Uncle Reg was a director, editor, sound editor, writer, and actor from 1943 to 1970. I'd just graduated from high school, mid-year. Ken left for Vietnam on February 6th, and I was missing him terribly. My graduation present was the flight to Los Angeles for 3 weeks--my first flight in an airliner--and then on to Colorado for two weeks to visit my half-sister and her husband and children whom I'd only become acquainted with a few years before. The trip would help occupy my thoughts and shorten the year that Ken would be away. Upon arriving in warm, sunny California after being in cold, snowy Michigan I was struck by all the flowers! The first thing Aunt Irene did when I got into the car was hand me the first of many letters that would arrive for me from Ken. This may account for why I have so few photographs--I was too preoccupied with missing Ken to be totally present.
The awards dinner, which was a few days later, seems a blur to me now. I do remember a few things. I was barely 17 and the only formal dress I had was my Junior Prom dress, but my Aunt took me to the hairdressers and helped me with my make-up, so I didn't feel too much a little girl....
But those bows?? Really, what was I thinking? I made up for it when they took me to Las Vegas a few weeks later. I had my hair up again, bangs parted on the side--minus the bows--and wore a black dress that my Aunt had bought for me. I thought you only had to be 18 to get into the casinos which I felt confident I looked, so when I went back to the casino the next day wearing a yellow dress and was not allowed in I was rather shocked to learn you had to be 21. If I had known I probably would not have been so bold as to attempt to get in the night before.
Anyway, this evening at the Hilton Hotel was amazing. This was our meal....
Of course I had to collect a few napkins....
Every attendee got one of these with our name on it, only they misspelled my first name (K instead of a C)....
Darryl Zanuck was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Guild that evening. His miniature directors chair was auctioned last year. The minimum bid was $1,000 and 6 bids had been placed on it! Do you think I could get that much for mine?! ☺
These were the contenders for movies and TV shows being recognized at the dinner....
I don't recall if all these directors were in attendance and I wouldn't have known any of them anyway, but I did recognize Alfred Hitchcock who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The highlight of the evening was the dancing that followed. Many actors and actresses came in support of their director. As I danced with my uncle I saw Tony Curtis dancing nearby, as were Jerry Lewis, Charleton Heston and Michael Ansara who was dancing with his wife, Barbara Eden. But guess who I passed coming out of the ladies room just as I was going in?! Faye Dunaway! She was nominated that year for Best Actress for the Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for her role as Bonnie in Bonnie & Clyde. She looked very much like this photo I found taken of her a few months before....
So who won the Director's Award that year? It was Mike Nichols for The Graduate. He would also go on to win the Best Director Oscar® at the Academy Awards in April....
While I did not get to actually meet any of the actors, I did get to meet a former star in cowboy movies while I was in L.A. -- Russell Hayden. He and Uncle Reg had worked together and been friends for years, so we went to his house for a BBQ one evening.
I still don't understand why I didn't get discovered while I was in Hollywood! Must have been those bows in my hair.....
What a lovely affair to have attended. Your aunt and uncle were quite generous to have included you in such a swanky dinner. I love the picture of you in your formal attire--even with the bows in your hair, you look beautiful. ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha Ellen. I think being amongst all those movie stars made me feel like one for the night!
DeleteWhat an amazing experience for you and sweet to look back on. the dress, hair style, etc all look very familiar! And I don't think we took that many photos back then, as we didn't have the ease of digital cameras were you can take and toss with abandon! How cool the movie stars you saw! And Alfred Hitchcock!
ReplyDeleteYes, very 60's Dotsie! You're right about film cameras, but you'd think I'd want to document such a special event for myself. I think I really was sort of out of it between Ken leaving, graduating early from high school, and the trip itself--I was definitely out of my comfort zone.
DeleteWow...what an awesome privilege for you!! So sweet of your family to make that year away from Ken as enjoyable as possible. Great memories and memorabilia you have!!
ReplyDeleteI agree! So nice to have some good memories of that year. ☺
DeleteWow, Cathy! That's almost like going to the Oscars! It was so nice of your aunt and uncle to do that for you. Trying to take your mind off Ken being away - even if for a little while. They sound like terrific people. I'm a huge movie fan and know if I'd been there, I would have been sitting there just gawking at everyone I'd seen! Like the major hayseed I was! Charlton Heston, Faye Dunaway, Alfred Hitchcock! My only connection with the movies is that my dad was in a movie with Gregory Peck. Or as my dad liked to say, "Gregory Peck was in a movie with me..." It was a cold war thriller called "Night People." My dad was in the Army during the early 50s, stationed in Berlin where the story was set, and somehow was chosen by the movie company when they came to make the film. He didn't have any lines, but if you ever get to see it, he's the young blond soldier on the street looking at a film kiosk [or window-shopping, I can't quite remember] in the early part of the film. My dad was quite handsome, wavy blond hair, blue eyes etc - so that may have had something to do with it. LOL. I always try to watch it if I know it's going to be on, but it's not on TV that often. Well take care and talk to you soon1
ReplyDeleteThat is SO interesting that Gregory Peck was in a movie with your Dad! ☺ I have never seen the movie, but I will definitely keep my eyes open for it....Wait! I just checked YouTube...Guess what! The entire movie is on there. I will scan through it to see if I can find him!
DeleteJanet, was that him at the 1:57 minute/seconds mark looking at the movie poster with another soldier?
DeleteOMG! Yep, that's my Dad! He's the soldier on the right, standing in front of the "Niagara" movie poster. I can't believe you found it! Now why didn't I ever look on YouTube? I never realized they have whole movies there - it was the neatest thing to watch it on my Mac! I'm going to e-mail all my brothers and sisters right now and let them know it's there. They'll be glad too, because as I said, it's not run on TV too often - and then usually only on Turner Cassic Movies. Thank you so much for looking for it, Cath. I never would have thought of YouTube on my own. PS - it doesn't really make sense, because I know Gregory Peck didn't "cast" Dad in the movie, but I've had a big soft spot for him ever since. Well thanks again, Cathy - you really made my day! Big virtual hug comin' at ya! xoxo
DeleteJanet, I'm thrilled to have found it for you. I've just taken 2 screen shots of it for you and have sent them to you using the "message" feature on your Google profile. If you want I can e-mail them to you if you prefer. You can find my e-mail address on my Profile.
DeleteHey, Cathy - I'll check Google for the screen shots and thanks again. I know my sibs and I will get a kick out of them. My nephew is also very impressed that Grandpa was in a movie. He doesn't remember him too well because he was only 3 when Dad died, so this is really great. We were actually surprised by Dad being in this movie, because he was not at all an "out-front-look-at-me" type of person. Quite quiet, more of a thinker over all. I think he just did it for fun. There weren't any lines and it must have been interesting to watch a movie being made, even if just for one day. Anyway, thanks so much again. You definitely made my week! :>)
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