Loretta and Me

This brand new book is about my firsthand observations of Loretta Young. Ironically, this is the book that Loretta wanted me to write. She was unwilling to author a first person biography, feeling too vulnerable in that light. Her idea was to charm me and then I'd write a book based on my impressions of her. This is that book .... but not exactly as Loretta might have envisioned. She did charm me, but over time, she also recognized my candor. One day a friend of hers asked my opinion. Loretta quickly interjected, "Be careful. He'll tell exactly what he thinks." So, although I grew very fond of Loretta over the last decade of her life, this is exactly what I think.

I served as Loretta's escort on many occasions with the rich and famous and even sailed with Loretta and Jean Louis, her last husband, on a cruise. One evening she told me that I was her best friend.

Excerpts:

There was a cloak closet off the foyer. When it was opened, little spot lights shined on two shelves, the top shelf holding Loretta's Best Actress Oscar and the second, her three Best Actress Emmys. Her mother considered displaying the awards gauche and this was her compromise.

Loretta had fried us hamburgers which we ate in the kitchen. After she had stepped out of the room, Peter said to me, "Man, you don't know what a big deal this is! I've been waiting my whole life for my mother to fry me a hamburger!"

I said to Loretta, "Nancy Reagan's head looks too big for her body." She replied, "Actually, her body is too small for her head. I imagine that she's dieted down to a point where she's out of proportion. Also, if she were a vain old movie star like me, she'd have floor to ceiling mirrors to see what she looks like head to toe. My guess is that she does her hair and makeup sitting at a dressing table. Just seeing her head and shoulders, she doesn't realize how out of proportion she looks.

Loretta pressed the flashing message button on her phone. Once she realized who it was, she rolled her eyes and held the receiver out so that I could hear. It was Nancy Reagan, scolding Loretta for never returning her phone calls.

The windows faced south and Loretta preferred putting her makeup on early enough in the evening so that she would use only natural light.