The Liz Smith Column | 04/10/2009 12:00 am

Liz Smith: The Widow Astaire – Jockeying for Fred's Legacy

And more from Our Gossip Girl! Marlee Matlin: She’ll ‘Scream Later,’ I’ll cheer now; Jack Wrangler, a gay icon, dies.

Fred Astaire © Getty Images

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one … the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy!” So wrote George Bernard Shaw. And today — thinking on the late Katharine Hepburn, because the Hollywood historian Charlotte Chandler is about to write a book on her — I recall that the quote above was one of Miss Hepburn’s favorites. In fact, she passed it on to me at our last interview together.

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This very week, the musical “Mamma Mia!” celebrated ten glorious years and the ads at the Prince of Wales Theater noted that this amazing hit, derided by critics, has been seen by over 40,000,000 people worldwide. (Oh, yes, and then there’s the movie which was supposed to put the kibosh on the dazzling career of Meryl Streep. Detractors said the popular musical would “ruin” this amazing actress. But the film has grossed around $200,000,000 and Ms. Streep is not only rich but is still in the Oscar fast lane and has a fascinating comedy coming up via Nora Ephron any minute, titled “Julie & Julia.”)

Meryl Streep in ‘Mamma Mia!’ © Universal/
courtesy Everett Collection

So, with these facts in mind, it might be worth noting that Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the “Mamma Mia” songwriters (with Stig Anderson), say they have written a worthy follow-up to their West End hit. The show they have conceived is titled “Kristina from Duvemala,” which has already been welcomed as boffo in Sweden.

Word is that the music is very different from that of “Mamma Mia!” It is said to be symphonic and a bit folksy.

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I am reading the latest in celebrity tomes and it seems the “news” belongs here.

Take the divine Marlee Matlin and her memoir I’ll Scream Later. This fabulous actress still holds the record as the youngest woman ever to win a best-actress Oscar (age 21) and she did it against all odds, having been deaf since childhood. May I just add personally that she is one of the most interesting and charming of all the stars I have met in a starry lifetime – friendly and down to earth.

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Now Marlee tells us that at the same time she took home the Golden Globe in 1987, she was about to put herself into the Betty Ford Clinic to fight against her addiction to alcohol. This is a saga of a family struggling to get the best for their talented, deaf child. It is a saga of Marlee’s problems and joys as an inspirational role model for millions of the hearing impaired. And it’s the story of her love life – upfront and personal. She has romanced William Hurt, Rob Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson and the famous TV writer David E. Kelley.

You have seen Marlee in her notable films, on “Seinfeld,” “The West Wing” and “The L Word,” plus as a sensation on “Dancing With the Stars.” Now read all about it from Simon & Schuster.

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Peter Levinson tells us everything we ever wanted to know about the film genius Fred Astaire in a new bio, Puttin’ On the Ritz (St. Martin’s Press). This is chock-full of Astaire memorabilia, but sadly, it ends with tales of how Fred’s widow, the onetime jockey Robyn Smith, wed Fred in 1980 and took control over his film archive. She has denied precious film footage of Fred to PBS, to Ted Turner, to the Film Society of Lincoln Center, to the London Palladium, to the Academy, to the Kennedy Center Honors. In the last instance, an honoring of Ginger Rogers in 1992 showed her dancing without Fred.

18 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Did I read that correctly, your friend the famous porn star? Well, hey why not. And what’s that about Mrs. Astaire? Not sharing his image can’t be making her rich — or even doing much to sustain her. Doesn’t "acting" mean "to be seen"? Gosh. Well I suppose she has her reasons.

By rocky rocky on 04/10/2009 4:13 am

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Happy Friday, Liz et all:

LOVE Fred Astaire, especially on this Easter Weekend. One of our traditions is to watch Easter Parade together: one of my daughter’s first favorite movies! It’s sad that Mrs. Astaire cannot/will not share more of his work with the world. In this day and age, there is much to be learned by all from a man with such style and dignity. Maybe she is afraid of over saturating the media, like what has happened with other icons (think Marilyn Monroe or Elvis). Still, that doesn’t excuse not helping out PBS. If she is reading this, please rethink your views on this: we would love to see more of Fred than that vaccuum cleaner ad (footage of which was taken from Easter Parade)

My condolences, Liz, on the death of your friend Jack Wrangler. I believe his life would make an interesting WOW topic: here was a man who was a porn star (in the 1970s) but who also came out publicly and loudly that he was gay (well, bi-sexual). Liz is right when she said he was a symbol of the gay liberation movement: he busted the doors wide open on that. However, his marriage to chanteuse Margaret Whiting was both long and happy. He seemed to have a wide variety and loyal following of close friends as well. My condolences to you, Liz and to all of his other friends.

Happy Easter, everyone!

By nanchan u on 04/10/2009 7:41 am

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Nanchan u, in my post I was insensitive to the fact that Mr Wrangler was Ms Liz’s friend. You are kind and correct to send your condolences to her, sometime I failed to do. May I add mine here, too: My sincere condolences, Ms Liz. So sad for the loss of your friend …

By rocky rocky on 04/10/2009 2:11 pm

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My knowledge of porn stars is a bit lacking so I’ve never heard of Mr. Jack Wrangler. I look forward to reading the new Fred Astaire biography. Now there was a true gentleman. Sad that his widow does not seem to be worthy of her role as keeper of his legacy.

By Deena B. on 04/10/2009 8:01 am

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Ah, Fred Astair, was there ever a more elegant, classy man ? And when you saw him dancing you never even noticed who he was dancing with because you couldn’t take your eyes off of him ! The perfect confluence of body and music.. languid and fluid, with perfect panache in a tuxedo and top hat.

And now I know why we never see him on he classic movie channels. Shame on you Robyn Smith for denying his fans access to an American legend.

By EKA - on 04/10/2009 10:21 am

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Wonderful Fred Astaire. Maybe his wife wants to keep our memories of him wonderful.

It would be great to see more of him but she may feel that what is left to see is not quite up to the ultra high standards he himself set as acceptable for general distribution.

By the way do you know the definition he had for “Jello on a cracker”?

"Puddin’ on the Ritz".

By Lauriate Roly on 04/10/2009 11:52 am

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My uncle was a dancer and once had the opportunity to work with Fred Astaire. He told me that Astaire was the hardest working person in show business. He rehearsed for hours longer than anyone else. That is the secret of making it look so easy. I still love to see Fred Astaire dance.

I suppose his widow has her reasons, but I didn’t really want to see him dance with a vacuum cleaner in a commercial.

By Elizabeth Bennett on 04/10/2009 1:17 pm

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Interesting bit about Astaire’s widow. Wonder if deep down (or not so deep down) this is her revenge on him for whatever she feels slighted about. Seems it may be another sad example of men making unwise choices when it comes to the women they love.

By Willow K on 04/10/2009 1:18 pm

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What a ignorant and selfish woman! … This definitely does not sound like she loved her husband and respected his work! … This stinks of revenge, hatred and jealousy!

Any sane person who loved their mate would be seeking ways to perserve his legacy!

I thought the failure to contribute footage to the Ginger Rogers Tribute was one of the ultimate insults to her husbands legacy.

Yet, this imbecile would pimp his image to some vacuum commercial! An effort that was a financial disaster!

By L. C. on 04/10/2009 1:48 pm

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The widow of Fred Astaire must have her reasons. Maybe she is just lazy and does not want to be bothered? Yet, Fred’s daughter does a commentary on the DVD Easter Parade and for those of us who have seen the movie a gazillion times, it is a nice addition to watch the movie with Fred’s daughter adding wonderful tidbits now and then. She reveals how Fred got the movie role, after retiring, from Gene Kelley who sprained or broke his ankle a week or so before filming was to begin. Gene is the one who called Fred.

Fred - a wonderful, dancer, actor, singer and human being. Irving Berlin is said to have thought Astaire was the best singer of his tunes. The names of Fred & Ginger are now part of Americana … same as George & Gracie.

By Bonnie Oliver on 04/10/2009 4:04 pm

postscript: I read or heard once that Fred Astaire’s wife was very jealous. It was she who demanded that Fred never actually kiss any of his leading ladies in his films. I wonder if that is true?

By Bonnie Oliver on 04/10/2009 4:09 pm

I believe he married this person rather late in life - after his film career was over. She was his second wife. I don’t know all the particulars, but I seem to recall hearing that she basically shut out most of his close friends during his last days.

By Deena B. on 04/10/2009 6:57 pm

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I believe Fred Astaire’s widow has gone too far. If I were is widow, I would find it a privilege to loan out some of his movies and memories to whomever will use it wisely. Take note, The Kennedy Center an PBS are two I would have gladly said yes to. And AMC and TCM are two others.

By Beth Cornell on 04/10/2009 7:23 pm

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I think Robyn Smith is a controlling ……..Bad names inserted here…………

She married him very late in his career……..took immediate control.

Not allowing Ginger Rogers the privilege of seeing herself and Fred dance at her Award show was despicable.

I’m a gentle loving person who doesn’t beleive in violence. But just thinking about what this horrible woman has denied the World (the pleasure of, Fred Dancing) (That was his World.) makes feel angry enough to be violent against her. Not physically, but verbally.I’m sure he’s not happy about what she’s done.

By Dona Howlett on 04/11/2009 2:13 am

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jack wrangler- condolences to you Liz… i had never heard of him, but what i love is he was married to the marvelous Margaret Whiting for a long time and they had a good marriage that worked for them.. Good for them..

and Fred Astaire’s widow must be a sandwich short of a picnic.. It is puzzling…Maybe she will un harden her heart before long.. His dancing was wonderful.. and Liz U are wonderful.. u go girl :)

By Lucy Baty on 04/11/2009 8:01 pm