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POLISHING THE BRASS
For those who may not realize it, there is a behind the scenes reality and that reality is: a Show like the Jean London Show could not have existed on any Military Base without the request of the Base Special Services Office.
Also, anyone who has ever produced a Show or an event such as a large wedding or a Parade knows it is all about logistics, logistics, and logistics. A great Base Special Services Officer is a master logistician. We lucked out during those years at Camp Pendleton.
It all began with Colonel John E. Gorman. We learned
immediately that: Number One - - here was a man who genuinely cared one heck of
a lot about the young recruits in training and those being shipped out to
Vietnam. Number Two - - he believed in the power of entertainment to be a
positive morale booster . . . and, he knew War was hell. Number Three - - I
learned early on, his wife, Marge, had a background in the entertainment world,
so he also knew what was ahead for us to put on a Show for ‘his men’. He
took time with me giving me pointers.
When Colonel Gorman moved on we were left in the capable hands of two men who saw us through the majority of the Shows we did at Pendleton: Colonel Jinx McCain and Colonel Leonard Wood. They and their staff were not only efficient at the job with details of bringing our Show casts to and from the Paramount Studios parking lot in Hollywood, but they were gentlemen of the first class and our stars and entertainers absolutely loved them. And, like Gorman, they really cared about the welfare and morale of the Base recruits in training and those heading to and coming home from Vietnam.
<== Col. Leonard Wood takes center stage to intro a Show beginning. We missed Col. Wood when he was transferred to U.N. Command Headquarters in Seoul, Korea.
I never had to worry, with them at the reins, if the bus would be on time. It always was. They always made sure there was a buffet of food backstage for the cast to munch on over the two-plus hours of Show times. And, they always made sure Base lighting and sound technicians were there when we had Shows in the Base Auditorium. I also never had to worry about the security of our Show stars and performers.
The Base Commander when we first began the Shows was Maj. General George S. Bowman, Jr. and then Maj. General Donn J. Robertson became Camp Pendleton Base Commander - - - we spent the remainder of our years working under his Command. It was on the 4th Anniversary Show that we met Maj. General Leo J. Dulaki, 4th Marine Division Commander who presented the large plaque to Jean. This was the big plaque that was updated over the years and was first presented in 1969 by Colonel Ralph Estey, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, with the "fifth year anniversary" date presentation being made by Lt. Colonel W. L. Threlfall, Commanding Officer of the 1st BN, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment and our wonderful Base Special Services Officer, Colonel G. M. "Jinx" McCain, who also brought on another birthday cake for Jean.
The 1968 Anniversary Show, Maj. Gen. Donn Robertson presented a special plaque to Jean and one to me because we had become that year "the longest running Show in Base annals". I still respect that honor and have my plaque on the wall. That Show was also the Show where Romeo Company WON Linda Meiklejohn and her stuffed mascot as their guest in the audience for the duration of the Show. We also received letters of appreciation from the Mayors of Oceanside and San Clemente for Jean’s devotion to provide entertainment for CamPen Marines.
It was the Fourth Anniversary Show when South Dakota Governor Frank Farrar came out to honor and proclaimed "Jean London Recognition Day" for South Dakota. This was the Show when I will never forget how Sherri Alberoni always used to pick on Marines in the audience – usually every Show – and this time it was 1st Lt. Lee. G. Kinney, Commander of "D" Company, 1st BN, 2nd ITR, making him blush as she sang Don’t Tell Momma to him. And then, there was one of my favorite honors for Jean: Colonel D. E. Watterson, 2nd ITR Commander; assisted by Captain F. A. Bishop, regimental Special Services Officer, as they presented Jean with THE BOOT. That was ‘hot’. It was a special award from the men of the 2nd ITR: a bronzed trophy boot, the traditional symbol of the Marine Corps trainee.
It’s a behind-the-scenes ‘thing’, but I mention the aspect of protection because there were many folks worried that the young actresses, models and Beauty Queens on the Shows might be manhandled or pawed by overly eager Marines wanting to get autographs. As producer, it concerned me also. Hey! Aren’t all men supposed to be pigs?! Well, I may proudly report there really was NO need to worry. Although the crowds around the stars were large as you can see by the above photo, it was the Marines themselves that made sure no one harmed any of our performers. They were gentlemen to a man over the seven years of Shows.
There was one situation during the latter years of the Shows that could have become an incident however, when a part of the audience must have felt a rush of adrenalin and the urge to rush the stage for an autograph of one of the Can-Can dancers. Colonel McCain must have had ESP and in a moments notice, a cordon of very large Marine Security had a human wall in front of the stage. There were a lot of whoops and whistles, but no one got out of hand. There also was only one other ‘incident’ in the seven years, when a mentally-emotionally unstable sniper on a nearby hill took a potshot at the stage - - - fortunately not hitting anyone. Again, Colonel McCain took the reins immediately, pinpointed the sniper location, made a deployment of Security and we continued the Show.
It was also the suggestion of the Base Special Services Office that we have a P.O. Box address where the men might write to Jean and the cast members. We got a Box number and the Special Services Office had a large sign made up that we placed at the side of the stage for the men to see. The response was quite a surprise! Letters poured in and it is good to report now that EVERY letter received a personal response from Jean and her regular cast members. Jean even wrote a poem for "her men" and mimeo-graphed it off to enclose with her letters and autographed photos. I found a copy of it in a scrapbook and I know Jean hoped the men would enjoy it.
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I’M YOUR EVERYTHING GIRL
Hi, how are my men today? In my book you’re just great! I’ve plenty more on my chest, And I’ll give it to you straight . . Why do I entertain you When many others say, ‘I’m not for the war, So why waste my day?’? I don’t believe we fight Just because we hate . . . We Americans love freedom; Love’s stronger than hate! So if you can fight To keep my country free, Then you’re my men, And will always be: I’m your Everything Girl! If your heart’s got a space, Then give me a whirl. I’ll fill that little space, ‘Cause I’m your Everything Girl! By JEAN LONDON
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 I think Jean’s favorite trophy was probably THE BOOT. Col. D. E. Watterson, 2nd ITR Commander presented it to her in 1970 on behalf of his men and a wild standing ovation!  Motion picture/TV star, Bill Williams, joined Col. Ralph F. Estey, CO 2nd ITR, in a 1969 Show to enjoy the performances after his appearance on the Hollywood Panel. |
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