 | As a youthful 20-something aspiring actress, I adored Vivien Leigh and like many people, discovered her first in Gone With The Wind at a 1954 showing in our local small-town cinema. After that I collected photos and memorabilia (where it all is now I have no idea) and continued my devotion to her as I became part of a community theater in a neighboring town. I always joked with my friends that the only actresses I ever really cared to meet personally were the two "O'Hara's" Scarlett and Maureen. Little did I know then that my wishes would come true - one in 1960 and the other in 1995. |
|
I lived about 100 miles from Chicago and noticed in the Chicago Tribune
one day that Vivien Leigh was opening in a play Duel of Angels at the
Blackstone Theater there. This was my opportunity and I pounced on it.
Together with some friends in my theater group, we set about to getting
tickets to a performance the following week. Next I typed a tidy little
letter to Ms. Leigh c/o of the theater (I reasoned she'd be in rehearsal
there) simply telling her we were attending a performance, and asking if I
could meet her after that performance; and mailed it off. The morning we
were to leave for the drive to Chicago, the mailman arrived with a
response from Ms. Leigh. It was on Ambassador Hotel notepaper,
typewritten but signed by Ms. Leigh (the signature has been authenticated
recently) stating she'd be happy to meet me. Whoa! I was wild with
excitement and anticipation. This couldn't be happening!!!!
I can remember very little about the play. All I could think of was getting to meet her later. I do remember the elegance of her executing a simple gesture of stage business like pouring wine into a goblett from a wine decanter. She was eloquent in every speech and every move. After the final curtain the theater emptied and we remained there. Soon a gentleman appeared on the stage, came down into the auditorium - I showed him the letter from Ms. Leigh and he escorted us outside (there were 4 of us) and through the outside entrance to the stage door, passing all these people from the press and adoring fans. I felt like the Queen herself. Upon entering the dressing room I saw Ms. Leigh seated in a robe, still in her stark white stage make-up. I remember the dressing room was spotless - terribly neat - not like the ones our theater group managed to destroy. A picture of Olivier was on the dressing table. Ms. Leigh extended her hand to me (I managed to barge through the door first) and she said in this deep, rather husky voice "Hellewwwwww Miss Pawkawwwww" (Parker) drawing out the heavy British accent with elegance. I shook her hand and the most I can remember is she asked what our theater group was doing and I complimented her on her performance. I mean really - what does a 20 year old girl from a little midwestern town theater group say to Lady Olivier? We posed for a picture or two and forgot totally to get her to sign the Playbill - I can't believe I forgot to do that. We then left, we drove the 100 miles back to Dixon, Illinois where I lived and met with the rest of our friends at the local night-club hangout "The Rainbow Inn" and shared our heddy experience with "the little people." LOL I of course could not wash the hand that touched Vivien Leigh for at least 24 hours. Managed to get a write up in the local paper and then put it all aside for the years to follow. Little did I know then that I had been afforded an opportunity that few others would experience in my little realm of fan-dom so I am extremely grateful. I went on to do the normal things; I was married and raised 5 children. Never met any other celebrity except Maureen O'Hara which occurred in 1995. That's another story. It is just so sad that Vivien's life was so short. She was an incredible actress and a truly and icon of Cinema history. June Parker Beck 12-28-98 |
 | June Parker Beck is the webmaster of Maureen O'Hara: Legend of the Silver Screen. She is an excellent writer and is also a personal friend of Maureen and her web site carries the most recent information on the lovely seventy-eight year old O'Hara. |