The Baritone

and His Lady…

…when the lilacs were in bloom what were they doing?... and where were they doing it?
	*Our star-crossed lovers went their separate ways for almost three years, both of them hiding broken hearts.*

Part IX ........

Eleanor Steber

Nelson ended his Kraft Music hall summer radio series in September, 1949 and left on a concert tour. In early 1950 he signed a new 5-year contract with Columbia Records waxing his duets with Eleanor Steber, Dorothy Kirsten and Doretta Morrow. One clue to Nelson’s emotional state at the time came from Eleanor Steber. When the opera singer was asked how she got that recording deal with Nelson, she replied “I picked him up in a bar!”

Nelson gets an honorary music degree at Temple University in 1951

In the spring of 1951 Nelson toured the Southwest and then went to New York in August to do the Bell Telephone Hour from Carnegie Hall. By early fall he was back in Los Angeles to make his television debut on “The Alan Young Show” singing and doing a comedy sketch. He felt so good about that stint he began working on an idea for a television series called “Nelson’s Backyard”. Unfortunately the pilot didn’t sell and Nelson turned his back on any serious plans for the small screen. Against the advice of most everyone he knew, Nelson set his sights on the nightclub circuit.

Jeanette

Jeanette made her last radio appearance on the Screen Guild Theatre’s “The Sun Comes Up” in March, 1950 and that summer went on a concert tour. But she seemed apathetic about her career and very unlike her usual self. Friends were embarrassed and worried about the passive way she allowed Gene to verbally abuse her in public. There were reports that she attempted suicide in New York but she seemed to pull herself out of the depression in time for her television debut on “Toast of the Town”.

Jeanette and Gene out on the town

Then Jeanette switched gears and began throwing herself into work even choosing projects that included Gene. They toured together in the old Lunt/Fontanne classic “The Guardsman” and even planned to take it to Broadway. But there was still no chemistry between these two when they performed together. Jeanette’s fans applauded her performance but audiences left Gene hanging on the vine.

Then, in the fall of 1952 a new half-hour television program brought love back into focus. “This is Your Life” hosted by Ralph Edwards, brought celebrity guests face-to-face with people out of their past under some pretext or another. A canvas of Nelson’s associates made it apparent that Jeanette would be the easier target and her sister Blossom was given the impossible task of convincing Nelson to show up. She accomplished it by explaining to him that if he didn’t appear, it would look very bad for Jeanette.


"This Is Your Life" 1952

Guests were paraded in front of Jeanette …her 7th grade teacher, her voice teacher, a soldier she had danced with and her two sisters. Gene, supposedly still in New York, used a phone from backstage to continue the ruse. “Call me after the show” he asked her. “Will you be home?” Jeanette questioned and he replied” There will be no late date tonight. I’ll wait for your call and make the date afterwards”. ( Edwards looked a bit shocked.) But when Gene popped up from behind the curtain, Jeanette gave him a friendly hug. However, the change in Jeanette was evident every time Nelson’s name was mentioned and when he walked on stage she suddenly and tearfully melted into his arms. After a struggle with his prepared speech, Nelson caressed and kissed her hand before stepping back. But their love for one another was there for all the world to see.

Nelson took Jeanette home later. They sat in the car and talked about getting together but eventually it was Jeanette who made it happen. She planned little get-togethers with the help of his mother and soon they began to talk about new careers and ways to spend time together. Nelson wanted her to join him on the nightclub circuit so that they could travel together without stirring up gossip. But Jeanette still needed to finish her concert engagements so Nelson opened his first club date at the Tops in San Diego alone on January 21, 1953. It was a smash. Coming in the summer issue…. The 1950s continued…Nelson hires Gale…Jeanette’s health begins to decline. For more on the love story, read “Sweethearts” by Sharon Rich and visit www.maceddy.com

The Melchiors, the Raymonds and Guess Who?