Jack Greetng Fans At His Home

[Mike]

I have thought a lot about Joan Benny's comments at the 39 Forever event when she said Jack would personally answer the door to fans at his home and give them an autographed photo, or if he wasn't home, she would do the same. I also saw a documentary about L&H in which they said Stan Laurel intentionally kept his name listed in the phone book and would welcome visitors to his apartment in Santa Monica where he lived in his later years. Can you imagine a celebrity personally greeting visitors at their home in this day and age? NOT! How times have changed!! Any comments? Mike

[LLeff]

Can you imagine a celebrity personally greeting visitors at their home in this day and age? NOT! How times have changed!! Any comments? Mike

Two words: Rebecca Shaeffer.

http://www.franksreelreviews.com/shorttakes/shaeffer/shaeffer.htm

[shimp scrampi]

Oddly enough, the Hollywood set all had their own "security issues" flip-out following the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, which was even more sensational than the Rebecca Schaeffer incident in its day. (The Manson killings also later sent the Hollywood celebs into lockdown mode).

I know George Burns wrote about installing hidden security alarms around the house and teaching Ronnie and Sandy how to use them, be wary of strangers, etc. It strikes me as incongruous that Jack, and particularly Mary would let little Joanie go happily handing out pics and chatting with random strangers who dropped by. Perhaps this memory is from when she was older, or there were enough household staff, etc. around to make it not-so-unsafe?

[Brad from Georgia]

One of the biographies has a story in it about Jack dressing up in Gypsy costume and, as a prank, strolling over to serenade Lucille Ball...except she wasn't at home, so he went back to his house...and found he'd locked himself out. No one was in to open the door for him.

And a tour bus pulled up, the tourists saw Jack, poured out of the bus, and spent half an hour shaking his hand, taking photos, and getting autographs. And not one of them remarked on the fact that Jack was dressed as a Gypsy and carrying his violin.

[Mike]

That's quite a story. Sounds like it could have been a Lucy episode even. About Joan answering the door, it must have been when she was older. I can't imagine it happening when she was a kid.

[Maxwell]

It's hard to imagine, but it is still possible. LA wasn't the huge metropolis it is now. That didn't happen until after the war.

I've heard people who grew up in the '40s and '50s in Chicago tell stories about how they were 8-10 years old they'd go to the Loop from their neighborhoods by going on the El or taking a bus...without adult supervision. It was a different world back then.