Happy Birthday Ann!
Today marks what would have been Ann Dvorak’s 105th birthday. She’s been in my life for almost 20 years now and I cannot overstate the impact she has had on me. If you would have told me back then that I would author a full length biography on anyone, I would have rolled my eyes. Me? No way! And yet, I am currently able to work on a second book because Ann was such a motivating factor for the first one. Some of my dearest friends came into my life because of Ann, along with so many interesting people who I would have never encountered had it not been for her. When I was an insecure and painfully shy twenty-something, Ann helped me find my voice because I was so hell bent on making sure the world knew about her.
I pretty much celebrate Ann Dvorak’s life everyday, but on this anniversary of her birth, here’s a special tip of the cap is an amazing lady who means so much to me.
Just by coincidence, I happened to choose Ann’s “Abilene Town” to watch this afternoon. Early on in the movie Ann sings and dances as a Saloon entertainer. To watch Ann in absolutely outstanding physical shape at age 34 – probably better than 95% of her competition of the time, including another actress in the film, Rhonda Fleming, who was considered a “knockout”. IMDb credits Ann as doing the singing herself, and the voice is very close to Ann’s so it could well be true. All in all it’s a nice film to watch.
As an added thought, it would be a nice tribute to Ann if we could have TCM show the movie some evening, with YOU as the hostess. To hear you and Ann singing together would be very heartwarming to the fans. Sooooooo, you may want to start practicing your singing for the episode. Mmmhhhhhhhhh?
All you have to do is snap your fingers…
SNAP, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP,SNAP, SNAP, SNAP (need I go on?)
What a beautiful, amazing journey you’ve had! Funny how life works…
The same certainly goes for you and Barbara!