I just finished watching TCM’s Private Screening interview with June Allyson. As you may know June Allyson died last week at the age of 88. Many people today only know of her as an old lady in Depends ads but movie buffs remember her as a musical comedy star in the 40’s and, beginning with The Stratton Story and throughout the 1950’s she held down Hollywood’s image of “the good wifeâ€, playing against type only once in The Shrike. It was so much against type that, after test screenings, they had to give the film a new, absurd “happy†ending.
As I thought about June Allyson’s career I began to wonder.
Hollywood isn’t about truth it’s about images, painting in broad strokes rather than subtle touches, stock characters. Stardom is fleeting but the stock characters go on forever.
There are a number of these stock characters “the Heroâ€, “the Girlâ€, “Comical Sidekickâ€, “Heroine’s Wise-Cracking Best Friend†(portrayed by no one better than the fabulous Eve Arden but now held down by Joan Cusack).
One of these stock characters is “the Good Wifeâ€.
I suppose it’s possible to lampoon June Allyson’s version of the character as vivacious, perky, and always there for her husband but, as I say, it’s a lampoon. The steel in the relationship was always hers, too. Jimmy Stewart’s Monty Stratton would have been content to mope in bed forever if June Allyson, his good wife, hadn’t gotten him out, on his feet, and playing ball.
I think it’s arguable that, in the 1930’s, Myrna Loy was Hollywood’s idea of the good wife that its customers wanted to see on screen. She didn’t just play that role in the series of “Thin Man†pictures. It’s the role she played in Wife vs. Secretrary and The Great Ziegfeld, too. Definitely more glamorous than the June Allyson version.
“The Good Wife†character is still around. From the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s I’d say Anne Archer filled the role. Or, at least, was one of those doing so. And, again, the character had changed somewhat to satisfy what audiences wanted to see. This “Good Wife†had a career of her own, for example.
So, who’s filling the role right now? Maybe Maura Tierney?
Another example of how things have changed:Â Nathan Lane’s portrayal in The Birdcage is, in many ways, a version of “the Good Wife”.
June Allyson, personally and professionally, was vivacious, perky and always there for people.
She was as durable and strong, as she was fragile and gentle. She was a real-life Jo March, a
tomboy with feminine grace. And, June Allyson was as delightful and lovely in person, as she
was in the movies, on the radio, on stage, and on television.
As you stated, and I quote: “The steel in the relationship was always hers, too. Jimmy Stewart’s
Monty Stratton would have been content to mope in bed forever if June Allyson, his good wife, hadn’t gotten him out, on his feet, and playing ball.”
June Allyson and Memories: Gone, but Not Forgotten…
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0607160253jul16,1,3734229.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
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L e o n a r d J . B o u r r e t
4 0 – B P a s c a l L a n e
M a n c h e s t e r , CT 0 6 0 4 0 – 4 6 2 6
P h o n e : ( 8 6 0 ) 6 4 7 – 9 6 0 6
e – M a i l : Len9876@juno.com
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September 30, 2006
To: karen@karencadleinternational.com
Karen Cadle
Karen Cadle International
To: RutaLeeWebbLowe@aol.com
Ruta Lee
the Thalians
Links: Hollywood Salutes June Allyson…
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=12352, and
http://www.elportaltheatre.com/events/
Dear Karen and Ruta:
Re: Tribute to June Allyson – As a long-standing June Allyson fan for more than fifty years, I
was befriended by Dick Powell when I was a little boy. I have had the honor and privilege
of meeting June, on four special occasions, which included reading my poetry to her (which
she thoroughly enjoyed) at the Judy Garland Festival 2002.
I am moved by the gala event, Hollywood Salutes June Allyson, scheduled on Thursday,
November 2nd, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. I am gratified
that it will be a star-studded tribute to June Allyson-Powell-Ashrow, a fitting tribute so
close to the former Four Star Productions (the company which Dick Powell served as
president and studio head), and that there will be testimonials by many stars (including
Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, Margaret O’Brien, Gloria DeHaven, Debbie Reynolds,
and Kathryn Grayson). Will Van Johnson be able to attend? Can I share this information
with June Allyson’s fans (some who have loved her for over sixty years)? Please advise,
and thank you.
As a disabled person (thankful for the work of the Thalians), I have one request: Will
there be memorabilia available for this event? June Allyson is still very much loved by
multitudes of fans, young and old, with a new generation of fans becoming exposed
to, and enjoying, her movies–including “The Glenn Miller Story”, “Good News”, “Little
Women”, and “The Stratton Story”. June Allyson, more than average or fair-to-middling,
continues to be an exceptionally-bright star, to dream about and reach for.
I have been in phone contact with Dr. David, and he is most gratified by your showering
of affection for Junie. I hope that the Thalians will pay tribute to Junie, Ann Miller, Glenn
Ford, Jan Murray, Janet Leigh, Red Buttons, and others from Hollywood’s golden era
(so many have passed from this earth). May God bless you, and yours!
Warmest Regards,
Len Bourret
Poet and Writer
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On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:20:07 -0700 Karen Cadle writes:
Leonard:
I have gotten all your information. Thank you.
Unfortunately, Van Johnson is not well enough to travel, and will not be with us. He will send a
message, though, for us to read.
Karen Cadle
Producer, “Hollywood Salutes June Allyson”
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L e o n a r d J . B o u r r e t
4 0 – B P a s c a l L a n e
M a n c h e s t e r , CT 0 6 0 4 0 – 4 6 2 6
P h o n e : ( 8 6 0 ) 6 4 7 – 9 6 0 6
e – M a i l : Len9876@juno.com
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November 4, 2006
To: agans@playbill.com
Andrew Gans
Playbill.com
Dear Mr. Gans:
Re: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/103184.html (Hollywood Salutes June Allyson) – I
received an invitation and attended the November 2nd tribute to June Allyson, but came
away from the event feeling greatly disappointed and deeply saddened.
When I arrived for the event’s “6:30 p.m. arrival”, there was complete confusion and
disorganization. The “arrival” didn’t really begin until 6:45p.m., with fans being herded
into a “general admission” section of the El Portal Theatre, while the few celebrities
that attended the event were given “reserved seating”. And, some of the celebrities
that were promised, either were ill or didn’t bother to show up for the event. Esther
Williams, ill with a viral infection, gave a taped tribute. Dame Elizabeth Taylor (who
was supposed to substitute for the ailing Esther Williams) simply sent pink flowers
(pink was June Allyson’s favorite color), but didn’t bother to show up for the event
(obviously, the event was not important enough for Dame Elizabeth to attend).
Cyd Charisse and Kathryn Grayson were also “no shows”. And, to make matters
worse, Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli, and Mickey Rooney didn’t bother to show
because they were “too busy working and greedily making money” to attend.
Patricia Marshall did care enough about June Allyson to attend, as did Debbie
Reynolds, Gloria DeHaven, and Margaret O’Brien. It must be said that Debbie
Reynolds was the “energetic and saving grace”. In fact, if it was not for Debbie
Reynolds, one would have come away from the event feeling as though they had
attended “the obituary of a long-faded star”. June Allyson was more than a
movie star, and did some extraordinary things from 1960 on. She was an avid
educator and spokesperson, and appeared on stage and television. June Allyson,
a close friend of Judy Garland, even attended the Judy Garland Festival in 2002
(the Judy Garland Festival is an annual event to honor the legendary star).
Tab Hunter, who was dearly loved by June Allyson, graciously attended the event.
Melanie Griffith, a gifted actress who (unfortunately) was introduced as “the wife
of Antonio Banderas”, also attended.
Adoring fans (who have loved June Allyson for over 60 years) also attended, but
were not given any acknowledgment or a voice to pay tribute to the radio,
stage and screen icon. And, JuneAllyson.com was the only website given any
acknowledgment. The event left many fans feeling that they were and are totally
unimportant to June Allyson, but the fact is that June Allyson loved her fans, and
her fans still love her back.
Nevertheless (although this fan is “a nobody”), I got my opportunity to pay tribute
to June Allyson. I would like to remind Karen Cadle and Paul Ryan that it is the fans
who buy the tickets, and not the celebrities or the entertainment industry.
Very Sincerely,
Len Bourret
a June Allyson Fan
for Almost 55 Years
e-Mail: Len9876@juno.com
Copies: Theater Mania
Brad at Classic Movies
Reel Classics
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Why I Love June Allyson:
After her passing, I cried and cried, and really struggled to find humor in the grief-stricken scenario
of events, but I couldn’t find any. The fact is that June Allyson was a very significant ‘mother figure’,
who I really loved, because her personality really meshed with mine and she got me through my own mother’s death. My mother, who was my ‘sun, moon and stars’ (the center of my life). She was only
39 years young when she died of Cancer, and I was only a young boy of 12 not yet ready to sever
ties with my mother (death seems so final, and so permanent a separation). Both the maternal and
paternal hierarchy are a foundational connection, and are of imperative importance to a child. I felt
like a Bambi, who continued to search for his mother, until he finally accepted and realized his warm
and loving mother was never coming back to her earthly home again. June Allyson filled a void in my
life, and helped to compensate for the huge, gaping hole in my adolescent life. To tell you the truth, if
June Allyson had been closer to my age, I could have easily fallen in love. June Allyson possessed a
charming, tomboy quality which she carried with such feminine grace. She had just the right balance
of femininity and masculinity, as well as just the right qualities, to meet my exact qualifications.
June Allyson experienced alcoholism and major depression for 13 years, after the death of Dick
Powell, who she deeply loved (she and Richard were married almost 20 years). After marrying Dr.
David Ashrow (as equally kind and loyal as Richard), she once again experienced happiness and
peace. June credits David as the person who restored her life (she and David were married almost
30 years). She states in her book, June Allyson by June Allyson, that most women are fortunate
to find love once in their lives, but she found it twice (first with Richard and, subsequently, with
David). She was authentic, genuine, and sincere. Her tears were therapeutic, and her laughter was
contagious.
I shall share one example with you (my letter to Van Johnson, June Allyson’s frequent co-star and
dear friend):
October 20, 2006
Dear Van:
When I read my poetry to June Allyson, at the Judy Garland Festival 2002 (an annual event to honor the legendary Judy Garland), I shared with June how much I wanted to propose marriage to her, at the age
of 5! I told June that I would have proposed to her in 2002, but I was (quote) “too fat, too old, and too poor. Yet, living in picturesque and rural Ellington (Connecticut), I have become a ‘cowchip’ millionaire!”
I informed June that I have worn a clothespin on my nose, since the age of 5 (I was age 55, at the time
of my fourth and final earthly meeting with June Allyson).
In her book, June Allyson by June Allyson, the celebrity shares how black angus cows had broken
through the fence, at Dick Powell and June Allyson’s ranch in California (Mandeville Canyon), and
about the cows taking a skinnydip in the swimming pool at their exclusive estate. At the time, June
couldn’t understand why Richard (Dick Powell) had put the place up for sale. But, after telling June
about my experience with cows, I am certain that both June and I never laughed so hard about her skinnydipping cows!
June’s passing is with profound sadness, but I firmly believe that we shall happily meet again, and we
shall laugh about so many truly humorous things!
Warmest Regards,
Always,
Len Bourret
Van Johnson and
June Allyson Fan
e-Mail: Len9876@juno.com
Copies: Harlan Boll, Respected Publicist
Jean Kenney, Loyal June Allyson Fan
Lorraine Krewson, Loyal June Allyson Fan