My son Danny, Me, Maureen and her brother, Charles FitzSimons
-....giving
a new dimension to the phrase "Thank your lucky stars..."
"I
had forgotten ......" Those were words that seemed to preface so many
of
my experiences of the first four years of researching the career of
Maureen
O'Hara. I learned that there are many rewards to reap in nostalgia. It
wasn't living in the past - it was entering a whole other world and era
of cinema, and taking from that, what was best and most meaningful to
me.
At the Burbank Airport that day on January 27, 1995 "I had forgotten"
how
nervous I could be. I was realizing the dream of my life. I was going
to
meet Maureen O'Hara! I had trouble grasping the fact that it was really
going to happen. I still couldn't believe it!
Four years had passed since the onset of my little adventure of researching Maureen's career. I had a couple of articles published and had begun quite an adventure, visiting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Library, and interviewing some of Maureen's peers. On that particular weekend, I was in LA visiting a friend. On the day of my departure to return to Phoenix, I called Mr. FitzSimons, Maureen's brother. In the past Charles had been extremely kind enough to critique some of my writing for accuracy. It was an impulse really, just on chance that if Maureen was in town, she might have a minute to say hello. To my surprise it was able to be arranged. Despite time constraints of Maureen's availability and my flight schedule, Charles told me he would bring Maureen to the airport. It was well over an hour to departure and I reasoned that no movie star would be nice enough to leave their home on a weekend and come to an airport to see a fan - a complete stranger! I was wrong. There she was - Maureen O'Hara, on the arm of her brother, standing there, with that broad dazzling smile, extending her hand in greeting.
Then age of 75, Ms. O'Hara was so stunning I was speechless. Those eyes - oh my goodness those eyes! There was an electricity in her presence. It was really hard to appear nonchalant and remember the questions I wanted to ask. We found a table in the lounge near our gate, and visited for over an hour. My 23 year old son Danny was at my side - completely mesmerized. Maureen was articulate and concise and at one point reflected on her role as heroine in those "adventure" films, saying, "Oh I teased them a bit and then I'd let them carry me off" - with that she threw her head back and laughed. The time passed so quickly and it was almost time for our flight departure. Maureen was kind enough to sign a few photos I had brought and then it was time to take some snapshots. With her vast experience behind the camera, Maureen became "director" and staged the posing to ensure my photos would not have any undue shadows or improper lighting.(She was right - under her supervision, the photos turned out beautifully). As they walked us to our gate at departure time, by now in total awe of Ms O'Hara, Danny extended his hand in "good-bye." She grinned and gave him a kiss and a hug. What better place to be on "cloud nine" than in an airplane! He kept repeating over and over..."Maureen O'Hara kissed me!....she kissed me."
Everything to that point had been so subtle really. It began in 1991, I was then age 55. I realized I hadn't had much time for "me" over the past 25 years. Perhaps it was an identity crisis or just plain common sense. Raising five children was a fairly time consuming role, but one I had enjoyed. The kids were grown now and my job as a secretary wasn't exactly fulfilling my creative needs. Being a hopeless romantic, I pondered the possibility of there being even a small part of that "me" left. In the 1950's how I dreamed of being a dancer and performed in community theater; even did some directing and script writing.
The timing for discovery of my link with the past was perfect. One of my favorite heroines, Maureen O'Hara had returned to the screen after a twenty year absence to appear with John Candy in a comedy/drama "Only the Lonely." I had read that director Christopher Columbus wrote the part especially for Maureen. With this knowledge I was quite anxious to see the film. However, it turned out to be a bittersweet experience. There she was on the screen, this magnificent lady. She hadn't changed that much. At the age of 70, and with makeup befitting her role of Rose Muldoon, a cranky, bigoted old Irish mother to John Candy, she was still gorgeous. Those huge, expressive eyes, high cheekbones and smile were timeless.
In the final sequence of the film there is a close-up where the tearful Maureen is hugging John Candy good-bye. Maureen faced the camera with her chin on his shoulder. Then it hit me...that could be John Wayne's shoulder - another impact of reality. I realized that John Wayne was really gone! That fact was rather hard to accept when the "Big Guy" could be seen on TV in any given movie he ever made, on any given day. With the advent of video, John Wayne's legendary status continued to grow to gigantic proportions. It seemed I was thrown into some sort of mourning. I'd been very busy raising my children for the past twenty or so years - too busy to take stock of the fact that I was older, too. I left the movie theater that day knowing I had seen a charming film. However, instead of "escaping," the usual mission of the cinema, I was gently nudged into reality. Whatever state of mind this realization created, it prompted me to do some serious reflection on the bygone days of cinema.
Purely out of nostalgic curiosity, I began to see as many of Maureen's films as I could locate. Motivated by the chemistry of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara that sharply contrasted the torrid scenes of today's films, my adventure began. I started with "The Parent Trap." In the spectacular Disney cinematography, Maureen fairly exploded with color and energy on the screen. I remember her being a gorgeous woman, but "I had forgotten..." just what a dynamic screen presence she had. Perhaps it was the fact that I was now seeing the film through the eyes and mind of a 55 year old, not an impressionable teenager. My interest was now peaked. What was this dynamic lady all about?
I had to start at the library, a building that had seen far too little of me in the past. I quickly learned that if I was going to learn about Maureen O'Hara I would have to read intently on John Ford and John Wayne, Universal Studios, RKO, and Twentieth Century Fox. The absorption in my project and networking took the form of stacks of books, hours of reading, correspondents and new friends that became a web of information. Logically it was time to take on the real WEB of on-line computer technology. I subscribed to "America On-Line" and was soon surfing with the best of them. My network expanded and I began acquiring the older, more rare films. I was finally using my mind and the talents I had tucked away for so many years.
Naturally my family and friends considered my little hobby an "obsession" and I received quite a bit of teasing. One of my sons, Danny, came charging into my room one day as I was in my usual position, poised at the computer. He had fashioned a pillow case on his head with a cape, and a toy sword in hand, looking like a sheik echoing..."Where's Maureen O'Hara?... I will save her!" However, my skeptics changed their tune when I wrote an article about Maureen O'Hara that was published in an Irish magazine. Then I received a check for $200.00 for another article published about her in a nostalgia magazine. They couldn't have been more surprised than I.
Moving ahead, I didn't kid myself, thinking there would even be a remote chance of meeting Maureen O'Hara. I was, however, fortunate in getting an interview with her brother, Charles FitzSimons. My friend, Hollywood journalist, Angela Fox Dunn was close with the FitzSimons family, after interviewing Maureen in 1989. It was she who opened the door to meet and interview Charles. He is, without question, one of the most delightful, articulate and warm individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. As Executive Director of the Producer's Guild, with a background in the motion picture business in many capacities (from actor to producer) he was every bit as exciting to meet and talk with as any of the stars. He enlightened me considerably on the film business and his sister's philosophies and goals. He also echoed the sentiments that I had read as quotes from Maureen; basically, the family comes first. This is the secret of keeping your feet on the ground in a business that can be very artificial. When Maureen was making so many desert flicks her family jokingly called her "Maureen Sahara."
In February of 1996, I met with Maureen once more to work on material for the site and share information. Now it was different. No photos, just a casual, friendly meeting. That evening she took Danny and I to dinner and when we returned home, we said good night to Maureen and she stood in her driveway, waving goodbye, just like my family members always did after a visit. It was truly an experience I'll never forget.
I think everyone needs a hero or a heroine. In my case it took the persona of a beautiful, spirited star of the silver screen to make me realize that I was a valid person; that I had talent and if I wanted to work hard and take some risks, maybe I could do something with that talent. The dream of becoming a writer takes on less significance now because I've learned so much, met such wonderful people, and gained a treasure of friends and correspondents. That has to be the greatest reward of all.
In searching for Maureen, I found myself.
Essay copyright 1996, June Parker Beck
Memories of a meeting with Vivien Leigh
Back in the 1960's when I was in my 20's there were only two stars I ever had even an inclination of wanting to meet - Vivien Leigh and Maueeen O'Hara. Obviously I'd never qualify as a "groupie." Even then, it was never a driving force with me, just a passing "wish."
The first part of that "wish" came true in Sept. of 1960. I lived about 100 miles from Chicago then, and noted in the paper that Vivien was to appear there in a play "Duel of Angels", I wrote to her c/o of the Blackstone Theater, told her I was coming to a weekend performance and could I possibly meet with her. What a surprise when she answered my letter to the affirmative.
After the theater emptied I was ushered past the throngs of photographers, reporters, etc. at the stage door and had an "audience" with Lady Olivier for about 15 minutes. I can still hear her voice as I entered the room, with hand extended, and in heavy British accent her greeting was "Hellewwww Miss Pawkawwwwww" (Parker). From the photo you can notice her stark heavy white makeup.The play was entitled "Duel of Angels" - she played the angel "vice." Actress Joan Plowright played "virtue." I recall absolutely nothing about the play itself. I guess I was too nervous about the impeding meeting.
Shaking in my shoes, I nervously told her
about
the production my community theater was presenting
and that was about it. I mean what does a
20 year old woman say to an actress of this stature? So, we said our
goodybyes
and I returned to my home in Dixon, Illinois where I met members of our
theater group and celebrated in our favorite night spot. I of course
let
them shake the hand that shook the hand of Vivien Leigh. Ah youth!
