JUNE ALLYSON 1918-2006!

June Allyson and husband David Ashrow

I am posting this quite early as I am snowed under with many things to get done here on the East Coast of Florida. June Allyson, the screen icon of MGM died Monday in Ojai, California and I wanted to honor her with a wonderful true story of the 5 hour dinner I had with her in Dallas with actor Van Johnson, Van's manager Alan, June and her husband of 30 years David Ashrow--a wonderful man. My heart goes out to David during this time of grief for he and his family.

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When you do Television and Radio for more than 10 years in a market, you are called a "veteran". I've never thought this way, but the fact of the matter is that all of us in the business were called upon to Emcee many, many non-profit events ranging from The Susan G. Komen Foundation to a Muscular Dystrophy Association cook-off benefiting "Jerry's Kids", and one even benefiting Abused Children. In the 1990's TV and Radio had these "Ascertainment Meetings" and I always represented our station. The purpose of these meetings was to hear out five or ten speakers from area non-profits make a five-minute "pitch" for free air time (today stations prefer to promote themselves by choosing their own charity of choice and hardly any Public Affairs shows exist anymore). Well, I chose to use a broad brush stroke in announcing our focus for free air time: "Women and Children's Health Issues". So, when a local group assembled a $1,000 (US) a plate dinner featuring June Allyson and Van Johnson as "An Evening with Hollywood Legends", I was tapped to be the Emcee. That meant meeting with Van and June for hours at The Fairmount Hotel. This was the late 1990's. Van was 82 and almost completely deaf as a result of a tragic injury when he boarded a British Airways Concorde with a bad head cold and blew out his ear drums during the flight. He read lips and only his manager and I had the bass baritone voices to literally clasp out hands around his ears and speak loudly to answer a few questions. This was otherwise a fun (and funny evening). My Mother used to swoon over Van Johnson in his early pictures. In fact, June and Van appeared in 6 motion pictures together in the 1940's when her stardom hit at MGM and 5 with the late Jimmy Stewart--always playing his wife.

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We ran through the introductions with scripts. Van was hilarious. Ever a joker who remained a close friend to June (who was married to actor-movie mogul Dick Powell and hosted "The Dick Powell Show" until his death in 1963) Van saw her walking toward us from the elevator lobby with her husband David Ashrow. David was a retired Dentist and he was hip to Van's sense of humor. Van stood up and pointed at the couple and said, "Oh, look! It's June with Dick Powell. I'm so glad you two could make it. We're having a little party here". I thought I would die! I was certain my face was the shade of a Tomato!! June cracked up and we met and just hit it off! After several run-throughs, the Allyson entourage was heading downstairs to the plush "Venetian Room Restaurant". I shook hands with June but noticed she wasn't letting go of my hand. "Where are you going?", she asked. She was cute. I said, "To my apartment". I answered. "Well, what are you going to do there?", she asked. "Oh, probably cook some dinner". At that point she put her arm through mine and pulled me close to her side as we started walking saying, "No, no, no. I'm keeping you! You're not going anywhere. You're fun, so you're going to go to dinner downstairs with us". The entire evening literally flew by as I sat and listened to stories about their neighbor Merv Griffin and lots of Hollywood talk. I felt I was in a movie just listening to these stories! They were all incredible tales. Van became quite emotional over a personal story I won't repeat out of respect. He was such a kind and humorous man with heart. I had no idea that June had such a tough childhood in the Bronx and spent years in a steel brace after a fall as a young girl. She looked dazzling --much younger than her late 70's. She was a doll! After dinner, the two stars walked me out to the hotel Lobby (again June and I were arm-in-arm) and she kissed me goodnight square on the lips. June was a good kisser. And let me just add a delightful lady who was generous and made me feel like a million dollars. Who was I? A local broadcaster. Imagine! The event went off without a hitch the following evening and there were clips shown from movies like "Till Clouds Roll By" (1946) and 1949's "Little Women". June was a beautiful woman and a night that I could have never predicted in my wildest dreams is now a fond memory. May she Rest in Peace. God Bless You, June!

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