Stories of My Uncle, II
Kalani and Ginger Rogers. Yes, that Ginger Rogers.
People told the best stories about my Uncle Buddy, and they were usually true, so I have no reason to doubt Jill Charlotte Stanford’s account of his friendship with Hollywood legend Ginger Rogers.
by Jill Charlotte Stanford
Ginger Rogers!
Persons “of a certain age” will know that name instantly. But, sadly, with the passing of time, her fame has diminished.
Here is a thumbnail. She was born Virginia Katherine McMath on July 16, 1911. When she died in 2014, she died as Ginger Rogers, a Real Like, Really Tully Movie Star. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress as Kitty Foyle in 1987.
She danced with Fred Astaire in a number of movies during the ‘30s. Perhaps the quote from Ann Richards, Governor of Texas, will ring a bell? “After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” Not only could she dancer, she could sing. She could act. She was glamorous, and she was kind. Yes.
I got to meet her when she came to Portland, Oregon to appear in a state show at the Portland Auditorium in the late ‘70s. Kalani not only got us the best seats in the house, he arranged for us to meet her following the show in her suite at the Marriott Hotel.
The show was fabulous, SHE was fabulous. Even in her late ‘60s, she was clear, still, the Star of the Show.
In her suite, she appeared in a dressing gown with actual Maribou trim. A tray of tea and cakes had been delivered. She poured and handed us cups of tea.
What I remember the most was her luggage, piled up and ready to be repacked for her departure the next day. There was a hat box. A hat box!
She was charming, and I am sure she was tired, but she adored Kalani and put on a very brave face for us. We discussed her ranch in Shady Cove - down on the Rogue River, a place she loved very much. She was headed there before returning to Hollywood and was clearly looking forward to her “peaceful place.”
She and Kalani were “pals.” They each admired one another and they each knew the difficulties of being in the public eye. I am certain that Kalani was not “star struck” by this aging actress. No. I think he found her to be interesting and funny and a great conversationalist. She could have been a bag lady and he would have liked her for those qualities.
They met as often as possible. Sometimes, Kalani was in Los Angeles and sometimes Ginger was in New York.
It was one of those times when she was in New York that they met for dinner. They chose, of course, a very stylish but discreet restaurant, and settled into their chairs and wine, happy to see one another and catch up.
But all through dinner, they were very aware of a man, dining with his wife, across the dining room, who kept staring at them. They made a bet with each other that he would approach them—Kalani saying it would be before dessert and Ginger saying it would be after dessert.
Sure enough, the man rose to his feet (after dessert) and began working his way through the dimly lit dining room. Ginger discreetly pulled out her gold, monogrammed compact to make sure she was entirely presentable and got out a tiny gold pen.
The man drew close, and Ginger had on her most winning smile. The man stopped at their table and said, “I am so very sorry to bother you. But I just had to tell you that you are my favorite model. I buy nearly everything you are wearing in Gentlemen’s Quarterly. I just wanted you to know that. I am sorry to have interrupted your dinner…” and backed away, never once realizing that Ginger Rogers was on the other side of the table.
They did not collapse with laughter. They did not want to embarrass that man. So typical of them both. I can see them, with wide eyes, looking at each other and grinning broadly….
When she’s not sharing memories of my uncle, Jill Charlotte Stanford writes for and about cowgirls. Her other piece about Kalani Durdan was “Stories of My Uncle.” You can find her cowgirl writing at jillcharlotte.com.
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