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Another Clooney coming 'home again'
Sunday, March 23, 2008 9:05 PM EDT
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| Nick and Nina Clooney |
Maysville prepares to welcome another member of the Clooney family "home again" and for another red carpet event as George Clooney premieres his latest movie, "Leatherheads," before the hometown crowd today at the Washington Opera Theatre.
More than a half century ago, Ben Tureman, manager of Schine's Russell Theatre, and Wayne Bell, chief announcer for WFTM had a conversation with Rosemary Clooney's brother, Nick Clooney. Their topic for the day was Nick's big sister, who was already selling more Columbia Records than any other recording star, and who was then preparing for her first starring role in a movie. She had been signed by Paramount Studio and would appear in a Technicolor musical called, "The Stars Are Singing."
After many months of lengthy negotiations between the city and Hollywood, the premiere of that first Rosemary Clooney movie was held in Maysville.
"There were press and radio people all over the place and they wouldn't stand still long enough to be counted. The count went as high as 17 but there was some confusion as to how many baldheaded men were there. Also the exact number of females in hats," The Daily Independent reported on Wednesday, Jan. 28 1953.
More than 50 newsmen and radio personnel hit Maysville, along with real and hopeful celebrities.
"All the women wore fur coats and looked well dressed and it was impossible to separate the somebodies from those who aspire to be somebody," said The Daily Independent.
"It was a big deal," Maysville resident Jimmy Meadows said recently, as he recalled the events of the day.
Meadows said at the time he worked at the Manchester Company, baking bread and had asked for the day off.
"Visitors to the city came by bus, train and cars to join in the whirl that began with a polio benefit tobacco auction and included a visit to the Tom Browning Boys Club of America," said The Daily Independent, evening edition, the day of the premiere. "Where she became the first female member; a colorful parade headed by prancing palominos, gala floats, and color guards, drum and bugle corps, college and high school bands, and countless other units; dedication Rosemary Clooney Street, which had been renamed in tribute to the number one female songstress of America, and presentation of the Ritual of Jewels pin by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority."
The crowd witnessing the parade was estimated by state police to have been around 10,000, despite an overnight rain. Threatening weather during the morning hours may have held down the throng, 1953 newspaper reports indicated.
Meadows said he remembered the weather becoming warm and nice.
"I was at the corner by Kilgus's Drugstore all day," said Meadows. "My daughter Caren was 3 years old at the time and I took her down to see her (Rosemary Clooney). It was a good fun day. Rosemary talked to everyone. She was as down to earth a person as George is."
Meadows recalled another day at his former restaurant, Jim's Donut Shop. George had come in to get a bite to eat. Meadows said his two waitresses fled into the kitchen and wouldn't come out they were so nervous. But his grandson, Brandon wasn't so shy.
"George called him over and asked if he was married," recalled Meadows.
Meadows recalled Rosemary Clooney in her long mink coat, riding through the parade in a red Chevrolet convertible.
The convertible was driven by Dallas Queen and in the car with Rosemary was Ada Guilfoyle, her maternal grandmother, Mayor Rebekah Hord and long-time friend Blanche Chambers.
The parade began with the explosion of two sound bombs, furnished by Paramount Pictures and discharged by city firefighter Lawrence Saur. The parade was comprised of 14 floats, 50 cars, two bands, and a drum and bugle corps. Schools closed as far away as Paris, so pupils could march in the parade.
The Maysville Civic Chorus, under the direction of Coralie Runyon-Jones, performed as Rosemary Clooney witnessed the dedication of the street named in her honor.
"Impressed by the music," Rosemary Clooney told the Daily Independent.
Pandemonium was said to have taken over the entire town. The crowd lingered about the car, anything to get near Maysville's best known native at that moment. Windows and sidewalks were filled with people. Spectators were even spotted on the rooftops of the Second Street buildings.
"This is the greatest thrill of my life," Rosemary Clooney was quoted as saying of her hometown celebration.
"A girl can possess a city's heart," said the Daily Independent. "When she was just a little thing, Rosemary Clooney did it with a voice and pigtails. Now at 24, she does it with a voice and Hollywood coiffure. Of the fact that Maysville is the city first on the motion picture star's heart parade, there can be no doubt."
Rosemary, like George, also had two screenings of her movie in one day. The film was shown Wednesday through Saturday. More than 1,500 attended the first night paying $3 each. After that first day, tickets would become 90 cents.
"You didn't have to have a ticket ahead of time to get into the movie," said Meadows. "I bought a ticket at the window. It was jam-packed in the theater."
"You will never forget this day ... Rosemary Clooney will always remember her triumphant return to her home town...," according to a souvenir program of "The Stars Are Singing."
Local organizers are hopeful the same can be said of George Clooney following today's events.
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