MOMMIE DEAREST, A CHORUS LINE and The Kennedy Assassination !?!?

[WalkOn]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 7:12pm

I was watching MOMMIE DEAREST yesterday with a friend and noticed for the first time that James Kirkwood is briefly seen presenting an award to Joan Crawford for lifetime acheivement.

... He is most famous, of course, for writing A CHORUS LINE...

But then ... I discovered that he been friends with CLAY SHAW -alleged conspirator in assassination of President John F. Kennedy (played by Tommy Lee Jones in the film JFK)

Not only were they friends, but Kirkwood wrote a book assassination called AMERICAN GROTESQUE.

Interesting fella, huh?

Updated On: 9/18/06 at 07:12 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 7:57pm

American Grotesque influenced my view of American politics just about as deeply as A Chorus Line influenced my view of the American musical.

And Kirkwood's novels There Must Be a Pony and Good Times, Bad Times and PS Yor Cat Is Dead we all favorites of mine pre-Chorus Line.

And then, of course, he wrote Diary of a Mad Playwright...

Updated On: 9/18/06 at 07:57 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:16pm

Poor Sal Mineo! I'm crying as I type!

[WalkOn]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:20pm

Namo, what is the Kirkwood/Sal Mineo connection?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:25pm

Mineo was starring in a production of "PS, Your Cat is Dead" when he was murdered.

Add in the Clay Shaw Factor and I think you know where this is heading. That's all I can say.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:29pm

I didn't know that Mineo was doing P.S when he was murdered. So tragic.

The Clay Shaw factor... I think I get your drift. Somethings will just have to stay a mystery.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:49pm

Whoops! Looks like I'm gonna have to go back underground.

Again.

[BroadwayBulldog]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 9:29pm

During my early college years I had a summer job that caused me to make weekly deliveries of provisions to Jimmy's mom, silent screen star Lila Lee.

Ms. Lee started as a child performer in vaudeville who made it to Hollywood in the early years and co-starred with Valentino in "Blood and Sand," among other silent greats.

Very lovely lady.

[BroadwayBulldog]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 9:43pm

Just for the record.
Updated On: 9/18/06 at 09:43 PM

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 10:29am

Christopher Crawford died September 22, 2006 of cancer.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:09am

P.S. Your Cat is Dead is a wonderful novel. My Mother recommended it to me when I was in high school and she had impeccable taste in literature.

I'd say it was the "Gone With the Wind" of Bisexual Burglar Bondage novels.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:48am

I loved the original stage version of PS YOUR CAT IS DEAD. It starred Tony Musante, Keir Dullea and Jennifer Harmon. It was 'way back when. I DO remember that after the show I wound up carrying Tony Musante's luggage to the subway stop for him. I don't remember the reasons why.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:06pm

Because you wanted to tie him to a butcher block table.