Thanks for the Memory

Was New York in the 1950's really as glamorous as we here at SSUWAT like to think it was? Listening to the fabulous anecdotes of our beloved friend Merle Bassett, the answer seems to be a resounding "Yes!" Over the next few months, we'll be sharing some of Merle's memories of a bygone Manhattan with you. We'd like to thank him for his time and graciousness in this endeavor, which we admittedly begged him to participate in! We inaugurate this series with what may not be the dishiest or raciest of his tales (keep watching this space!), but one which describes his (near) encounter with the most elusive superstar of them all.

Greta Garbo by Cecil Beaton, 1946

"I often dreamed of meeting the great Greta Garbo and in 1959, almost did! She lived on 52nd Street and the East River; I lived on 51st Street and 3rd Avenue. There was a Swedish delicatessen near my studio and I often went there to get sandwiches for me and my model. One cold winter afternoon I went to this delicatessen for sandwiches. When I got there I saw Garbo smiling and chatting (yes, chatting!) with the counterman! I froze in my tracks as I was about 15 feet away from this film icon, trying desperately not to stare. I stood there, watching the lady out of the corner of my eye. I was unsuccessful in hearing what she was saying and decided to leave before I made a complete fool of myself. When I returned to the studio, my model asked 'Where's our lunch?' I had forgotten all about our sandwiches." - Merle Bassett

Merle Bassett, 1950's

That Continental Touch

"If she'd been American, I think the...audiences would have thought her sort of dykey." - Gale Sondergaard on Greta Garbo

Eye of the Beholder

"The most beautiful woman stars are Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Dolores Del Rio and Hedy Lamarr. Not in any special order." - Flora Robson

Puff Piece

Peas in a Pod

EDDIE "ROCHESTER" ANDERSON
September 18, 1905 - February 28, 1977

GRETA GARBO
September 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990

ROSSANO BRAZZI
September 18, 1916 - December 24, 1994

FRANKIE AVALON
September 18, 1939

Rochester and Garbo; Rossano and Frankie. In each case, two great tastes that taste great together. At least in our twisted little world.

Garbo

GRETA GARBO
September 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990

Steichen Sirens

By George

The quintessential "leading man," George Brent appeared with nearly every top-rank female star of the 1930's and 1940's: most notably, Bette Davis, with whom he co-starred in more than a dozen films; as well as Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Claudette Colbert, Joan Fontaine, Merle Oberon, and Ann Sheridan (who was, briefly, the third Mrs. Brent). Always a leading man, never quite a superstar in his own right, Brent was the perfect foil for these glamorous, tempestuous women: strong, solid, and reliable, he let the personalities of his female co-stars shine through, without appearing like a milquetoast.

WITH ANN SHERIDAN IN HONEYMOON FOR THREE (1941)

WITH GRETA GARBO IN THE PAINTED VEIL (1934)

WITH BETTE DAVIS IN DARK VICTORY (1939)

Born March 15, 1899 in Ireland, Brent made his initial show biz splash on Broadway, in the provocatively titled Love, Honor and Betray (1930). He was brought to Hollywood as a possible Warner Bros. rival to Metro's rising he-man, Clark Gable; while Brent was handsome and likable, he lacked the dynamism which would place him in Gable's category. He also seemed perpetually bemused by the whole ordeal:

Shortly after his arrival in Hollywood, Brent married the elegant Ruth Chatterton, then one of the most highly-regarded stars of the day. Their two year marriage was followed by a short union with Australian Constance Worth, who starred in a number of Poverty Row productions and serials; and then his aforementioned nuptials with Ann Sheridan. These brief encounters were preludes for Brent's fourth and final marriage to ex-model Janet Michaels -- a partnership which lasted for 27 years, until her death in 1974.

RUTH CHATTERTON

CONSTANCE WORTH

George Brent retired once his leading man days were over in the early 1950's; his was not the kind of talent or image which would translate into character roles. He passed away in 1979 from emphysema; what he left behind was a legacy as perhaps the greatest leading man of the classic "Women's Picture" genre. And for that, we Women's Picture devotees salute him. Happy Birthday, George Brent!

GEORGE BRENT
March 15, 1899 - May 26, 1979

Head Clutching 101

Senior Staff Hedy Lamarr, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford

THANKS

Birthday Triptych

Strange bedfellows, to say the least; but we consider ALL of these celebrants worthy denizens of Stirred, Straight Up with a Twist, and steadfastly refuse to play favorites or employ a caste system of fabulosity.


FRANKIE AVALON
(September 18, 1939)


GRETA GARBO
(September 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990)


EDDIE "ROCHESTER" ANDERSON
(September 18, 1905 - February 28, 1977)