Happy 98th Birthday, Harlean!

It's that time of year again, when we remember the birth of "Our Baby" Jean Harlow, a.k.a Harlean Carpenter and this year's anniversary was marked with a very special get-together in Beverly Hills.

Party invitation featuring vintage magazine illustration

Harlean made her presence known via professional medium and spiritual counselor Sara Larkins at a 98th birthday luncheon held in her honor on Sunday, generously hosted Dr. Charles and Rebecca Chandler, the owners of her former Club View Dr. residence (Read details here.)

The spectacularly warm and sunny day however was not entirely focused on the hereafter.  It was very much about the here and now.  It was great to see so many familiar faces of friends I've met thanks to my interest in Harlean: Harlow historian Darrell Rooney, Reg Williams, Mark Vieira, Karie Bible, Scott Michaels, Ron and Maggie Hale (owners of the Paul Bern house on Easton Dr.), Cliff and Janet Gooding (owners of Jean's 1932 Packard, which they drove to the event, thank you so much!), Skip O'Neil, Bill Forbriger, Jackie Haskins and of course the Chandler family.

It also featured some virtual "six degrees of separation" meet ups between Harlow enthusiasts who until that day had only known each other via the Internet.

For my own part, it was a complete thrill and joy to finally meet Sharon Barnes and her lovely daughters Briony Barnes and Mallory Morton from Kansas.  We first connected around late 2000 or early 2001, when Briony was a teenager exploring her Jean connection online.

The wonderful Barnes family is related to Jean on the Carpenter side of the family. Sharon's great-grandfather, Earle, was the brother of Jean's father, Mont Clair.  Their website at JeanHarlow.info is a must-bookmark for anyone yearning to learn more about Jean's often overlooked paternal heritage.

  

Left: Jean photographed on the front porch of her Club View Dr. home; Right: her cousins Sharon and Mallory photographed on the same spot 70+ years later.

Briony, Darrell, Sharon and Mallory in front of livingroom fireplace

Above: Jean photographed on the stoop of her home; Below: Briony strikes identical pose there on Sunday.

Sharon and me in livingroom

Another first face-to-face meet up for me was with Jim Kaufmann, a Harlow collector and historian from Massachusetts.  This was a complete and total surprise to meet him on Sunday, having no idea he was flying in.  I'm still kind of in shock and wishing that we all had more than just a few hours together.  I think I met Jim online when I first started The Platinum Page, he was one of my earliest regular readers.  He's also a great writer.  Be sure to read his fascinating May 2006 article "The Hunt For Harlow."

  
Jim and me moments after meeting in Club View Dr. livingroom

Hats off to Rebecca Chandler for bringing her idea of a Harlow luncheon to fruition. The food was terrific, all items created from 1930s recipes including finger sandwiches, clam dip, fresh asparagus, quiche lorraine, shrimp cocktails, Toll House cookies and fresh strawberries.  Thanks to a magazine article culled from Darrell's vast (and I mean vast) collection, she learned that Jean's favorite food was apparently sauerkraut, so Rebecca came up with a clever recipe of potatoes stuffed with sauerkraut and sausage.  Dee-lish, my favorite of a spread that was mouthwatering all around.

Ron and Maggie Hale with Rebecca and Charlie Chandler

Special kudos to Darrell Rooney as well, who had a big hand in making the day special on so many levels - in particular by providing the numerous historical MGM publicity photos from his equally vast photographic archive, taken of Jean during her stay at the Club View house and including quotes that spotlighted her upbeat and friendly personality, as well as what was important to her in life.

Darrell presents Rebecca with a framed vintage image of her home

These are just a few highlights from a very memorable day in honor of Jean and the friendships shared between everyone in attendance who care about her.  I only wish every devoted Harlow fan I know could have been there, and there are many, many of you out there.  You were there in my heart in spirit.

I was so busy gabbing with everyone that I didn't take as many photos as I usually do, but the ones that did get snapped may be viewed on my Flickr Photo Album of the day.  I'm looking forward to reading  stories from other attendees to learn more about their own personal experiences and recollections.

My heartfelt thanks to the Chandler family for once again welcoming me into their home and sharing Harlean-inspired moments.  It feels so good to know how much you enjoy this house and that it's truly a home where the best of Jean Harlow is remembered and appreciated.

Most of all, thank you and Happy 98th Birthday to "Our Baby" whom we all felt present in one way or another on Sunday.

Bathed in the sunlight that Jean herself enjoyed while living in the Club View residence. Photo by Jim Kaufmann, who saw the moment and captured it so nicely - Thanks, Jim!

Comments

[Discount Coach Bags]

You may believe these four proverbs:
Better a frank denial than unwillig compliance.
By ignorance is pride increased; those most assume who know the least.
Beauty gains little, and homeliness and deformity lose much , by gaudy attire.
Being a well-dressed man is a career, and he who goes in for it has no time for anything else.

[Alfredo Guevara]

Estimados amigos:
¡Soy fanatico de Jean Harlow!
Me encantan todas sus películas.
Saludos desde Perú.

[Facaderens]

What a very beautiful and wonderful stair. And the looks on the other part of the house is FABULOUS and AWESOME!

[Liz Bridges]

Dear Lisa:

Thank you soooo much for the info on this visit to Jean's Club View Drive House. And Thank You Darrell for your vast collection. Darrell, you may remember Bettina and Liz when we were out in LA (in 2003 I believe) and you were so kind to show us some of your collection. During part of our visit to LA Bettina and I, of course, drove up Club View Drive to see the house and, of course, we were thrilled just to be standing on the outside! To have seen the inside must truly have been Heaven. So thanks a million for sharing your visit to my favorite Jean Harlow home. The lovely shot of you, Lisa, on the stairway is cast in a loving light, as if Jean is shining down from above. Again,Thanks!

[Darrell Rooney]

Hi Lisa, Thanks for all your kind words and congrats; it certainly was a remarkable day. Which reminds me that I have a bunch of photos to share with you. They will be forthcoming soon. I have a great one of you and Jim K at the moment you met.

I love the staircase shot bathed in heavenly light. Its a definite keeper. Thanks for being sensational and having this amazing web site. Its the best.

Best- Darrell

[paul hoye]

lovely staircase photo too...p

[paul hoye]

interesting to see briony posing exactly in line with the very same stones in the wall as in the jean photo... nice to see some things physicaly dont change...paul