirably run our Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy social media groups. Back when Yahoo was the only game in town, Bern started a Mac/Eddy Yahoo group where fans could chat, share information and photos, and discuss their films and lives.  Five years later Facebook became in the “in” place to hang out and Bern in time moved our groups there and has continued moderating them.

This last weekend Bern, who has been ill but doctors initially misdiagnosed, stopped breathing and it took some time for the paramedics to get her pulse going again (the true test of whether oxygen administered is actually able to be utilized in the body and brain).  Bern has been on life support since and although as of this writing she now has some reflexes working and has increased her ability to breathe on her own, she still has not woken up. Prayers are in order both for Bern and her family during this awful and uncertain waiting period. Bern’s blood pressure, which at one point spiraled pretty high, came right back down when her beloved Jeanette and Nelson music was played on her cell phone. She’s a fighter and we pray for her full recovery. Love to you, Bern, from all your friends around the globe!

Nelson censored 1960 letter: “Give her my continuous love & sincerity”

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Nelson’s writing about Jeanette: “give her my continuous love & sincerity” was not to be tolerated in one of the Jeanette fan clubs.

The fear of anyone taking Nelson’s word LOVE literally meant it had to be deleted from his letter! And quoted in their fan club magazine with a hanging sentence.

Hence the whiteout. On page 2 of an original, 1960 handwritten letter by Nelson Eddy.

Even though Jeanette herself published the letter elsewhere with that “offensive” word intact, Jeanette’s “official” biographer chose to quote that letter in his book but also with the word LOVE omitted.

In this blog post written by Katie, you can read the whole story and see the astounding degree that these people went to in their censorship.

One can’t blame some fans for believing in the happy Jeanette-Gene love fest, as this was crammed down their throats for years. The deliberate sabotage and attempts to belittle Nelson at every turn cannot be ignored.

That forbidden word LOVE stricken from this fairly innocent letter boggles the mind.

In addition, note that Nelson signs off the letter NOT with the word  “sincerely” but “sincerity.”

There is an “and” symbol, the ampersand – & – written after the word “love.” In other words, what Nelson is actually writing is: “Give her my continuous love & sincerity.”

The dictionary definition of this word: “the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy.” The first synonym listed for this word: “honesty.” Other synonyms are: genuineness and truthfulness.

Nelson Eddy was a master with words and here he is offering his “continuous love & sincerity” in such a truthful but sneaky way that this probably went over the heads of most others reading it.  Otherwise, who knows, the self-appointed censors might have whited out that word as well!

Thanks also to Angela sharing the original letter.

 

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