The Silver Screen Oasis

The very first person I met at the Vanity Fair party was sweet Margaret O'Brien, pictured here with Jane Powell and Dickie Moore. She looks lovely, and her little black dress with the puffy sleeves and emerald-cut neckline was the perfect showcase for her jewelry suite, the big spangly earrings and pendant were divine. Powell and Moore were also very gracious to all fan passholders, and posed for several more private photos, as did O'Brien. Mark Hill, the party photographer, was everywhere snapping away, and he is a nice young man with a great eye for composition and lighting. I was about 20 feet from the camera when he snapped the photo inserted at the beginning of this report. These two lovely ladies are so petite, and definitely some of the favorites at the VFP. (Moira, I hope you are loving this photo as much as I am! Don't they all look adorable?)

As I walked through the entrance to the party, it was obvious that the one-level venue for the Vanity Fair fete was much more spacious and inviting than it seemed to be in 2010, and that was a wonderful party, too, but the air didn't circulate as well as it did in the Kodak building, and perusal was much more difficult last year due to the crush of suits and velvet inching towards a favorite celeb sighting. VIP areas in 2011 were centered in large sectional sofa areas with plenty of room to circulate and spot favorite film personalities who had obviously been persuaded to exit their "swankiendas" for a night of fun, film, and foie gras....


Jane Withers, Anne Jeffries, and Ann Rutherford are seen in one of those VIP areas with a young man who was keeping them company. It seems Ann Rutherford and Anne Jeffries are
great friends who often travel to parties togethers, and enjoy dressing in the same sartorial shades...

Here the girls are in one of my favorite shades of peach...
(From the TCM Festival 2010)

I was able to sit and chat with Jane Withers, who really is a ball of fire. She and I compared cocktail rings and she enjoyed my large-carat aquamarine dinner ring encircled with small brilliant cut stones. I asked her if she wanted to try it on, and then she started telling me about her cocktail ring that had graduated tiers of gold topped with a huge bevy of individually mounted diamonds. Each golden tier of the mounting, she related, represented an important event in her life, and she went on to discuss how proud she was of all of her grandchildren.

A fun gal, and a ten on the SCHMOOZE list...

Just as I finished chatting up Ms. Withers, Anne Jeffries and Ann Rutherford were getting ready to leave, but I heard Ann Rutherford finish her conversation about Gone With The Wind and say "Thank God we had a good print of that film." So I would surmise Ms. Rutherford is indeed interested in the important work of all film preservationists.

More later...

WOOH-HOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suex2 is in the house and sharing her incredible sartorial insights and Festival stories!

I can't wait to read more!!!!!!

Sue Sue,

Jane Withers, Anne Jeffries, and Ann Rutherford

I just love your picture of these three lovely ladies that you posted on your thread. I wanted to say that I enjoyed reading this thread for the very first time and sharing your experiences at the TCM Film Festival. You certainly are having a ball down there and I do appreciate the effort of telling us all about it. Keep up the good work ...

Yours Truly,
Kingme

What knockout babes they all still are! Thanks Ms. Applegate!

During the Vanity Fair party, I was lucky enough to meet Tippi Hedren and a few of her crew who help her with her organization, the Shambala Preserve presented by the Roar Foundation, and she spoke a little about its mission and asks all interested parties to visit the organization.

website: http://www.shambala.org/about_tippihedren.htm

The Official Roar Foundation supports The Shambala Preserve and shares its mission:
To educate the public about exotic animals and to advocate for legislation to protect them.
To provide sanctuary for exotic animals who have suffered from gross mistreatment and neglect so they can regain their physical and mental health and live out their lives in dignity.

Ms. Hedren shook hands with me and introduced me to two young ladies who help with her foundation also introduced me to Director Richard Rush (Stunt Man) and his wife.
Here's a photo of Rush(foreground) with Steve Railsback as they discuss The Stuntman at the 2010 TCM Festival.

Here's a photo of Ms. Hedren with her daughter Melanie Griffith from the Stella Adler awards in 2002 that I like...


During the party, I knew Priscilla Presley was in the crowd somewhere, but I never had a chance to visit with her because she left rather early.
Fortunately, she was a popular Photo-Opper..

With Mary Ann Mobley...

With Chris Isaak, shortly before my photo op with him. He is so nice, he gave me a huge hug kind of like the one he gave Priscilla...only better....

Thank you for posting these wonderful images and comments about the events you attended, Cristy. LOVE the Margaret O'Brien picture with Dick Moore and Jane Powell.

I just knew that Jane Withers would be approachable after seeing her discuss her career on the child stars private screening on TCM. Dickie Moore's book on the subject of being a kid actor, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is one of the best (and at times most harrowing accounts of that experience). Anne Jeffries and Ann Rutherford look so beautiful; I like the coordinated colors. Gee, I wish I'd seen Chris Isaak. I saw him as Bonnie Raitt's opening act years ago and thought he was (and IS) a major musical talent. He should make a movie of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker's life--he has the looks and he probably knows more than enough about that life.

Thanks again.

Thanks, Moira. I completely agree about the Chet Baker biopic. Excellent idea. I hope someone is listening or reading. He is an actor, writer, producer, director, etc...one of those
multi-talented fellas who can do all sorts of creative projects, seemingly at once.

Suex2

Today, I saw a very young Ed Faulkner on an episode of The Virginian that I had my on DVR from last week.

I have just discovered this re-activated thread Christy. Wonderful account, beautiful photos and thank you for sharing your experiences at the Festival with us

Lynn, Moira, Nando, Jackie, and Kingme:

Thank you all for the kind words...More later....

Sue...Sue. Words AND pictures? Good reporting. Very engaging. < sigh! > I wanna go back!

Me, too!

Terrific stuff as usual, Christy. The images of the MGM ladies are just wonderful, I can't believe how swell they all look.
I had a feeling that the sweet Jane Withers was a hoot. My kind of gal.
I believe that other than Olivia de Havilland, Ann Rutherford is one of the last survivors of "Gone with the Wind".
Good stuff!

So Mongo, I hope to see you at TCM's third film festival, next year. Right? Right.

If TCM really wanted to cause a stir, they'd get both Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland to come -- and appear TOGETHER. :)

:)