Jeanette has only recently became a part of my life. I found her though my love of Nelson Eddy. I admired her for her dedication, ambition and the realisation that if you try hard enough you may just succeed.

~Jessica

 

My life certainly would have been much different if I had never seen my first Jeanette MacDonald movie on tv around 1958.

I was 12 at the time and the film was I MARRIED AN ANGEL and co-starred Nelson Eddy. The premise of the film "A fun-loving banker dreams he marries an angel" sounded intriguing - so I tuned in.

I hadn't the foggiest idea who the stars were - I only knew that the "angel" was absolutely the most exquisitely beautiful person I'd ever seen - or heard! I fell head over heels in love with JMD. Over the next 2 years I managed to find out more about this Jeanette MacDonald - and when I learned that she had a Fan Club (!) - in 1960 - I promptly became a member of the JMDIFC.

That led to meeting my best friend, Dolores, and 20 years of enjoying Jeanette - and attending many of the annual JMD Clanclaves in Hollywood, CA.

Those were magical times for me - actually meeting folks who had seen Jeanette in concert - and being able to see the very special 35 mm wide-screen showings of SMILIN' THRU plus one other color JMD-NE film at MGM Studios.

I collected everything I could on Jeanette - and over the years amassed a beautiful JMD still collection.

In conclusion let me say that although I never had the good fortune to meet Miss MacDonald I am grateful to her - for thru her films she introduced me to glorious music and magical films that endure to this day.

She was a no-nonsense, practical person who worked hard to achieve what she did. It is a pity that for the most part she is not remembered today - except - if you'll forgive me - as a figure or fun or ridicule.

I'd like to see the so-called "screen divas" of this day and age under go what Jeanette must have done year after year -- perfecting her voice, endless costume conferences - the actual rehearsing and filming of each movie - her radio, concert and opera work.

My only regret is that Jeanette's career didn't last longer. If she'd been able to appear in roles such as Irene Dunne enjoyed, perhaps her career would have received a boost. I love Irene Dunne, too, and wish the folks at MGM could have seen what a talent they had in Jeanette...but they chose differently.

Just one last thing about Jeanette: Back in 1962 the First ClanClave was announced. It was a small gathering (maybe 25 fans) and Jeanette and her husband, Gene Raymond, invited them to visit her at their home in Bel Air - Twin Gables.

I've seen silent home movies of that day -- and fans had a blast touring the grounds and garden and the house.

As luck would have it, Jeanette had forgotten that she had a doctor's appointment that day - so had to excuse herself from the fans -- but told them to enjoy her scrap books and left them in charge of her housekeeper, Emily West. (Earlier in the day Jeanette had shown the fans some of her jewelry and had let them pass the pieces around). The film footage was very short - barely 10 minutes -- but Jeanette looked absolutely enchanting - so vivacious and charming. I only wish I could have met her in person!

~Julie