RULE #1: When you’re in the ‘meeting celebrities’ game and you stumble across someone who starred in a very famous black and white film, get a photo with them. RULE #2: If you don’t know exactly who they are, see rule #1. That may be a bit of an exaggerated bit of frippery for effect, because the fact is that I researched a bit about Ann Robinson before I met her at the January 12, 2013 Hollywood Show in Los Angeles. But before I looked her up, if you would have asked me who she we was I couldn’t have told you.
In this case, the famous film she was in was the 1953 version of The War of the Worlds in which she starred in the leading role as Sylvia Van Buren. This was actually her first credited film role, so it was a pretty big leap to go from uncredited parts and small roles in TV to receiving a shared second billing with leading man Gene Berry.
I’ll be honest right now and go ahead and admit that as of this writing I have still never seen the film. But I would have been remiss if I had skipped the autograph and photo op combo of Ann Robinson, because after The War of the Worlds, she went on to appear in a few other interesting things including a leading role in the 1954 film version of Dragnet, and episodes of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (with Our Ganger Scotty Beckett), It’s a Great Life, The Bob Cummings Show, Bachelor Father, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
And besides, she was a nice lady and at $20, it was a steal. Now when I finally get round to watching The War of the Worlds, I can say “I knew her when…”
Celebrities of the Winter 2013 Hollywood Show will continue…
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