For years, Laurel and Hardy’s films from the 1940’s have been picked on, put down, and shunned by most Laurel and Hardy fans. In recent days, the films have seen new life by getting very nice DVD reissues and have been re-evaluated by many fans who now consider them small masterpieces in their own right. I typically try to stay out of any discussion on the merits (or lack of them) of the 1940’s films. Mostly because I simply don’t care. The films are what they are and they now more than sixty years old…so what does it really matter? Some are crap, some have their moments, and some I completely enjoy – all while recognizing that none of them live up to the standards set in the 1930’s films made at the Hal Roach Studios.
So now that I’ve gotten that tirade out of the way, I want to recall meeting two of the very attractive leading ladies from two of these 1940’s films: Vivian Blaine and Trudy Marshall, who respectively starred in Jitterbugs and The Dancing Masters and seen above left in a photo taken by my Dad, getting ready to sign my book (I’m not pictured though). Vivian Blaine also went on to surprise Laurel and Hardy with her appearance on This Is Your Life in 1954.
They were both sitting together on my last day at the Hollywood ’80 Sons of the Desert convention and placed their signatures on pages next to each other in the book. At the time, I hadn’t seen either film that they were in with L&H, but somehow their names sounded strangely familiar. Trudy Marshall didn’t do much noteworth after (or before) her role in The Dancing Masters, but Vivian Blaine went on to star in Guys and Dolls, for which she became rather well-known.
Vivian Blaine receives an appreciation from the Sons
Unfortunately, I never got a chance to meet Vivian Blaine again after Hollywood ’80, before she passed away in 1995. In fact, I was never able to actually get her signature on a Laurel and Hardy (or any other, for that matter) photo. I settled for purchasing the snapshot seen below which was taken in 1979 and signed in 1980 – less than six months before I met her.
Trudy, however, I got to see again on several occasions, although our reunion wouldn’t come until ten years after the Hollywood ’80 convention when she appeared at the 1990 Sons convention in Clearwater. I spent a good portion of one evening chatting with her (as you can read more about here). She subsequently came to the next three Sons conventions in 1992, 1994, and 1996. She was truly a sweet lady. She passed away in 2004, and I visited her final resting place in 2007 – as seen here.
Trudy receives her certificate of appreciation
One of many signed photos I acquired of Trudy Marshall, this one signed in 1992
Celebs of Hollywood ’80 will continue…
You’ve been very fortunate to meet such cool people. I’m a bit jealous!
Amber
January 17th, 2008