I love hearing personal stories about Jean Harlow. This one comes courtesy of Wayne Roberts of Baton Rouge, LA, who kindly wrote to me in order to share a lovely encounter between Jean and his father in 1936:
My father (as a young man) had the huge pleasure of meeting Jean Harlow at Agua Caliente Mexico in 1936. My dad was 18 years old and was suffering from a terrible carbuncle on his upper back.
In those days, rest was about the only cure. So, he dropped out of college and my grandparents financed a train trip for him from Boston to southern California so he could rest in the warm weather.
He and his cousin who lived in Torrance, CA took the train to Caliente for a week and stayed in a hotel/casino there. My dad told me that the first evening his cousin went off gambling and he was having a drink on the hotel patio after dinner when Jean Harlow herself sat down. He told me it was really shocking to see a lady wearing slacks because they didn't in Boston!
He stood up and introduced himself and she asked him to sit down and talk. They each had a drink and he told me she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He also said she was bright, funny and very warm to a teenage boy many miles from home. After the drink she got up and left with a wave & a smile.
When my dad got back to his hotel room and his cousin came in, dad told he that he had a drink with Jean Harlow. Of course, his cousin though it was a joke.
The next morning, when the two of them were walking through the lobby, Jean was checking out. She saw my dad, turned and waved and said "Bye! Hope to see you soon Honey!" Apparently she was a fine lady who made a huge impression on my dad.
I guess his cousin about flipped. My dad told me he felt like the King of the World!
Gosh, I recall them both talking about it for years. It was their favorite story. My dad remembered that day for his entire life and told of it right up until he passed away in 2002. He told me it was one of the best moments in his entire life. My dad told me (when my mother wasn't around) that Jean Harlow was the most beautiful, and most modern woman he had ever seen.
Just thought I'd like to share with you - I DO know so much garbage has been written about her.
(So true! Thanks for sharing your dad's wonderful story with us, Wayne! ~ LB)
Each of them had something to drink and told that was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Thanks for sharing this one.
Posted by: קעקועים | October 06, 2011 at 11:53 AM