Unsinkable

by Debbie Reynolds

  She invited us into her living room. The girls surrounded Lucy as she handed candy to each of them.

  “Don’t forget to go next door,” she said.

  Lucy waved good- bye as we started for Jack Benny’s house. The girls were all laughing and thanking her.

  At Jack’s house we repeated the routine.

  “Well, who have we got here?” Jack asked, holding his right elbow with his left hand, the palm of his right hand to his face— his famous pose.

  I whispered in his ear, “It’s Debbie, and this is Sandy.”

  He turned to a table next to the door, picked up a basket, and gestured the girls to step forward, saying, “I have a basket full of money here.”

  The girls lined up— and he gave everybody dimes! A single dime apiece out of his money basket.

  The troop continued up the street to Jimmy Stewart’s home, then across Roxbury to Agnes Moorehead’s. Everyone was so nice as two dozen kids showed up on their doorsteps.

  Spencer Tracy was such a wonderful star. I’m sure he was thrilled to be buying cookies from MGM’s newest contract player. He won an Academy Award, but I had forty-seven merit badges.

  To this day, I continue to support the Girl Scouts. When I performed in the 1970s, they paid half price to attend my concerts. I don’t sell cookies anymore, but I’m happy to lend my name to the organization. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed my years as a troop leader, Carrie tells me now that she hated it. We have very different tastes.

  I miss those days when I would visit my friends’ homes on Roxbury Drive. Sandy and I are still close to this day.

  FISH SHTICK

  In June 1971 Sea World opened their new attraction in San Diego with a killer whale named Shamu. The huge black-and-white orca supposedly weighed forty- seven hundred pounds and ate more than two hundred pounds of fish a day; one extra visit to the sushi bar and she would have tipped five thousand. She was enormous.

  And so was the playground the park had created for her— a 625,000- gallon performing tank measuring 120 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 24 feet deep, on seven additional acres of land Sea World had acquired just for this attraction. It held a million gallons of water. More than one hundred fifty trees had been planted, and another two and a quarter acres of lush green lawn with decorative ground cover bordered the water. It looked like a lagoon.

  As if that weren’t enough, there was a wall of twenty-three wide Plexiglas panels on the audience side of the show tank, for underwater viewing of Shamu’s antics.

  The opening event was a show called Shamu Goes Hollywood, with proceeds to benefit the Motion Picture Relief Fund. The owners of Sea World asked me to sponsor it, and I was happy to do so. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones, Ricardo Montalban, Jean Simmons, and Jack Haley Jr. agreed to help publicize the festivities.

  At one point, I was standing at the edge of the giant pool watching Shamu’s flips and jumps with her handlers when the killer whale sped toward me. Shamu rose out of the water with her jaws gaping wide. The handlers led me over to her, and asked me to put my head inside her mouth.

  I’d been nervous before at openings but this one really scared me. I leaned forward until my wig was in her nose, praying that Shamu wouldn’t mistake me for a fish stick. One sniffle and I would have been Jonah of San Diego.

  Shamu didn’t chomp me. But on the drive home from Sea World I still couldn’t shake the fresh orca smell. I had noticed that many of the restaurants at the park had a seafood theme. Was this the final fate of the fish who misbehaved?

  The following April I read in the papers that Shamu had bitten the legs and hips of a female employee in a bikini, who was trying to ride her during the filming of a publicity promo. When the orca refused to release the woman, they had to pry Shamu’s jaws apart with a pole.

  Shamu was a magnificent creature, but they retired her from performing after that. She’s lucky she didn’t end up as the Catch of the Day in one of their eateries. I counted myself lucky, too. I had survived my own close encounter with her jaws.

  BERTHA THE ELEPHANT

  When you played concert dates in Las Vegas in the 1970s, it was usually part of the deal to also appear in Reno. Just east of Reno is Sparks, Nevada, which also has casino hotels, so many of us played there, too, at the Nugget.

  One of the greatest performers to ever grace the Nugget stage was Bertha the Elephant, who was the hotel’s main attraction from 1962 until she died in the late 1990s. She had her own act in the Circus Room with her baby, Tina, and she would briefly share the stage with me or Liberace or Tony Bennet—whoever was the headliner that week. Bertha was truly a Nevada favorite; she and Tina also appeared every year in Carson City at their Nevada Day parade.

  She had her own elevator in the backstage area. I played that club for years before they let me go on that elevator with her. Bertha’s handlers would take her outside to do her business. She let loose on command when they tapped her on the leg. She was better trained than some performers I know of.

  But once in a while she would make a mistake, and when that happened you really thought Niagara Falls had moved to Sparks, Nevada. The whole audience would be underwater. We’d run out with mops to mop up, and then I had to go on with my act. My beautiful costumes all turned a little yellow from elephant pee.

  When we humans played the Nugget, we had to work seven nights a week, with an extra ten minutes on Monday night. Somebody once asked the entertainment office why we had to do a longer show on Mondays.

  “That’s Bertha’s day off,” we were told.

  Mondays off while everyone else made up for her act? That pachyderm had a better contract than we did!

  Bertha was the most cherished entertainer in Sparks, Nevada. She even had her own elevator to get to the stage.

  Superstar Bertha giving my mother, Maxene, a lift.

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I WISH TO DEDICATE THIS book to my children, Carrie and Todd Fisher. Without their encouragement and loving support, along with my faith in God, I never would have managed to survive many of these heartbreaking moments in my life.

  When I was offered the opportunity to do this book, I thought, Who could I ask to help me write this? Who would be funny, sincere, and honest? Who is a clever writer who also knows me? So I asked my good friend Dori Hannaway. I believe she’s written a wonderful and funny book. I’m so thrilled she said yes. I send her my deepest thanks and appreciation for her work and friendship.

  Donald Light, Jen Powers, and Margie Duncan—you have my gratitude. No one could have better friends. Thank you for all you do every day, not just when I’m writing a book.

  Dan Strone, my literary agent at Trident Media—you have no equal. Thank you for all your hard work and insight at every stage of this journey.

  Thank you, Rick Hersh, for introducing me to the amazing Mr. Strone.

  Debbie and Dorian thank:

  Kseniya Zaslavskaya of Trident Media, who helped make this project go as smoothly as possible.

  To our fantastic editor at William Morrow, Jennifer Brehl, thanks for all your guidance and support.

  Thanks also to the rest of the team at William Morrow: Susan Amster, Cindy Buck, Elissa Cohen, Lauren Cook, Michele Corallo, Karen Dziekonski, Cathy Felgar, Lynn Grady, Brian Grogan, Doug Jones, Tavia Kowalchuk, Emily Krump, Shelby Meizlik, Rachel Meyers, Michael Morrison, Mary Ann Petyak, Sharyn Rosenblum, Mary Schuck, Beth Silfin, Liate Stehlik, Mary Beth Thomas, and Nyamekye Waliyaya.

  Thanks to Lorie Pagnozzi for her beautiful book design.

  Special thanks to everyone who helped us by sharing their recollections: Theresa Dowling, Esq.; David Rudich, Esq.; Rip Taylor; Fred Pierson; the late Hank Moonjean; John Bowab; Margie Duncan; Ruta Lee; Donald Light; Sandy Avchen; Phyllis Berkett; Nancy and Joe Kanter; Bootie Bell Chewning; Anne Russell; Bonnie Basso; and David Crabtree.

  At the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, than
ks to Randy Habercamp, May Haduong, and Lawreen Loeser.

  And thanks to the Academy’s staff at the Margaret Herrick Library, especially Faye Thompson, Matt Severson, Stacey Behlmer, and Jenny Romero.

  For their help with reading the manuscript and giving us their most welcome corrections and changes, thanks to Michael Miller, Donald Light, Jen Powers, Cary Fetman, Nikki Smith, Tom Wilson, Carol Hannaway, Ken Sweigart, John Snell, Dr. Joanne Steuer, John Hazelton, and Leonard Maltin.

  Many people helped with the wonderful photographs: Julie Heath, Kim Paine, Leif Adams, Jeff Briggs, and Stan Taffel at the Warner Brothers Photo Archive; Ron Mandelbaum and Howard Mandelbaum at Photofest; Peter Kersten at Getty Images; Elisa Marquez at AP Photos; and Cindy Braun at the Paley Center for Media.

  Thanks to Peter L. Skolnik, Esq.; Andy Howick; and Michael Orland for their help.

  Special thanks to Tom Wilson. You are picture perfect! Your insight and knowledge were invaluable.

  Thanks to John Sala, who is one degree of separation from everyone in Hollywood.

  We thank Carol Hannaway for her beautiful cover design, her tireless work restoring Debbie’s photographs, and her invaluable help with the photo insert.

  Last but never least, we thank Patrick Merla for his keen editing and unrelenting support from the first page to the final pass. Patrick’s skills and tenacity with every detail have helped make this book what it is. We couldn’t have done it without him.

  THE FILMS OF DEBBIE REYNOLDS

  June Bride (Warner Brothers)

  Released October 29, 1948

  Starring Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery

  Directed by Bretaigne Windust

  Produced by Henry Blanke

  Written by Ranald MacDougall

  The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady (Warner Brothers)

  Released April 29, 1950

  Starring June Haver and Gordon MacRae

  Directed by David Butler

  Written by Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson

  Three Little Words (MGM)

  Released July 12, 1950

  Starring Fred Astaire and Red Skelton

  Produced by Jack Cummings

  Directed by Richard Thorpe

  Written by George Wells

  Two Weeks With Love (MGM)

  Released November 10, 1950

  Starring Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban, Louis Calhern, Ann Harding, and Debbie Reynolds

  Produced by Jack Cummings

  Directed by Roy Rowland

  Written by John Larkin and Dorothy Kingsley

  Mr. Imperium (MGM)

  Released March 2, 1951

  Starring Lana Turner, Ezio Pinza, and Marjorie Main

  Produced by Edwin H. Knopf

  Directed by Don Hartman

  Written by Edwin H. Knopf and Don Hartman

  Singin’ in the Rain (MGM)

  Released March 27, 1952

  Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Debbie Reynolds

  Produced by Arthur Freed

  Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

  Written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

  Skirts Ahoy! (MGM)

  Released May 28, 1952

  Starring Esther Williams, Joan Evans, Vivian Blaine, and Barry Sullivan

  Produced by Joe Pasternak

  Directed by Sidney Lanfield

  Written by Isobel Lennart

  I Love Melvin (MGM)

  Released March 20, 1953

  Starring Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds

  Produced by Don Weis

  Directed by George Wells

  Written by George Wells, Ruth Brooks Flippen, and László Vadnay

  The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (MGM)

  Released August 14, 1953

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Bobby Van, Barbara Ruick, and Bob Fosse

  Produced by Arthur M. Loew Jr.

  Directed by Don Weis

  Written by Max Shulman

  Give a Girl a Break (MGM)

  Released December 3, 1953

  Starring Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Debbie Reynolds, Helen Wood, and Bob Fosse

  Produced by Jack Cummings

  Directed by Stanley Donen

  Written by Vera Caspary, Frances Goodrich, and Albert Hackett

  Susan Slept Here (RKO)

  Released July 14, 1954

  Starring Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and Anne Francis

  Produced by Harriet Parsons

  Directed by Frank Tashlin

  Written by Steve Fisher (play) and Alex Gottlieb (play and screenplay)

  Athena (MGM)

  Released November 4, 1954

  Starring Jane Powell, Edmund Purdom, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, and Louis Calhern

  Produced by Joe Pasternak

  Directed by Richard Thorpe

  Written by William Ludwig and Leonard Spigelgass

  Hit the Deck (MGM)

  Released March 4, 1955

  Starring Jane Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter Pidgeon, Vic Damone, Gene Raymond, and Ann Miller

  Produced by Joe Pasternak

  Directed by Roy Rowland

  Written by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig

  The Tender Trap (MGM)

  Released November 4, 1955

  Starring Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, David Wayne, and Celeste Holm

  Produced by Lawrence Weingarten

  Directed by Charles Walters

  Written by Julius J. Epstein (screenplay) and Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith (play)

  Meet Me in Las Vegas (MGM)

  Released March 9, 1956

  Starring Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead, and Lili Darvas

  Produced by Joe Pasternak

  Directed by Roy Rowland

  Written by Isobel Lennart

  The Catered Affair (MGM)

  Released June 14, 1956

  Starring Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald, and Rod Taylor

  Produced by Sam Zimbalist

  Directed by Richard Brooks

  Written by Gore Vidal (screenplay) and Paddy Chayefsky (teleplay)

  Bundle of Joy (RKO)

  Released December 12, 1956

  Starring Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, and Adolphe Menjou

  Produced by Edmund Grainger

  Directed by Norman Taurog

  Written by Robert Carson, Norman Krasna, Arthur Sheekman, and Felix Jackson

  Tammy and the Bachelor (Universal)

  Released June 14, 1957

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Nielsen, and Walter Brennan

  Produced by Ross Hunter

  Directed by Joseph Pevney

  Written by Oscar Brodney

  This Happy Feeling (Universal)

  Released June 18, 1958

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Curt Jurgens, and John Saxon

  Produced by Ross Hunter

  Directed by Blake Edwards

  Written by Blake Edwards

  The Mating Game (MGM)

  Released April 29, 1959

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Tony Randall, and Paul Douglas

  Produced by Phillip Barry Jr.

  Directed by George Marshall

  Written by H. E. Bates (novel) and William Roberts

  It Started With a Kiss (MGM)

  Released August 19, 1959

  Starring Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, and Eva Gabor

  Produced by Aaron Rosenberg

  Directed by George Marshall

  Written by Charles Lederer (screenplay) and Valentine Davies (story)

  Say One for Me (20th Century Fox)

  Released June 19, 1959

  Starring Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, and Robert Wagner

  Produced by Frank Tashlin

  Directed by Frank Tashlin

  Written by Robert O’Brien

  The Gazebo (MGM)

  Released December 18, 1959

  Starring Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds
/>   Produced by Lawrence Weingarten

  Directed by George Marshall

  Written by George Wells (screenplay), Alec Coppel (play and story), and Myra Coppel (story)

  The Rat Race (Paramount)

  Released July 10, 1960

  Starring Tony Curtis, Debbie Reynolds, Jack Oakie, and Don Rickles

  Produced by William Perlberg and George Seaton

  Directed by Robert Mulligan

  Written by Garson Kanin

  Pepe (Columbia)

  Released December 21, 1960

  Starring Cantinflas, Dan Dailey, and Shirley Jones

  Produced by George Sidney

  Directed by George Sidney

  Written by Leslie Bush-Fekete, Claude Binyon, and Dorothy Kingsley

  The Pleasure of His Company (Paramount)

  Released June 1, 1961

  Starring Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Lilli Palmer, and Tab Hunter

  Produced by William Perlberg

  Directed by George Seaton

  Written by Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay and play) and Cornelia Otis Skinner (play)

  The Second Time Around (20th Century Fox)

  Released December 22, 1961

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Steve Forrest, Thelma Ritter, and Andy Griffith

  Produced by Jack Cummings

  Directed by Vincent Sherman

  Written by Oscar Saul and Clair Huffaker (screenplay), and Richard Emery Roberts (novel)

  How the West Was Won (MGM)

  Released February 20, 1963

  Starring Carroll Baker, Gregory Peck, Lee J. Cobb, George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Richard Widmark, Walter Brennan, and Harry Morgan

  Produced by Bernard Smith

  Directed by John Ford, Henry Hathaway, and George Marshall

  Written by James R. Webb

  My Six Loves (Paramount)

  Released April 3, 1963

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, and David Janssen

  Produced by Gant Gaither

  Directed by Gower Champion

  Written by Peter V. K. Funk (novel), Joseph Calvelli, John Fante, and William Wood

  Mary, Mary (Warner Brothers)

  Released October 24, 1963

  Starring Debbie Reynolds, Barry Nelson, and Diane McBain

  Produced by Mervyn LeRoy

  Directed by Mervyn LeRoy