Sail On Van Johnson

[TropicalTroubador]

I hadn't realized he was still alive:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/ ... index.html

Back when I was about thirteen, my family was on vacation in St. Thomas, at what was then a small resort called Bolongo Bay Beach Club. (It's apparently grown massive since then, and is surrounded by condos.) I forget what I'd been doing, but my folks told me they'd met Van Johnson. I said, "Who is Van Johnson?" They told me about his movies and such, and my brother and I were introduced to him. He immediately took a liking to us, calling us his "rotten kids."

I remember him as a very warm, nice man. He always wore red socks. He had some bitterness about his first wife, calling her "Madame Nhu." It took me a while to figure out who he was referring to and why. (Heck, I was a fairly naive 13.) He stayed in touch with my folks for a number of years, and we had one more vacation with him down in St. Thomas, and I went to see him doing summer stock one year when I was in college. He still remembered me and was glad to see me; I don't remember if the rest of the family was with us or not. (I think it was the play Boeing, Boeing.)

Wherever he is now, I hope it's a wonderful place.

[dnw]

Sail on, Van.

[Salukulady]

What a nice story, TT. Thanks for sharing. Sail on Mr. Johnson.

[aeroparrot]

Sail on.

[jayparrot46]

sail on van.

[Glorfindel7]

Sail on Van

[ejr]

Sail on, Van.

[citcat]

Sail on, Mr. Johnson.


I don't get the Madame Nhu reference....????? Can you 'splain it, TT ???

[Tropic_Al]

Sail on, Mr. Johnson..


Madame Nhu was the First Lady of Viet Nam, 1955 -63. I guess he didn't like his ex that much. Check the bio on Nhu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Ngo_Dinh_Nhu

[Karacal]

Sail on Mr. Johnson.......

[rich_big]

fare thee well, handsome man.

[tikitatas]

Sail on, sir . . .