Where is Jane Wyman?

Myself | 6/10/2004 | Myself

[wjersey]

The pic is from Maureen's funeral.

[Arthalion]

First wives don't go to husbands funerals.

Actually, I understand that there is an etiquette to this. Also keep in mind that in ALL circumstances it is perfectly acceptable for the ex wife to decline the invitation:

1. If a man and wife divorce without having children, and the man never remarries: The ex wife is invited to the funeral and should stand with regular guests
2. If a man and wife divorce with children, and the man never remarries: The ex is invited and should be seated with the family irregardless of extenuating circumstances (note: if the wife has remarried, her spouse must stand with the guests).
3. If a man and wife divorce without children and the man remarries: The ex should not be invited to the funeral unless a post-divorce relationship between the families had previously been established.
4. If a man and wife divorce with children and the man remarries: The ex wife should ALWAYS be invited to the wedding, but it is the discretion of the new wife whether she is seated with family or guests.

Too many dead divorcees in my family over the years for me not to know this ;-)

[TaMoDee]

I saw her too and at the time said: "That's Jane Wyman".

But then there are many 90yo ladies who look just like her.
To name one -- My 93yo step-mother.

[Ruth A.]

ane Wyman is a diabetic, though I could not find anything that said she was in failing health.
I read that she was a committed leftie and that she divorced Reagan because of Reagan's conversion to conservatism.
I also read that when she walked out on him she was fooling around with Lew Ayres, but the affair didn't lead anywhere.

I've read so many commentaries this week that I can't remember the source (was it Steyn?), but the word was Wyman never spoke about the divorce or their marriage--she being of the "old school," too. She never spoke out or wrote books, though it could have been lucrative for her. So, I am wondering what your source is. Leave the woman alone, is my opinion.

[the Deejay]

Lewis Grizzard! How I miss him!

Started my day reading his column. I have all of his books and pull them out now and then to have a good read and a laugh!

[peekaboo]

Did any of you hear Brit tonight talking about Michael at the capital and the fact that he was sittin all the way in the back and not up close with the rest of the family. He had a lady on tonight that talked about the dysfunction in the Reagan family and how Nancy does not like Micahel. He did not ride in the car with the other children. He did not appraoch the casket with the other children. He stayed behind when the others departed toward their car and stood alone for some time before leaving the casket, in California. This lady tonight said that Michael had written a book called "On the Outside Looking IN". If all of this is true he must be feeling very sad, with Maureen gone and not by his side.

[Bonaparte]

I heard similar rumors, too, quidnunc. I also heard that they had lost a child (Christine) the year before they split up, that Wyman's Catholicism was becoming more ardent (and her husband was not Catholic), that Wyman resented the increasing amount of time he devoted to SAG union activity, and a lot more. Who knows why they split up? I sure don't.

[Thebaddog]

She's a classy lady as well. God Bless Jane and all of us children.

[BlackRazor]

The general opinion of the day was that Jane Wyman considered herself a much bigger star than he was.

Well, she was nominated twice for the Best Actress Oscar, winning it once.

[Carolinamom]

I read somewhere recently that Michael Reagan is always in weekly contact w/his mother, Jane Wyman. He has tried to be a good son to her and to his father, President Reagan. He has been most considerate of Nancy Reagan as well. IMO Michael has been more of a son than the younger Ronnie, who I understand is a flaming liberal.

[deadhead]

By Bruce Fessier
The Desert Sun
June 8th, 2004

Actress Jane Wyman, who didn’t speak to the media about ex-husband Ronald Reagan while he was alive, recognized him as "a great president" after his death Saturday, according to a statement from a friend.

Virginia Zamboni, a fellow parishioner at St. Louis Catholic Church in Cathedral City and an event planner who worked with Wyman on several local charity fund-raisers, said Wyman authorized her to tell The Desert Sun, "America has lost a great president and a great, kind and gentle man."

Wyman, who was married to Reagan from 1940 to 1948, has long declined to give interviews. They spent many weekends in Palm Springs as a married couple, but Wyman was an active Democrat while Reagan became leader of a revitalized Republican party.

Zamboni said they didn’t speak for many years and Wyman wouldn’t discuss Reagan even while starring in films up for Academy Awards, such as "The Blue Veil" and "The Magnificent Obsession." She won an Oscar for "Johnny Belinda" the year she divorced Reagan.

Reagan only said in his autobiography, "Ronald Reagan: An American Life," "Our marriage produced two wonderful children, Maureen and Michael. But it didn’t work out and, in 1948, we were divorced."

Nancy Reagan said in her autobiography, "My Turn," "to this day, Ronnie has never talked about his divorce to anyone except me, and I respect him for that."

But Zamboni said Wyman, of Rancho Mirage, stayed in touch with their adopted son, Michael, about Reagan’s condition as the end neared.

Local print and broadcast journalist Gloria Greer said Wyman told her she "talked frequently" with Nancy about Alzheimer’s after Reagan contracted it.

[eleni121]

Michael Reagan is certainly the most like his father. A real class act.

[Darlin']

FOFLOL.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I liked and respected President Reagan, but you have to admit, he wasn't much of an actor.

[Hildy]

Still classy of her never to open her mouth. Things happen between people. Sometimes there is no good or bad guy.

[ClarenceThomasfan]

I read on another messageboard that the reason Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan divorced was because of his activity with the union and against communism. The family was receiving threats and Ronald had to start packing a pistol. I imagine if true this caused a lot of stress in the marriage.

[quidnunc]

Ruth A. wrote: {Jane Wyman is a diabetic, though I could not find anything that said she was in failing health. I read that she was a committed leftie and that she divorced Reagan because of Reagan's conversion to conservatism. I also read that when she walked out on him she was fooling around with Lew Ayres, but the affair didn't lead anywhere.} I've read so many commentaries this week that I can't remember the source (was it Steyn?), but the word was Wyman never spoke about the divorce or their marriage--she being of the "old school," too. She never spoke out or wrote books, though it could have been lucrative for her. So, I am wondering what your source is. Leave the woman alone, is my opinion.

The rumor of an affair between Wyman and Ayres while they were co-starring in Johnny Belinda is common knowledge, and Reagan himself said that he should have made Johnny Belinda a co-respondent in the divorce proceedings.

As for their splitting over politics, I believe I saw this on a TV biography of him, maybe on PBS:

1948
June 6: Reagan and Wyman divorce. Wyman alleges "mental cruelty." Speculation about reasons for the break-up ranges from Reagan’s obsession with politics to allegations of Wyman’s affair with Lew Ayres, her co-star in "Johnny Belinda."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/timeline/

Thinking it over, I think that what was said was that she left him because of his support of blacklisting.

Segment 3 (begins at: 15 minutes, 56 seconds)
Length: approximately 13 minutes
Starting image: photo of Eureka College sign

Reagan graduates Eureka College in 1932; hired as a radio announcer then sportscaster; moves to Hollywood in 1937 to pursue acting; makes 50 films; marries actress Jane Wyman in 1940; daughter Maureen is born; son Michael is adopted; Reagan's most famous role is as George Gipp in "Knute Rockne, All American," earning him the nickname "the Gipper"; elected Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) president; liberal Democrat becomes anti-Communist and an FBI informant; cooperates with McCarthy's HUAC; supports blacklisting of communists; Jane Wyman asks for a divorce.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/40_reagan/tguide/

[Chieftain]

Lewis Grizzard (A Great American) said no greater love and respect can be shown for a man than ALL his ex-wives show up for his funeral.:>)

I miss Lewis... he a great humorist, along the lines of Will Rogers.

[cajungirl]

Oh my! I was ignorant of the rules but they sound reasonable. I think if the relationship is good or was good between the ex and the ex spouse and the new spouse has no objections, it seems okay. but your rules are good ones!

[speekinout]

I thought Ford was also divorced.

Gerald Ford wasn't, but Betty was.