50 YEARS OF MEMORIES:

Debbie Reynolds Makes A Final Stop Before 

Curtain Closes on Drury Lane Theatre 

By Philip Potempa

Northwest Indiana Times 

October 12, 2003

When listening to Debbie Reynolds talk about her experiences, it's easy to tell she is used to a life and career that has included ups and downs. A recent telephone call from John R. Lazzara, owner of Drury Lane Theatre in Evergreen Park, Ill., was just another of those bumps bringing sad news.

Lazzara informed his friend Reynolds that her string of October performances at the venue would mark the final celebrity appearance before it closes to make way for a new Wal-Mart in January.

"It's very sad, because in many ways it's one of the last in just a handful of dinner theaters still left in our country," Reynolds said.

"And for performers like me, who would perform a week's worth of shows, it was a home away from home."

Reynolds, 71, and Drury Lane Theatre share many things in common. Both are celebrating 50 years of performances in the spotlight.

Reynolds' legendary debut came as one of the leads opposite of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagen in MGM's 1953 hit film, "Singin' in the Rain," often called the best musical ever and currently noting 50 years as a favorite.

Reynolds is the last survivor of the principal characters.

O'Connor, who died Sept. 27 at age 78, was not only Reynolds' friend, he also performed at Drury Lane in summer 2001.

Hagen, who received an Academy Award nomination as the squeaky-voiced silent film star Lena Lemont, died in 1971 at age 54 of throat cancer and also was a close friend of Reynolds.

She was from neighboring Elkhart, Ind., and her family still remains in the area.

"Jean's performance is one of my favorite memories in 'Singin' in the Rain' and she and I were close until her death," Reynolds said.

"She was more of serious actress and she had to really prove herself that she could have comedy timing when she auditioned and lobbied for the role in the film."

Hagen's brother, Dr. Roger Verhagen, 78, of North Judson, Ind., just outside of Valparaiso, said his sister would be pleased that Reynolds and her stage performances, which often include sharing memories about "Singin' in the Rain," help keep his sister's memory alive.

"Jean shortened her last name when she went into acting," Verhagen said.

"Debbie Reynolds and her both shared many of the same experiences while getting into this business at the same time. In addition to starring to starring in MGM's musical with Debbie, Jean's other proud accomplishment was playing Danny Thomas' first wife on his television show 'Make Room for Daddy.'"

Like Hagen, Reynolds said she's also shared and survived work, marital and family worries. In many ways, she describes herself as a reincarnation of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," a character played by actress Kathy Bates in "Titanic," but first portrayed by Reynolds in the 1964 musical named after Brown.

And despite it all, Reynolds still is able to smile and crack jokes, both on stage and off.

''You know Elizabeth Taylor and I share a lot in common ... including former husbands,'' said Reynolds, referring to the time she spent married to singer Eddie Fisher.

Fisher created what was treated as a public scandal during the 1950s by leaving Reynolds, the mother of his two children, to marry Taylor.

But it was Reynolds, left as a single mother in the 1950s, who garnered the support and sympathy of the press, including comforting words of praise daily in print from the two most powerful rival Hollywood gossip columnists of the time, Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons.

"Both Hedda and Louella were at my baby shower for my daughter Carrie," Reynolds said.

"That was something that rarely happened, having those two in the same room at the same time. Despite their reputations, they were always very kind to me."

Reynolds said she was heralded as ''America's ideal bride'' when she married Fisher in 1955. In 1959, the two divorced after the much-publicized affair between Fisher and Taylor flooded newspaper headlines. Later that year, Fisher married Taylor in a private chapel in Las Vegas.

''Now that I think back, Frank Sinatra was a much better kisser than Eddie," Reynolds said.

"I made a movie called 'The Tender Trap' with him in 1955. I really think I married the wrong singer. At the time, Eddie was extremely popular. He had 27 gold records but never a real hit. While we were married, I was making the series of 'Tammy' movies. During that time I happened to get a hit record myself from the title song 'Tammy.' I think that really ticked him off. So you see, I do have some happy memories from that marriage.''

The other happy memories are her two children by Fisher, actress and writer Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher.

In addition to touring, Reynolds continues her passion for collecting and preserving movie memorabilia. Even though her casino and museum in Las Vegas closed in the 1997, she still plans to open a new museum in Hollywood.

Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from ''The Wizard of Oz,'' Vivien Leigh's ''curtain'' gown from ''Gone With the Wind,'' and Stan Laurel's and Oliver Hardy's suits and bowler hats are just a few of the items in Reynolds' collection that she purchased at studio auctions.

"Memories are something that always remain," Reynolds said. "That's how we have to look at the closing of John Lazzara's Drury Lane."

Reynolds said she's optimistic she will be invited back to the Chicago area for future performances when the local theater.

In fact, there's still one more Drury Lane Theatre, located in Oakbrook, Ill.

"Tony DeSantos, who used to own both Drury Lanes, still owns the one in Oakbrook Terrace," Reynolds said.

"That's the Drury Lane I performed at for the very first time at Tony's invitation about 10 years ago. I'm hoping now Tony will invite me back."