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July 9, 2013

Master Class #4 released: Jeanette MacDonald’s charm bracelet from Nelson Eddy!

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Jeanette MacDonald charm bracelet

I always think every Los Angeles meeting is the “best ever” but each one seems to top the last one…and perhaps the June 23, 2013 Birthday Bash for Jeanette and Nelson was the most spectacular of all.

For the last two years, our club member Madeline Bayless has been writing special spoken/audio/visual presentations that are given at our Los Angeles meetings by Linda Tolman. We nicknamed them the Master Class series because each one addresses a particular area of interest in the lives of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Seeing the presentations in person with everyone else was always a delight and complete surprise for me; Madeline wanted no spoilers in regards to the subject matter.

But this one was an utter shock  – once Linda stepped up to the podium and began speaking, within a minute or two I knew what the topic was.  And I couldn’t believe it…because it took a lot of courage on Madeline’s part to share this information.

Prior to the meeting, Linda Tolman told me she had at long last talked Madeline into covering this particular topic. So, first off, let me give Linda a huge Thank You for helping Madeline to see why this needed to be presented.

Thankfully we have a video of this event but even that doesn’t capture the raw emotion, shock and awe when the Big Reveal came. This was a brave, bold undertaking by Madeline Bayless – who by nature is a private person. Yes, I could use some of her data and direct quotes but not name her or provide details of her connection to the Nelson/Jeanette story.  I thank her from the bottom of my heart for deciding to share with you tangible “proof” that the Jeanette-Nelson love affair was real. In addition, she decided also to share the fact that she was one of my “anonymous” sources…and she elaborated some on the fact that her father worked at MGM in the sound department and that, on the side, he built Nelson’s home recording equipment. Her brother James was the person who saw Nelson and Jeanette together while he was at  Nelson’s home installing the home equipment. Her father was famous and innovative; he left MGM just before Nelson and Jeanette to be an executive at a new company – Capitol Records. Because Nelson was a family friend and business associate over the years, Madeline was aware of the Nelson-Jeanette relationship from the very beginning. And for those of you who wonder about their hideaway home known as “Mists” – well, Madeline went with her father to meet Nelson there so she can personal verify its existence and the fact that Nelson used it as a haven away from the house that he technically lived in with Ann Franklin. These are just a few of the bombshells that were revealed during the presentation.

I have told many of you that there are sources that walk among you who have first-hand knowledge of what went on in the lives of Jeanette and Nelson. They were there and witnessed some of it in person.

To read more about Madeline’s connection to the story, check out the Master Class page. You can also watch the video presentation at that link. You can also read the full  transcript here; in the interest of time, it was cut down a bit in the spoken version by Linda.

Here is a photo of Jeanette wearing the charm bracelet from the film Sweethearts.

You can also see it in the scene in which she and Nelson rush onto the stage for their radio broadcast; she is wearing a hat and holding a muff. In addition, here is a candid shot (recently obtained by Maria Escano) dated June 18, 1938 – Jeanette’s 35th birthday, and you can see that she’s wearing the bracelet here on her right wrist.

In her presentation Madeline used source material that some of you may be familiar with from the book Sweethearts. Other information came from her own personal knowledge.

As requested, I will indeed devote a lengthy magazine article to the subject of Jeanette’s charm bracelets – with charms given to her by Nelson Eddy. Yes, I said “bracelets.” She had three sterling silver ones as well as the special gold one. If you’re wondering where the clock charm is that was mentioned in the book Sweethearts – the first charm that Nelson Eddy bought for her because she showed up late at his concert – it’s on one of the silver bracelets, as you can see here. Two of the sterling silver bracelets are now owned by Linda Tolman. (When I was first told the story of the clock charm – Nelson’s very first gift to Jeanette – back around 1970 or so, my source said that Jeanette arrived late at Nelson’s Los Angeles concert at 8:40 pm.  However, Linda has since corrected me; she purchased the bracelets in 2008 and found that Jeanette apparently walked in at 8:23 pm as evidenced by the time noted on the face of the clock charm.)

Happily for us, three charm bracelets are “in the family” and serve as physical proof of the stories I was told decades ago about these charms and bracelets given to Jeanette by Nelson…long before either Madeline or Linda ever added these priceless pieces of jewelry into their collections.

closeup of clock charm

As a postscript, the “tree of life” charm I also learned about was large and actually on its own bracelet (not a small charm on another bracelet as I had initially surmised.) While no one we know owns it, we do have a photo of Jeanette wearing it (it dangles from her right wrist):

Getting back to the Master Class #4 video, you can hear a few people clapping at the end of it but most were silent – stunned, excited and unbelieving that the actual gold charm bracelet was sitting right there in front of them.  For me, it was a highly personal and emotional moment while attempting to thank Madeline for sharing the bracelet and some of her personal story. To have her come forward and say yes, it’s true; I was there and by the way,  here’s some proof of it – well, I was just so relieved and grateful that we could have that moment together with all of you. As you know by now, I keep my sources secret when asked to do so – even when it would be far easier on me not to honor those promises. So, I want to give Madeline another huge Thank You for letting everyone share in this experience.

I’m not sure one can get the full impact felt by the audience on the video. Afterwards, people lined up to study the bracelet up close. I wanted to share some of the written comments from our Yahoo group members:

You should have heard the gasps in the room and the silence afterwards as we eagerly awaited the bracelet to appear.  And then, there it was.  Plain and simple you could see in those charms the hand of Nelson Eddy and the love for Jam.  I think I got the biggest kick out of the pair of boxer shorts with the heart-shaped padlock.  Kudos Nelson!  But to also have their photos on it?  Priceless.  – Patrice Messina (who also took the photo of the gold charm bracelet pictured above)

patrice you are so right.. breathless… and then when sharon spoke and became so emotional after all these years ..there was not a dry eye in the house yours truly included i had to kiss madeline to thanks her and did hold the box the bracelet was in .. my god what an experience..and yes nelson incarnate in those charms his love and his sense of humor too – bern

When Linda unveiled the bracelet it was like a shining light from above with the words “The Truth Shall Set You Free.” Love that quote and it so applies. – Cecilia

Thanks to all of you who attended as it was such a special meeting as they all are but this one was “over the top.” Never expected to see such a treasure…..it is awesome. – Mary Lynn Grana

Linda and Madeline, thank you so much for sharing what you know and especially the bracelet. – Anne B

oh linda thank you so much.. my god- im so glad these precious items are in the loving hands of folks who appreciate and love our sweethearts- and keep tender care of them…i cannot thank you enough for sharing this with us ..i still remained stunned after madeline’s presentation and your great delivery of it.. it was hard to get through…if you noticed there was a stunned audience after the gold bracelet was revealed and i must say that this bracelet also fits into the beautiful puzzle that was the love of  j and n…the famous clock….i was so honored to be able to attend and to see these items that for me- and all hold such dear places in our hearts…thanks again no words left…bern

I want to also thank some of the gals from our Yahoo group who gathered up pertinent photographs that showed Jeanette wearing her birthday gift from Nelson both onscreen and off. Their detective work helped make this article about the bracelet more complete.

Once again, the link to the Master Class page is here. But if you would like to share any comments or communication to either Madeline or Linda about the presentation, please do so here in the “comments” section.

Let me close here by saying that there are others who might be reading this who still have information that can be shared; some of you have requested anonymity as Madeline did. Some have contacted me, others have not. If you know something, at this late date please re-think your silence; it is so much more rewarding and a relief to share it now with those who care while you’re still here to enjoy the experience. Back then it was important to keep their secrets; today it is important to validate who they were and what they endured in their private lives while still bringing joy to all of us with their careers.

Sharon

July 8, 2013

Final closeout on early Mac/Eddy Today glossy magazines!

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Mac/Eddy Today #50

LAST CALL!

Having just returned from both the south and west coasts, I have brought together all remaining original glossy magazines of the earlier issues from each location.  We have between 4-20 issues left of the following: Journals #50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60.

When they’re gone, they’re gone. If you try to order one that has sold out, you will see its status as “out of stock.”

My daughter Juliet is currently working on putting together new compilation books for all journals from #50-61. At the time those books are released (possibly before the end of this month), the xerox copies will also be pulled from our store.

Until they sell out, you can get any of the original early issues noted above at 50% off – only $10 each. If you’re a collector, obviously the original magazines are preferable. No coupon code is needed for the closeout price; see the available selection at this link.

Again, this is a last call – get them now while you can!

July 1, 2013

TCM schedule July 2013

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Nelson Eddy Let Freedom Ring

July 1, Monday, 10:30 AM: Rose Marie

July 4, Thursday, 12:45 AM (just after midnight) – for Pacific time it’s July 3rd at 9:45 PM): Three Daring Daughters

July 4, Thursday, 11:30 AM: Let Freedom Ring

June 29, 2013

Happy Birthday, Nelson Eddy!

maceddy Jeanette & Nelson We will remember 3 Comments

Nelson Eddy

Hard to believe that Nelson Eddy was born 112 years ago today, June 29, 1901.

His legacy continues to be vital and timely both in film and his recorded music. And interest in his life remains high, with new information coming forward even as recently as this week!

Please share your thoughts and reflections by leaving a comment.

We will remember…

June 22, 2013

Jeanette MacDonald’s “The Merry Widow” restored by Warner Archives

maceddy Jeanette & Nelson DVDs 0 Comments

The Merry Widow DVD

Warner Archives has just restored the 1934 film The Merry Widow directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald.

The New York Times covered this important restoration:

…. “The Merry Widow” stars Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier (in the last of their musicals together) and/or France, which for Lubitsch was a mythical kingdom in itself. Lubitsch, who was born into a prosperous Jewish family in Berlin in 1892, supposedly told an interviewer: “I have been to Paris, France, and Paris, Paramount. Paris, Paramount, is better.”

In his films, Paris becomes the fantasy capital of perfect freedom, tolerance and joie de vivre, qualities that were becoming difficult to find in the real Paris of the Depression, and by 1934, essentially unknown in Lubitsch’s hometown.

“The Merry Widow,” which has now been released by the Warner Archive Collection in a remastered edition with a much improved image and soundtrack, stands apart from the earlier musicals, both because it is based on an established piece (Franz Lehár’s 1905 operetta, which had already inspired two silent-film adaptations, by Michael Curtiz and Erich von Stroheim), and because it was made at MGM, where the atmosphere was hardly as free as it was at libertine Paramount.

But it is also a more reflective, somber and emotionally ambivalent film than Lubitsch’s earlier efforts, a movie that seems very much aware of the passing of time and encroaching mortality that the earlier works had so elegantly suppressed.

Chevalier is back as the irresistible roué, cheered by grateful women of the microscopic country of Marshovia as he marches with his military unit through the streets, and as in “The Love Parade” and “Monte Carlo,” MacDonald is a woman of power and independence. (No longer a queen, she is something better: a wealthy widow with an interest in 51 percent of Marshovia’s livestock.)….

The gigantic set, populated, according to the studio, by 600 extras and illuminated (at least partly) by gaslights, represents the high production value that was MGM’s trademark, yet the densely packed, shadowy interior is hardly typical of the studio’s brightly expansive house style. This does not seem to be an entirely happy place, despite the squeals of excitement from the women in residence when Chevalier’s Captain Danilo makes his triumphant entrance.

For Lubitsch, the impersonal manner in which Danilo orders around the Maxim’s girls The French critic Jean Douchet has proposed Lubitsch’s 1919 German silent film “The Oyster Princess” as the first movie musical, citing that film’s great sense of rhythm and counterpoint, and the carefully choreographed movement of the highly stylized characters as they glide across the almost abstract sets (the film could be the only comedy influenced by “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”).

The sets of “The Merry Widow” may have been designed by Fredric Hope and Cedric Gibbons (who won Oscars for their efforts), but with their bold use of contrasting black and white (a theme picked up in the costumes by Ali Hubert and Adrian), the film bears an unmistakable resemblance to “The Oyster Princess,” as if both movies were line drawings from the same hand. And as if to illustrate Mr. Douchet’s point about the musicality of Lubitsch’s direction, the film offers a climactic court-martial scene in which the dialogue is played as recitative, with an underscore that weaves in and out of the “Merry Widow” theme….

You can order the film at this link.

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Today in J/N History

1946 After arriving in London for a singing tour and suffering a miscarriage which delays her opening engagement, Jeanette officially begins her UK tour.

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