John Loves Mary

Ocean City loves Lucie

The Ocean City Pops opened its 83rd season with a fabulous concert by Lucie Arnaz. The Music Pier crowd was enthralled with her powerful voice and charming style; the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had many faithful Pops patrons saying she was the best they’ve seen.

Just a few blocks awaym while the concert was winding down, this columnist arrived in the Garden Room at the Flanders for the post-opening night reception, where I was greeted by Sonya Bertini and husband, Rich Tolson, who left the concert early to make sure everything was ready for the gala.

There was no need to worry with Morgan Roberts and Karen Bergman on the job; the sumptuous dessert buffet was ready and the tables were set to perfection. Suzanne Dickson was the first to arrive as she walked down the Boardwalk to the Flanders while husband, Joel, drove their car. The Dicksons have been Pops season ticket holders since they moved to O.C. 20 yrs. ago and Joel serves on the Pops Advisory Council.

I enjoyed catching up with Marie and Pete Shafron who are back in town for the summer after spending the winter in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Pete told me I wouldn’t be getting any cucumbers as they didn’t plant them in their garden this year.

New board member Dave Coombs took lots of pictures at the reception as did Sandy Simpson who looked great in a white peasant blouse and flowing orange skirt. I stopped to chat with Sue and Don Gilbert, who were enjoying the reception with Joan and Ed Wismer. Ed assured me he would be hard at work on his column early Monday to make his deadline.

When Arnaz arrived with her entourage she graciously posed for pictures, signed autographs and listened intently as guests reminisced about her famous parents, as most grew up with the “I Love Lucy” show.

Congratulations to Mary Ramoski and Jerry DeLapp who got engaged on Valentine’s Day. When asked about a wedding date, Jerry quipped that it took him nine years to get this far so don’t rush him.

It was great to see Janet Periotti, a former officer and director of the Pops board, who now resides in the Villages in Florida. While Janet loves her new home down south, she hopes to return to O.C. more often to catch up with old friends.

Friends of Pops Chairman Ken Hoover and wife, Phyllis, circulated around the Garden Room chatting with everyone and I told them I’d wave to them on their porch when I walk past them home on the Boardwalk.

The Reagan Record: MOVIE 20/WEEK 20: John Loves Mary

Mary McKinley (Patricia Neal) is awaiting return of her fiancee John Lawrence (Ronald Reagan) from his years of military service.  Instead of being visited by John, however, Mary meets Fred Taylor (Jack Carson), a man who saved John's life during the war.  When all are reunited, John confides a secret to Fred: he has married Fred's love Lilly Herbish (Virginia Field) who was presumed lost during the war.  John did so to bring Lilly to the United States so he could annul the marriage and have Fred marry his true love.  Unfortunately, Fred has already been married and the situation grows worse when Mary's parents Senator James McKinley (Edward Arnold) and Phyllis McKinley (Katharine Alexander) arrive and the wedding of John and Mary is arranged for a few days from now.  Hope rests with a bizarre strategy that John thinks which requires the help of his and Fred's war nemesis,  is a charming comedy with excellent performances from Ronald Reagan, Jack Carson,  the perfect Edward Arnold as the burly Senator McKinley, and especially Patricia Neal who seems more experienced as a film actress than she is actually is here, this being her first feature film.  Reagan once again plays a military man, a recurring kind of character throughout his films.  In fact, according to various sources, Ronald Reagan played military characters so often that he was originally reticent about accepted a role for Stallion Road is that one simple line from Ronald Reagan would have resolved the entire conflict of the narrative.  It takes wild situations and a willingness by the audience to go along with the conceit for the film to work.  Luckily, because the source material was a popular play, there is very good dialog here and winning performances that help the audience forget how easily the situation could be fixed.  In fact, it is almost impossible not to like John Lawrence, whose earnestness is played with relish by Ronald Reagan.