Posted on 03/02/2011 12:34:05 PM PST by Deb
The morning after the Oscars the World lost an extraordinary person. Everyone whoever met Jane Russell had a story to tell and it was usually outrageous because she was the most honest, straight-forward woman I ever knew and if you weren't prepared, she could knock you down with her honesty.
She was my Godmother and my mom was her best friend from the day they met at RKO in 1945 until the day my mother died. She called herself my "Old, Aunt Jane", but she wasn't really my aunt, although I consider the Russells my family.
The best way to describe her would be by sharing the story of Jane at the Liza Minnelli wedding in 2002.
For some reason known only to Liza's fiance, David Gest, he invited an amazing collection of past movie queens to their wedding in New York. Along with friends Liz Taylor and Michael Jackson were names from movie history like Anne Jefferies, Jill St John, Gina Lollobrigida...and Jane Russell. Jane had no idea why she was invited, but it was all paid for so she went.
During the course of the festivities someone suggested Michael Jackson take a picture with Jane. I've never seen the picture, but I imagine Michael has somewhat of an odd look on his face because while they're standing there, Jane snaps, "Get your hair out of your face." Let me say here that, usually, Jane's comments were delivered in somewhat of a snarl and a startled Michael gasped, "Oh...what?" To which Jane replied, "Get your hair out of your face, no one can see your eyes." Shocked, but obedient, he complied.
Aunt Jane told me this story having no idea, I think, who Michael Jackson was or what he did and believe me she had a few choice comments on his appearance that nearly brought me to tears with laughter. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if she had known (which she may have) who he was. She just said what she thought.
But a better example of the woman happened as my mother was dying of cancer. Jane had wanted mom in a Santa Barbara facility that was close to her so she could see her everyday, but mother had exhausted her insurance and finances and I was going to have to figure out what to do next. When I talked to her about it, mom said, "It's not a problem, honey."
Great. I was going to have to tell her that she couldn't stay there any longer, when her nurse called. The nurse had been sworn to secrecy, but said Jane had arranged to do all the advertising and promotion (including personal appearances) for the little hospital in exchange for mom's private room as long as she needed it. Mom died there a year later, her family and greatest friend at her side. A friend who never mentioned a word about the great gift she had given.
There are a million stories and I'm sure you'll read a lot of them, but there was no one like her.
Rest in peace and love "Old Aunt Jane".
‘s mom.
Wow, you’re like lightening. Mom wasn’t around to FReep, but she was a FReeper in her heart.
But there also is Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Thank you for sharing... She reminds me of my mom who also was very plain spoken.
Did she do any recordings?
She did. I don’t know if they’d be at Amazon, but she made a few albums and she sent me the DVDs when they came out. Very sultry.
Really, really good article. I cried at the end of it.
I received a $50 iTunes gift certificate for Christmas. Maybe there will be some on there.
PS: my mom always thought that, next to Jane, her nose looked like a cauliflower and her face looked like a meringue pie in that picture, but I liked it.
Dick Powell was a Republican. How about that? One of the greats, in my opinion.
Thank you so much Deb, and I’m sorry you’ll have to miss her for a while. But only for a while :-)
True. And I bet she has ‘em running for cover in heaven.
Thanx for posting that Deb. What an honest and decent woman, and what a good person to have in your life.
RIP doll.
I just had to log in here to send you condolences on your Aunt Jane. What a lovely lady, inside and out. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful woman ever when I was a kid: Jane Russell and Sophia Loren!
I hope you are doing well--please email Mojo if you haven't heard from him--I didn't know if your gimli email addy was still in use?? Take care-
Linda
Hugs.
MORE H’WOOD CONSERVATIVES Fred MacMurray was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party who joined Bob Hope and James Stewart in campaigning for Richard Nixon in 1968.
In 1964, along with actors Victor Jory and Susan Seaforth, Colleen Gray testified before the United States Congress as part of “Project Prayer”, arguing in favor of Constitutional amendment allowing school prayer.
Dean Jagger remembered in the classic film, White Christmas, refused to work with director Joseph Losey because Losey was on the Hollywood blacklist.
Dean Jones became a devout born-again Christian in 1973–1974 and has appeared in several Disney movies and Christian films. A noted conservative, Jones also testified in favor of an amendment to the United States Constitution that would define marriage between one man and one woman.
In February 1944, Robert Taylor helped found the conservative Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. In 1947, Robert Taylor testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee regarding fellow actors whom he believed to be Communists.
LOL!
P.S. Your mom was a pretty good-looking gal herself.
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