JMIFC PAGE

Fans ask Clara and Tessa to set the record Straight

on Attacks on Jeanette.

September 25, 2006

(This WGN Medical News Report Link Supports Comments in this Interview)

WGN MEDICAL REPORT VIDEO 10-16-2006 ABOUT APHASIA

Gio and Gia: The only way to set the record straight today about the one person's attempt to tarnish our Jeanette MacDonald is to go directly to the two people who Jeanette and Gene trusted totally--Clara and Tessa, the two presidents of Jeanette's fan club (the JMIFC now in its 70th year). In your own words please tell us the real story about Jeanette.

JMIFC: Jeanette was a true star and singing diva. She lived a life that was clean, honest, and loving. She never gossiped or engaged in backstage politics. She was the idol to millions of people around the world, and always lived a life that was above reproach. When Edward R. Murrow, who was the voice of CBS News and never hesitated to seek out the truth, interviewed Jeanette and Gene in his Person-to-Person TV show, found them to be just what the world had always known; they were in love and true to one another. Knowing there was not even the slightest suggestion of any kind of gossip about them, he showed to the world during this interview just who Jeanette and Gene really were--true Sweethearts.

The best way to set the record straight is by stating the FACTS, and doing it in the manner that Jeanette did all of her life, never stooping down to those who willfully spoke unkindly about others. IT has always been out goal to present the real story of Jeanette, know this posting in the JMFC (JeanetteMacdonaldFanClub.com) we will continue do just this, state the facts with no monetary interests like others do. We know the JMFC shall stay true in posting what we have to say, and post the facts to make them available to all to read.

Gio and Gia: People may claim they knew someone who knew Jeanette and Gene; but you ladies are truly the two most rock-solid, undisputed, reliable expert sources then and today, who did know them. Everybody knows that Jeanette and Gene always trusted both of you the most. And that is why the names of Clara Rhoades and Tessa Williams are the two names listed as the JMIFC Presidents, Jeanette's only authorized fan club endorsed by both Jeanette and Gene..

JMIFC: That is correct! Gene use to call us his family.

FACT: In 1961/2 Jeanette selected personally Clara Rhoades to be the new president of her fan club. This was restated by Gene when Jeanette had passed away in 1965. It was Clara Rhoades who Jeanette chose.

FACT: It was Clara Rhoades and Tessa William that Gene gave all copies, notes, and edits of Jeanette's autobiography to.

JMIFC: As for the topic of Jeanette's love life, it is one filled with hopeful wishing. But making the impossible come true can only happen in fairy tales and fictional writing. This is nothing new in Jeanette's life. Two examples bring this point home. The first is Walter Winchell who continued to write that Jeanette was married to Bob Ritchie, her agent. At every opportunity he would restate this, until Jeanette had had enough and quickly put an end to his silly nonsense by offering $5000.00 to anyone, anywhere who could bring forward a legal marriage license. No one ever did and Winchell finally stopped. That was back in the 1930's.

Gio and Gia: And more recently?

JMIFC: Yes, we are sad to say that there is another person who claims that Jeanette was having an affair with one of her co-stars. This is based upon what Jeanette's sister Blossom had "Supposedly" told this person when Blossom lived at the Motion Picture Country Home. Again, like Water Winchell, this person lay claims that no one else in the world has ever claimed. But then this person has made a business off Jeanette. And their story is truly one for the medical records and Ripley's Believe or Not. This person told us that they had befriended Jeanette's sister, Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald (living in the Motion Picture Country Home), and "Blossom actually told this person--verbally--all about Jeanette and Nelson".

Gio and Gia: QUESTION: Where are the tapes of Blossom actually speaking about this romance? Portable cassette tape recorders were available, why didn't this person do as other good writers and reporters do, record the conversation? If there were tapes, where are they now? Why not play them for the world to hear? This would put an end to any doubts.

JMIFC: Yes, that's if there were tapes. We are, however, suppose to believe this person. And yet, with no tapes of Blossom's voice speaking, this claim immediately raised a red flag.

FACT: Blossom suffered a debilitating stroke shortly after the demise of "the Addams Family" TV series in 1966, and lost the ability to speak in her last years.

FACT: Disability was due to APHASIA.

FACT: Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to language centers of the brain. The damage to the left side of the brain causes aphasia. As a result, individuals who were previously able to communicate through speaking, listening, reading and writing become more limited in their ability to do so. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke.

Gio and Gia: So it was impossible for her to talk, thus tell this elaborate tale?

JMIFC: Yes. If one was to check the records at the Motion Picture Country Home, it will show that Blossom was afraid of this strange person who was bothering not only Blossom but other actors there and was removed.

Gio and Gia: QUESTION: Other people who knew Blossom at the time, had to ask, when this book came out about a "Supposed Affair" Jeanette and Nelson had, how could this be that Blossom actually spoke to this person when Blossom was unable to talk.

JMIFC: Ah!... You now see a pattern forming here.

FACT: Jeanette and Blossom were very close, and not once during Jeanette's lifetime did Blossom ever elude to such relations about her sister with any of her co-stars, except the one she was married to, Gene.

FACT: Quite to the contrary, Jeanette never engaged in backstage gossip or non-business activities on the set or after shooting. She was a true professional who had wise guidance from her mother, Anna MacDonald, who was with her daughter all the time.

FACT: The publishers turned down Jeanette's autobiography on the grounds that it was not spicy, there was no "Tell-All", and no gossip.

FACT: Only after these two people have passed away do we suddenly hear from only one person in the world who "Claims" that there was an affair between Jeanette and Nelson. Strangely enough, Nelson's sister said that due to a childhood accident he was unable to have children, which makes the idea that these two people who could have conceived children not once but four times is one left for the comic books. The world is to believe that of all the people in the world, Blossom, who was unable to talk, chose this person she was afraid of to open up to and tell her that she seem fit to tell no one else.

To follow this reasoning, why didn't Blossom just tell Life or Look Magazine and make money off the hidden secret. AGAIN: WHERE ARE THE TAPES?

FACT: It was very well known in Hollywood and around the world that for 28 years Jeanette and her husband, Gene had a wonderful marriage.

FACT: Gene was true American war hero. As alluded to earlier, yes you are correct there are two people who knew Jeanette and Gene better than anyone else living today, and that is the presidents of the 70 year old Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club, voted in 1980 as the best Fan Club in the World.

Gio and Gia: AND WHO BEST to go to for the real story.

JMIFC: We can't tell you how many people have refuted everything this person has written.

FACT: For 40 years the JMIFC has hosted a fan get together in Los Angeles called the Clan Clave. During these 40 years, hundreds of stars who knew, worked with, and were life long friends of Jeanette and Gene, came to these wonderful banquets. These people who were really in the know, proudly proclaimed Jeanette and Gene's love for each other, and that Jeanette was always true to one man, her husband. There has never been any rumors of Jeanette carousing with anyone before her marriage, and during her marriage. And, today, outside of one person, there is still no one who has ever presented factual proof that this alleged romance ever occurred. It is facts and not hearsay that in the end will stand the test of time. Again, there are many reputable sources that refute and challenge the authenticity of this one writer. As to a pattern forming, the referral to Gene, allegedly being gay, is another red flag.

Gio and Gia: We are glad you mentioned this.

QUESTION: With all the Hollywood writers covering actor's every move, why wasn't this juicy story spread across the headlines?

JIMFC: FACT: Gene was going to sue the author three different times, only to be talked out of it by his attorneys. Through their wise legal council, they pointed out that by doing so would only bring notoriety to the book. Thus he didn't; and the book never did anything.

Gio and Gia: If the public really wants to know how special you two ladies are on the lives of Jeanette and Gene, we believe Edward Baron Turk, who worked with the both of you in doing his research for his book on Jeanette called Hollywood Diva, dedicates the last page of his book to two people, and their names are Clara Rhoades and Tessa Williams. A true compliment and acknowledgement of the fact that both of you really knew Jeanette and Gene. There is no such acknowledgement to this other person who still has presented NO TAPES of BLOSSOM telling this story.

JMIFC: Thank you, it is indeed an honor we hold dear to us.

Gio and Gia: As to Jeanette's autobiography--when we visited with both of you ladies in Topeka, we also were given the honor of seeing Jeanette's autobiography and her revisions. Having read it has shown us exactly how silly these claims made are. We are also happy to tell you that once the JMFC has explained the "FACTS", reputable sources, like IMDB.com, withdrew any mention of any alleged such affair in Jeanette's life. We can't thank you enough for the time to set the record straight. In closing, is there any last thing you like to tell the fans?

JMIFC: Thank you Gio and Gia for taking time to help us tell the world the facts. There are so many thing we would love to tell the fans, and have in publishing over 40 years of the JMIFC's Golden Comet Journal, which is filled Jeanette and Gene's own words when they were with us. But now that Jeanette and Gene are no longer with us, it is more than ever important to preserve what they worked so hard in life to do, and that is to keep their good names untarnished. Lets hope the facts present here will get out and people will learn the real life story of Hollywood's Sweethearts.

Ah yes, I can and will remember—as I often do. The problem is where to start? Perhaps attending my first Jeanette MacDonald concert. It was in the Music Hall in Kansas City. My seat was in the front row and it was such a thrill when she walked out on stage. Her gown was pink and filmy. Jeanette was able to hold the audience in her hand from the beginning. Everyone was so quiet until the ending of each song . . . then they burst out with applause and Jeanette was beaming and the love affair continued through out the whole program. Her curtsies were so natural and endearing. Her smile was so genuine and we were close enough to see her lips form the words, "Thank you, thank you...

One of the most memorable concerts which I attended...well, if any of you have ever seen Red Rocks Theater just out of Denver you can just imagine Jeanette walking across the huge stage with her gown wafting off behind her and the crowd giving her a magnificent ovation. She turns to them as she reaches the piano and everyone goes wild. The huge red stones forming a backdrop for the stage is filled with more of the audience sitting in the niches of the rocks. As the program continued, it began to rain. The audience was not about to leave and Jeanette held her hands out in front of herself with palms up and called out, "I don’t feel anything, do you?" And the program continued. As the program was coming to an end, a gentleman and a small child made their way across the stage to her. The man carried a large bouquet of red roses. She spoke to the two and placed a kiss on the cheek of the little boy. The man leaned over to get his smooch on the cheek. Jeanette shook her finger at him and they all, left the stage. Of course, there were more encores and everyone filed off the mountain and home. No doubt singing the praises of one Jeanette MacDonald and perhaps a few of the songs which remained in their heads.

Can you imagine sitting next to Jeanette MacDonald at a dinner the MacRaymonds hosted for the club members who attended the first Clan Clave in 1962 ‘—and trying to eat? She had eaten at home before they came to be with the members at the Luau Restaurant, so she had time to tell me all about the Hawaiian food they served there. She teased about the food - some was quite hot and explained about some of the other dishes. We discussed some of the new films being shown around town. She said some were not the kind she would recommend. Leaning closer to me she confided that it was difficult for her to sit next to her husband when they saw EL CID I was embarrassed!!" She endeared herself to the group when she refused to sit in a chair with a higher back than those of the rest of us—as if she wasn’t already endeared to them. She even passed a piece of her jewelry around the group for each one to see. She spoke to the group and pictures were taken and everyone had a marvelous time.

Then, there was the time I went backstage when she and Gene were doing THE GUARDSMAN in Kansas City. Oh, the show was great, but I like to remember seeing them with "Misty". Gene had taken the dog out for a walk and everyone knelt down better to pet their little jewel. Gene was so attentive. A little tail wagged and everyone patted—Jeanette hugged! What a lucky little dog.

And that brings to mind our remembrance of Gene Raymond. Tessa and I spent so many happy hours with him when we were in California. I recall us sitting - each on either side of him —at lunch, with him putting his hands on ours and telling us how much these times meant to him and that we were like family to him. And it was so with us, too. We cannot tell you how much we miss him and Jeanette. They were a couple to whom we were very close—they shall remain in our hearts and memories forever. They were the best—they were The MacRaymonds!!

		Clara Rhoades & Tessa Williams
		September and December, 2004 Tessa Williams on Mr. Ted Paxson Part I & II
August, 2004 CLARA & TESSA	Sept., 2004 Tessa Williams Good Morning Mr. Paxson Part I
July, 2004 CLARA & TESSA	June, 2004 CLARA & TESSA		May, 2004 CLARA & TESSA	March, 2004 Clara's "Will you remember?"