Arabella & CO

Sassy, classy
Miss Barbara Stanwyck!
July 16th, 1907 - January 20th, 1990

Walter Matthau said of her.."She has played five gun molls, two burlesque queens, half a dozen adulteresses, and twice as many murderers. When she was good, she was very, very good. And when she was bad she was terrific."

Henry Fonda, her costar in three films, later claimed "Everyone who is close to me knows I've been in love with Barbara Stanwyck since I met her".

Frank Capra wanted her to divorce her husband, Frank Fay,and marry him. And William Holden fell in love with her on the set of "Golden Boy". When Barbara accepted her honorary Oscar in 1982 (the only one she ever received),she told the world "A few years ago I stood on this stage with William Holden as a presenter. I loved him very much and I miss him. He always wished that I would get an Oscar. And so tonight, my golden boy, you got your wish".

Barbara Stanwyck was born Ruby Stevens on July16,1907 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the fifth and last child of Byron and Catherine McGee Stevens. Before she was three years old, Ruby had lost both her parents. Catherine Stevens, pregnant with her sixth child,suffered a fall on a New York street and both mother and unborn infant died within the month. Byron, now without a wife and never close to his children, took off with a work crew to dig the Panama Canal and died there. The two older sisters went out on their own and left young Millie to care for Byron and Ruby. Millie was already working as a showgirl and farmed out the little ones to relatives while she was on the road. Ruby frequently ran away to the only home she knew at 249 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn but, sadly, no one she knew lived there anymore. The feeling of abandonment and rejection would follow Ruby for the rest of her life.

Ruby quit school at 13 and the way she told it later, they were happy to see her go. She felt left out because she had no home to take her friends and so she never tried very hard to make friends. She resented authority and was quick to fight over any imagined slight. But by the time she was 14, she had learned every dance step she had ever seen ( including her sister's entire repetoire). She picked up a succession of low-paying jobs,( none of them lasted very long) and spent most of her free time with Milly and Milly's beau, James Buck McCarthy. Ruby called him Uncle Buck. It would be Uncle Buck that she would lean on for much of her life.

When Ruby was just shy of 16, she got her first break...as a chorus girl at $35 a week and a bit part in the 1922 "Ziegfeld Follies". Then, in 1925,she met Willard Mack. He re-tooled Ruby..her walk, her body language and even her name. The Barbara came from a playbill for "Barbara Frietchie" on his desk and the Stanwyck from actress Jane Stanwyck. He gave her the female lead opposite Rex Cherryman in his new play "The Noose". It ran for 9 months and 197 performances. The reviews were good with Cherryman getting the best of them but Barbara was lauded for her moving performance in the last act as she begged for her lover's life.

Film companies wanted to test her but Barbara hated screen tests even then. She got her first part on the strength of her Broadway resume in "Broadway Nights" silent film for First National (see Arabella's Notes).But Barbara went back to the stage to do "Burlesque" and her new beau, Rex Cherryman opened in "The Trial of Mary Dugan". Barbara and Rex had become a popular twosome around town when Rex suddenly died of septic poisoning. Less than four weeks later, Barbara married Frank Fay, a Broadway comedian. It would be a disastrous marriage.

Six months after they were married, Barbara and Frank headed to Hollywood. Barbara signed with Joseph Schenck to do a movie called "The Locked Door". It began a lifelong practice to sign for each picture with no long term contracts. By 1935 Barbara had 17 movies under her belt but her marriage was falling apart. Even adopting a son couldn't save it. Dion Fay soon became the responsibilty of good old Uncle Buck. The Fays divorced in 1935 after many bitter battles.

Barbara met Robert Taylor just before they were to co-star in "His Brother's Wife". Soon Robert bought a farm next to Barbara and moved his mother there. In January,1939, Photoplay brought everything to a head with their article on unmarried couples citing Taylor and Stanwyck as well as Gable and Lombard, Chaplin and Goddard and Raft and Pine. Bob's boss L.B.Mayer laid down the law and the Stanwyck-Taylor nuptials took place on May 13,1939, (perhaps an unfortunate date). Barbara's work again left little time to nurture the marriage. Only Robert's sojourn in the Navy kept it together. After 12 years of marriage, the Taylors divorced leaving Barbara, at 44, alone again. Robert remarried but Barbara never did. She would love Robert until she died.

When movie roles became scarce, Barbara turned to the small screen. Guest spots on "Zane Grey" and "G.E. Theater" kept her going. Equestrian Stanwyck considered herself the only unemployed cowboy in the great Hollywood rush to Westerns and wanted to do a frontier woman series. Instead she was given "The Barbara Stanwyck Show". It won her an Emmy two weeks before NBC cancelled it. But in 1965,she got her chance as Victoria Barkley, matriarch of "The Big Valley. It ran until 1969 and Babs appeared in all but 7 of the 112 episodes.

Then in 1969, Robert Taylor died. Her appearance, red-eyed and pale, at his funeral caused quite a stir. She was clearly devastated but she again turned to work to ease her pain. Two ABC movies for Aaron Spelling and the role of Mary Carson in "The Thorn Birds" miniseries gave her plenty to do. In 1985, at age 78, she was doing "The Colbys" when her house burned down. In 1986,she was awarded the Screen Actors Guild lifetime Achievement Award but was almost too ill to attend.

Barbara Stanwyck died on January 9th, 1990 after a prolonged battle with emphysema. Her best friend, Nancy Sinatra was at her bedside. There was no funeral and, according to her wishes, her ashes were scattered by helicopter over Lone Pine. But one thing was certain....
...she did it her way!

For more on Barbara Stanwyck on screen and off, read Arabella's Notes.

Or read "Stanwyck" by Axel Madsen. You will find it in your local library.

Broadway Nights (1927)
The Locked Door (1930)
Mexicali Rose (1930)
Ladies of Leisure (1930)
Illicit (1931)
Ten Cents a Dance (1931)
Night Nurse (1931)
The Miracle Woman (1931)
Forbidden (1932)
Shopworn (1932)
So Big (1932)
The Purchase Price (1932)
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933)
Ladies They Talk About (1933)
Baby Face (1933)
Ever in My Heart (1934)
Gambling Lady (1934)
A Lost Lady (1934)
The Secret Bride (1935)
The Woman in Red (1935)
Red Salute (1935)
Annie Oakley (1935)
A Message to Garcia (1936)
The Bride Walks Out (1936)
His Brother's Wife (1936)
Banjo On My Knee (1936)
The Plough and the Stars (1937)
Internes Can't Take Money (1937)
This is My Affair (1937)
Stella Dallas (1937)
Breakfast For Two (1937)
Always Goodbye (1938)
The Mad Miss Manton (1938)
Union Pacific (1939)
Golden Boy (1939)
Remember the Night (1940)
The Lady Eve (1941)
Meet John Doe (1941)
You Belong to Me (1941)
Ball of Fire (1942)
The Great Man's Lady (1942)
The Gay Sisters (1942)

Lady of Burlesque (1943)
Flesh and Fantasy (1943)
Double Indemnity (1944)
Hollywood Canteen (1944)
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
My Reputation (1946)
The Bride Wore Boots (1946)
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
California (1947)
The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947)
The Other Love (1947)
Cry Wolf (1947)
Variety Girl (1947)
B.F.'s Daughter (1948)
Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
The Lady Gambles (1949)
East Side, West Side ( 1949)
The File of Thelma Jordon (1950)
No Man of Her Own (1950)
The Furies (1950)
To Please a Lady (1950)
The Man with a Cloak (1951)
Clash by Night (1952)
Jeopardy (1953)
Titanic (1953)
All I Desire (1953)
The Moonlighter (1953)
Blowing Wild (1953)
Witness To Murder (1954)
Executive Suite (1954)
Cattle Queen of Montana (1955)
The Violent Men (1955)
Escape to Burma (1955)
There's Always Tomorrow (1956)
The Maverick Queen (1956)
These Wilder Years (1956)
Crime of Passion (1957)
Trooper Hook (1957)
Forty Guns (1957)
Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
Roustabout (1964)
The Night Walker (1965)

Television...

The House That Wouldn't Die (ABC. 1970)
A Taste of Evil (ABC, 1971)
The Letters (ABC, 1973)
The Thorn Birds (ABC miniseries, 1982)

Barbara Stanwyck also did numerous radio and television guest appearances.

Star power can get the people to the theater but it takes a good story and a talented ensemble to keep them in the seats. It is the character actors and bit players that make up the ensemble.
A character actor is usually a specialist in secondary roles demanding unique physical or vocal characteristics,ethnic or regional dialects. They can literally transform themselves into whatever"look" and "body language" each part requires. Bit players round out the ensemble in smaller roles and "cement" the package together.

George Tobias was probably best known as "Abner Kravitz" on television's popular "Bewitched" series from 1966 to 1972. But his film credits go back to 1927 when he left Broadway and made his first appearance on celluloid in "The Lunatic". However, public recognition came in 1939 when he played Rico in "Maisie" and the one-eyed Beggar-Hangman in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

George was born July 14, 1901 on New York's Lower East Side the same place that was home to James Cagney. At 19 he was already appearing in the Neighborhood Playhouse production of Galsworthy's "The Mob" and by age 21, in the Provincetown Player's production of O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape".

Soon Broadway beckoned and from 1924 until 1937 George was seen in over 7 Broadway hits that included "What Price Glory?" (1924), "Red Dust" (1929) and "You Can't Take it With You"(1937). It was this resume that earned him a lucrative contract with Warner Bros. at a weekly salary of $2000 and regularly scheduled raises. Even later, when he had bought up his contract in favor of free-lance opportunities he sometimes regretted losing the security of a studio paycheck and the perks that went with it.

Tobias made his mark in dialect parts (Greek, Italian, French Canadian etc.) but is probably best-remembered for his roles as the heavy with a soft spot and a sense of humor. But George seldom got the girl! He made six films with New York kid James Cagney and four more with another kid from his neighborhood, John Garfield. He left us with at least 68 pieces of fine work not including his numerous television appearances.

George never married but he "went steady" with actress Millicent Patrick on and off for forty years up until the day he died. Millicent married and divorced twice but always went back to George! On February 27th, 1980 George Tobias died of cancer in a Los Angeles Hospital. Hours after his death, the mortuary station wagon transporting his body to the funeral home was involved in a fender bender. As the drivers were exchanging information, two young would-be carjackers drove off in the vehicle. it was found a few blocks away, both doors ajar and as eye-witnesses described it. the two men "ran like hell" into traffic. George would have been tickled pink!

If there is an "actor with character" you would like to see portrayed here, e-mail me and I will try to feature them in an upcoming issue.

Some of George Tobias' films...

with Cagney...

Torrid Zone (1940)
City for Conquest (1940)
The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)
The Strawberry Blonde (1941)
Captain of the Clouds (1942)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942

with John Garfield...

Out of the Fog (1941)
Air Force (1943)
Between Two Worlds (1944)
Nobody Lives Forever (1946)

Also...

Balalaika (1939) with Nelson Eddy
Sergeant York (1941) with Gary Cooper

Arabella's favorite culinary expert, "Chef" Robere', has put together a fabulous menu he assures me any guy can handle...with maybe just a little help from the deli! All the music and movies listed here have been carefully chosen with romance in mind. Just remember to have several available for
her personal selection.


		The Menu!

Hor d'oeurves.....crab meat puff pastries
             .......smoked salmon on toasted
                        rounds with cream cheese
and capers.
              .....mushroom caps stuffed with
chicken mousse

Serve a chilled Pinot Grigio and take your time

Appetizer.....Scallops wrapped in bacon and                                  served with a small glass of sherry

Salad............Mixed greens with a raspberry vinaigrette

Entree.........Roast breast of Duck
                 ....... Puree of sweet potatoes
                      ........Wild rice with pine nuts and
dried cranberries.

           Serve with a nice Merlot and linger awhile

Dessert........creme caramel...Serve with Hungarian Tokay #5
(Arabella's favorite wine)

Much, much later..the piece de resistance!
Fresh strawberries with chocolate sauce.
Whipped cream


		The Music

"The Artistry of Nelson Eddy".....
             every song a love song
"Back Together Again".......
             duets by America's Singing Sweethearts
"Neil Diamond...14 Love Songs"
"Jo Stafford...the Portrait Edition"
        (Nelson Eddy sings one of the duets))


		The Movie!

Any Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald movie
           (May I suggest "Naughty Marietta", "Maytime"                        or"NewMoon")
            Random Harvest
            Casablanca
          Now, Voyager
           An Affair to Remember
           Embraceable You
        Any Nelson Eddy/ Jeanette MacDonald movie!

The Ambiance!

I am going to leave that up to you but I will offer a few suggestions. Try cushions on the floor and serve on lap trays.

Flowers and lots of candles (try floating candles in a punch bowl
on the coffee table). An option for flowers..potted foliage plants
interspersed with silk blooms. Oh. and let me know how it works out!

Menu by Robert Kort (Chef Robere')
Pictures by Joan Woolley

Email me!

Ask questions! Make comments! Talk to me!
Use email link above or post a question to my guestbook

From Marilee in Rochester, N.Y.,

My husband and I were watching "Fatal Attraction" and he reminded me that Anne Archer's mother and father were actors.
I remember that her mother was Marjorie Lord, who played Kathy Williams, Danny's wife, on "The Danny Thomas Show".

Who was her father?

Also tell me about Nicholas Surovy's parents?

Weren't they in show business?

Dear Marilee,

We better take this one question at a time.

First...you are right, Marjorie Lord was Anne Archer's mother but she did more than
"marry" Danny Thomas. Marjorie was active in films long before television
took up all her time. She made over 34 films as well as numerous drama roles on television. Anne's father was John Archer who won a movie contract at RKO and a new name. The former Ralph Bowman
laughingly admitted "I started out a Bowman and ended up an Archer".
John's voice was very well known in the 40's when he played Lamont Cranston, "The Shadow" in over 30 episodes. He appeared in 58 films and made over 30 television appearances.

Second....Nicholas Surovy is the son of Walter Szurovy and Rise Stevens.
Walter made movies in Europe and played Paul de Bursac in "To Have or Have Not' (1944). He also managed his wife's career.
Rise Stevens, the famous Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano, made several films. Two of her best were "The Chocolate Soldier"
with our favorite baritone, Nelson Eddy, and "Going My Way" with another singer, Bing Crosby.

Arabella

Arabella Makes a comment....

If I haven't said this before, I should have...
Why in the world doesn't someone write Busby Berkeley's life story
and let Patrick Swayze play the part?
This is a Oscar movie waiting to happen!

Arabella