Autumn leaves....spring's colorful winter blanket.

The Baritone and His Lady…

…the end of a love song. 
                   
Conclusion….

After Isabel’s death, Nelson threw himself back into his work, but leaning on Jeanette in his time of grief only reminded him how much he needed her. So again plans were made to win his freedom. After months of legal haggling Ann finally consented to the divorce. Gene was very agreeable with the money deal Jeanette proposed. But when the time came to sign on the dotted line, Nelson realized Ann was going to bleed him dry and he refused to sign the papers. Jeanette pleaded but he stormed out of the office. Again they parted broken in spirit.
                           

Nelson compares..1936 -1962

Nelson returned to his nightclub act with Gale and Ted while Jeanette settled for a few public appearances and started writing her autobiography. She meant to tell the whole story including her love affair with Nelson but found she really didn’t want to share it with strangers. She kept leaving out bits and pieces until there was almost nothing left. Nelson angrily told her to forget all about it. Time settled the argument when Jeanette suffered a slight stroke and she went off to Europe with Gene to consult doctors there about her condition. Nelson wrote his will.
                                

Separated by an ocean, both Jeanette and Nelson felt lonely and depressed. Jeanette recorded a tape  thanking Nelson for all the happy days in her life and how much she loved him. Weeks later, when she asked him about the tape, she learned Nelson had never received it. He found it buried in one of Ann’s dresser drawers and threatened his wife with bodily harm if she ever touched his mail again. Later, in another low moment, Jeanette sent him a “goodbye love letter” that ended with “thank you for permitting me to love you”.
                   

Jeanette’s continued illness frustrated Nelson’s plans to rent a house in Scottdale, Arizona where they could go to live after he retired from the nightclub circuit. However, when Nelson was away the two stayed in constant telephone communication and talked for hours. When he was home, he continued to do television guest appearances and even Jeanette performed here and there when she felt up to it and attended social events to keep up appearances.
                   

Jeanette with Gene and June Allyson before heart surgery 1963

In early 1963 Jeanette and Gene moved out of Twin Gables for good and into two apartments at the Wilshire Comstock. During that move, Jeanette threw out a lot of her cherished possessions or gave them away to friends, keeping her fan collection. Her health was declining rapidly punctuated by weakness and fainting spells and she had at least one serious stroke. Jeanette decided to risk the new arterial transplant operation perfected by Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, Texas.
                          

Jeanette, Gene and Robert Stack after the surgery

Nelson left for his second tour of Australia in November, 1963 but, according to the press, had to return home because of some trouble with his vocal cords. It was the very week Jeanette chose to have the operation. She had wanted to keep it a secret from him but somebody blabbed. Soon the nurses were abuzz with “Nelson Eddy is on the floor visiting Jeanette MacDonald!” While the operation was a success Jeanette developed pleurisy had her hospital stay was extended at least 6 weeks. Nelson was so worried he collapsed during one visit. He decided if he left her she would die. So he re-optioned the Scottdale house and went to the bank to withdraw the money he was saving for the move. It was gone. Ann had found his secret stash and took it all. Nelson was devastated. He would now have to start over…and also tell Jeanette the dream was back on hold.
                       

Jeanette's last professional portrait

Nelson left again for Australia but he spent a day with Jeanette before he left. Later, when Blossom came by the apartment, she found Jeanette glowing and Nelson’s pipe on the nightstand. She told Blossom “Tonight makes up for all the years we never had. But as 1964 was winding down, Jeanette’s pain began to increase. On December 21, 1964 Nelson came by the apartment to find that Jeanette had been rushed to the hospital with abdominal lesions. He had to comb all the gay bars to find Gene to sign the medical releases.

Nelson gets the news...Jeanette is dead.

But time had run out….dreams that had been put on hold would never happen. Jeanette returned to the hospital on January 12, 1965 and died there two days later. Nelson was in Anaheim where he was planning to do a show. It was the press that found him with the news.
                      

Nelson with Ann and Gale at the funeral

Contrary to her wish to be cremated, Jeanette was given a Hollywood funeral with all the trimmings including loudspeakers blaring her voice. Nelson considered it a “circus”.
                                              
Thankfully, Nelson was given private time at the mortuary where he put the emerald engagement ring back on Jeanette’s finger. He begged her to take him with her but he knew his punishment would be going on without her.
                            

Jeanette’s final resting place.
         (Note: even the date of birth has MGM’s stamp on it)

For more on the love story, read “Sweethearts” by Sharon Rich and visit www.maceddy.com

Remembrances…..

Maytime #1..handholding without the cameras	Handholding on camera....  "Girl of the Golden West"
....eavesdropping on Jen and Cecil B. DeMille	....at  Kissing Rock!
Happy Birthday!	..Will you dance?