FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 - PART 1 CONTINUED...

MEMORIES OF JOAN BENNETT

Each took turns imitating her distinct, rich voice and manner of speaking.  “When I was in my first play on Broadway, she was the only one from the (DS) cast who sent me a telegram of congratulations,” Lara said.  “It read, ‘I wish you great personal success.’  Of course she had doubts about the professional success of the play—everybody did, and for good reason.”  Diana told how Joan Bennett had been a mentor to her.  When she was a young girl just getting started in acting, her agent had dropped her off at one of Joan Bennett’s parties.  Intimidated by all of the (famous) adults, Diana had meekly gone to sit in the corner.  Soon, Joan approached her to find out what was wrong and to encourage her to mingle.  “I don’t know how to mingle,” Diana had explained.  “Dear,” Joan had informed her, “I’m going to send somebody over to you, and you’re going to learn how to mingle.”  Before long a woman (Greer Garson) did emerge to walk Diana around the party and introduce her to everybody.  From that point on, she and Joan had remained good friends.

 

MEMORIES OF DIRECTORS

When asked about favorite writers and directors, none of the ladies could really remember any particular writer, but both Terry and Lara named Henry Kaplan as their favorite director.  “Lela Swift would just tell me, ‘I need this from you and I don’t care how you do it,’” Terry recalled, “but Henry was very good about coaching me through scenes.  He would always remind me, ‘Shoulder to shoulder’—which meant that when my shoulders were aligned with his, he could get the best shots.”  “He used to come into our dressing rooms at the end of taping and give us grades for the day,” Lara remembered.  “He would open the door and yell, ‘B minus!’”

When the Q&A session came to an end, the actresses dispersed and the DS Scariest Moments video was shown (instead of the scheduled House of Dark Shadows.) Terry Crawford remained outside the ballroom for some time after the Q&A ended and I was able to have my photo with her.  Then, VAM, MsHoffman and I went across the way to the local diner for a late bite to eat.  Thus ended the first day of events.