Loretta and Me (The Loretta Young Trilogy)

Loretta and Me (The Loretta Young Trilogy)

This brand new book is about my firsthand observations of Loretta Young. Ironically, this is the book that Loretta wanted me to write. She was unwilling to author a first person biography, feeling too vulnerable in that light. Her idea was to charm me and then Iâ€™d write a book based on my impressions of her. This is that book â€¦. but not exactly as Loretta might have envisioned. She did charm me, but over time, she also recognized my candor. One day a friend of hers asked my opinion. Loretta quickly interjected, â€œBe careful. Heâ€™ll tell exactly what he thinks.â€ So, although I grew very fond of Loretta over the last decade of her life, this is exactly what I think.

I served as Lorettaâ€™s escort on many occasions with the rich and famous and even sailed with Loretta and Jean Louis, her last husband, on a cruise. One evening she told me that I was her best friend.

Excerpts:

There was a cloak closet off the foyer. When it was opened, little spot lights shined on two shelves, the top shelf holding Lorettaâ€™s Best Actress Oscar and the second, her three Best Actress Emmys. Her mother considered displaying the awards gauche and this was her compromise.

Loretta had fried us hamburgers which we ate in the kitchen. After she had stepped out of the room, Peter said to me, â€œMan, you donâ€™t know what a big deal this is! Iâ€™ve been waiting my whole life for my mother to fry me a hamburger!â€

I said to Loretta, â€œNancy Reaganâ€™s head looks too big for her body.â€ She replied, â€œActually, her body is too small for her head. I imagine that sheâ€™s dieted down to a point where sheâ€™s out of proportion. Also, if she were a vain old movie star like me, sheâ€™d have floor to ceiling mirrors to see what she looks like head to toe. My guess is that she does her hair and makeup sitting at a dressing table. Just seeing her head and shoulders, she doesnâ€™t realize how out of proportion she looks.

Loretta pressed the flashing message button on her phone. Once she realized who it was, she rolled her eyes and held the receiver out so that I could hear. It was Nancy Reagan, scolding Loretta for never returning her phone calls.

The windows faced south and Loretta preferred putting her makeup on early enough in the evening so that she would use only natural light.

Basically, the third floor (of her home) was one giant storage area for Lorettaâ€™s gowns, hung on racks like one would encounter in a very upscale store. These dresses werenâ€™t a collection from the distant past; she cleared out the inventory now and then by giving them to family and friends.

We were about to end the second dayâ€™s discussions (about the making of CALL OF THE WILD) when Loretta sprang up and, with her normally controlled voice rising, said, â€œYou havenâ€™t asked me. You havenâ€™t asked me about Clark Gable and Judy.â€ I can still see her pacing the room, wearing a cream colored sweater and matching wool slacks. She was like a caged animal, a cage constructed by fifty-five years of refusing to directly acknowledge the matter, or face her inherent feelings.

I was very familiar with Lorettaâ€™s good jewelry, as she wore it on occasions for which I was her escort. I also carried her diamonds and emeralds in the inside pocket of my sportâ€™s jacket when we travelled. No one would be looking for it on me, and these were days prior to airport security checks.

Shortly after arriving, Loretta eyed some piles of what looked like cocaine on separate flat mirrors. Elizabeth (Taylor) came up behind her and said, â€œLoretta, dear, get out of here. This isnâ€™t your kind of party.â€

I was seated at a table directly across from Loretta when Bob and Delores Hope arrived at our table. Even before they had sat down, Frank Sinatra, who looked fine but shuffled like an old man, came from the next table to greet the Hopes. After he left, Bob Hope asked his wife, â€œWho was that?â€ She replied, â€œSinatra.â€ I had the feeling they had all been around too long.
Country USA
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2015-12-09
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2015-12-09
Format	Kindle eBook

Loretta and Me (The Loretta Young Trilogy)

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