In reality, there was nothing mean or moody about her. In private, she was caustic about her movie image and publicity, but accepted it with a good-natured shrug.Here's what I think really made her a neat lady:
‘Publicity,’ she observed, ‘can be terrible. But only if you don’t have any.’
The irony was that her public image as a sassy sex symbol was belied in real life by Right-wing Christian beliefs and staunch affiliation to the Republican Party.
In 2006, at the age of 84, though suffering from macular degeneration of the eyes and with hearing aids in both ears, Russell put together a musical show, The Swinging Forties, which played twice a month at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria.Apparently, she was nothing like her Hollywood persona, and she had a realistic view of her own humanity and genuinely cared about those around her. No wonder she lived out her later years away from the Hollywood self-absorbed madness.
It featured herself and about a dozen of the town’s residents, including a choir director and a retired police officer.
Asked why she did it, Russell said: ‘Out of boredom, and because there was nothing much going on in town for the older folks to do.’
If you're really bored, keep reading. Here's what I think about...
Libya: We need to stay out of it
NFL labor talks: Millionaires arguing with billionaires. Don't care.
2012 GOP presidential field: Newt, Sarah, Mitt, Rick and Huck are yesterday's news. Time to move on
House GOP: I think they're doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. I'm encouraged, but I'm keepin' my eye on 'em.
Most interesting and entertaining talk show personality: Michael Savage
Obama's nativity story: I don't know. I'm an Occam's Razor guy, so I think the reason for all the secrecy surrounding his birth, school and other records is simply this: He hyped and leveraged his uniqueness to get ahead. Those records probably reveal he called himself a Muslim, African, Inonesian, illegal alien, black panther, anything that got him in the door and gave him special status.
Now, get off the computer and go enjoy the weekend!
8 comments:
Silver, couldn't agree more with the 2012 GOP field, and I also agree, Obummer will say anything to make him more relevant at the time. If being a bp or Muslim worked, I guarantee he went there..
by the way, how you been, have been here in a while (WMUR)
The thing I hate most about media is literally watching young, healthy, beautiful people grow old and die right before your eyes.
It is so difficult for me to wrap my mind around that. I can rent a video and Jane Russell is young and vibrant, how did time pass so quicly and cruelly?
Time takes its toll on us all, and I respect Jane for going with it instead of embarrassing herself trying to look 20 again, like so many stars do.
I also admit aging is harder for a woman than a man. The standards are completely different.
Whenever I hear of Jane Russel I always think of Howard Hughs.
... I think of those bra commercials.
She was a real lady. And I hope she is resting in peace.
And I agree with talking points.
I loved Jane -- the real one not the screen one so much -- but even that sassy buxom Jane was all right -- just not much of an actress.
Late in life I saw her interviewed by Larry King. She acted a bit tipsy, but maybe that was because she was hard of hearing? I didn't know about the hearing aids till I read our host's nice tribute today. At any rate, Larry asked her about Howard Hughs and the famous "uplift bra" Hughs had supposedly designed for Jane to wear in The Outlaw.
Her reply was comically down-to-earth. She said something like this: "Oh that thing! It was some kind of contraption he designed all right, but I could never wear it. I finally improvised some arrangements of my own -- stuffed a few handkerchiefs in my own bra, I think. That got the effect he wanted and was much more comfortable. I don't think he ever knew I didn't wear that bra of his -- or maybe he didn't care? All he wanted anyway was to create a sensation."
Great old gal! It takes real character and genuine humility to poke fun at yourself -- especially if you've been "A Reigning Hollywood Beauty."
Goodbye, Jane. It was fun to know you.
~ FreeThinke
As I recall, Howard Hughes was primarily responsible for putting Jane Russell on the map.
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