Merrie H. Reagan

Chapter Four-Life Flashes: A Memoir

READING, THE BUCKET LIST, SOUL FAMILY, THEFT

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Good morning. Happy New Year. I have finished reading a biography of actor Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997). The acting career of Mr. Stewart spanned nearly seventy years. Jimmy is viewed as having handled professional as well as personal matters with impartiality, generosity, and good humor.

Mr. Stewart was a headlining star in twenty films. Versatile is one word that can be used to describe the acting career of James Stewart; moviegoers found the name Jimmy Stewart headlining western, suspense, family, biographical, and comedy films. Mr. Stewart starred in acclaimed films, including It’s A Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rear Window, The Philadelphia Story, and Vertigo. Jimmy Stewart received five Academy Award nominations. In 1941, he won an Academy Award, acclaiming the role that he played in The Philadelphia Story. Jimmy Stewart accepted acting awards for Lifetime Achievement in 1968 and 1980.

The professional resume of Jimmy Stewart included military service. Having earned private as well as commercial pilot licenses before entering military service, Mr. Stewart entered the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He subsequently became certified as a pilot instructor. He served during World War II and the Vietnam War.

Jimmy Stewart flew during WWII European combat missions. In 1966, the final military role he played involved being an Air Force non-active duty Observing Officer. He participated in a Vietnam War covert bombing mission involving a B-52 airplane. When ending military service, Jimmy Stewart was a Brigadier General.

Actors Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart were lifetime friends. Jimmy and Henry rented an apartment together when both were single. Mr. Fonda also entered military service. He was a Quartermaster on the USS Satterlee naval destroyer during World War II. He was later employed as a Naval Air Combat Intelligence Junior Grade Lieutenant when he was stationed on a ship positioned in Pacific Ocean waters, which was probably commissioned to watch out for potential military attacks on America. It is written that conservative Republican Jimmy Stewart and liberal Democrat Henry Fonda once argued publicly and bitterly about political matters and thereafter agreed not to publicly discuss politics again.

Jimmy Stewart was forty-one years old when he and model Gloria Hatrick McLean were wed; Gloria subsequently bore the couple two children. Before being married, Gloria and Jimmy agreed to continue parenting two children Ms. McLean was rearing after a former relationship in which she was involved ended. Gloria and Jimmy had been married for forty-five years when Gloria died, in February of 1994. Jimmy was eighty-nine when he died in July of 1997.

In addition to being a highly admired and respected actor and veteran, Mr. Stewart was a longtime philanthropist and poet. He strongly supported the Boy Scouts organization. When in 1981 he was a guest on The Tonight Show, sitting alongside late-night show host, Johnny Carson, Jimmy read aloud a touching poem that he wrote, honoring the Stewart family dog Beau, who had passed away. As he read the tender, touching, and heartbreaking verses, he depicted Beau as having been as playful as he was mischievous. Beau loved walking and running after tennis balls. He bit people. Once he caused a house in which Jimmy and Gloria were living to catch fire.

Continuing to read the poem aloud, Mr. Stewart indicated there were nights when Beau would sometimes rise from his dog bed and then jump onto the bed in which Jimmy and Gloria were sleeping. Beau would then stare at Jimmy or Gloria, indicating that he wanted to sleep between them. He was seeking to give and receive affection and comfort. When he had nearly ended reciting the self-composed poem, Jimmy suddenly became emotional and faltered, as he read the stanza lines, “There are nights when I reach out to stroke his hair and then I realize―he’s not there. Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so. I’ll always love a dog named Beau.”

Following several seconds of profound silence, Tonight Show audience members began steadfastly clapping. Longtime beloved late-night comedy show host, Johnny Carson wiped away tears. Demonstrating support, he gently and firmly placed his right arm around the back of Jimmy Stewart, for several moments. Tonight Show television show viewers, including me, had also become sentimental.

Jimmy Stewart is remembered as being an outstanding actor, gentleman, and patriot. Confidently masculine, Mr. Stewart was also a reputed practical joker. It is written that one evening, when Jimmy and Gloria were attending a party, a male friend of Jimmy who was also a party guest, jokingly kissed Jimmy on the lips. Jesting, Jimmy immediately returned the kiss. When Jimmy momentarily thrust his tongue into the mouth of the man, partygoers evoked boisterous laughter; this was the response that Mr. Stewart desired.