ALPERN AT LARGE - There's an old saying that celebrity deaths always come in threes, and we just lost three very special people: Annette Funicello ("America's Sweetheart"),
Margaret Thatcher (Britain's "Iron Lady"), and Jonathan Winters ("The Father of Improvisational Comedy"). They each lived in different realms in the world of the public eye, but despite being tied together in their common departure from life they also shared one thing: Class.
They all had class. Which serves as a reminder to the women and men who live in today's public eye...and maybe to the rest of us, to boot.
For those of us who knew of Annette Funicello's multiple sclerosis, her recent death was no surprise--but it was a painful jolt, nevertheless. She was the Real Deal, the one for whom so many boys (and later men) harbored secret crushes (and was the inspiration for Paul Anka's "Puppy Love").
Ms. Funicello (or "Annette", as so many of America and the world knew her) was a shy girl who was the last Mouseketeer to be selected, and one of the few to be chosen by Walt Disney himself. She never forgot who she was, turned down unsavory acting roles and adhered to the advise that Walt Disney himself (another "Real Deal" himself, who was devoted to family-friendly entertainment) to steer clear of the unpleasant tabloid world of the public eye.
As with the late Lucille Ball (or "Lucy", as so many knew her--just as they knew Ms. Funicello as "Annette"), it was not hard to love and respect her. Furthermore, the love so many of us have for these two ladies was premised on that very respect. Both women were not free of personal turmoil in the form of divorce, but they were kind and used their talents for good, and were beloved by family, children, friends and fans alike. Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Montgomery can probably also be placed in this genre.
I dare anyone to watch an old "Mickey Mouse Club" or "I Love Lucy" rerun and not be enthralled--there is something to be said for a sweet girl, or a sweet woman, that strongly captures the fancy of men and women alike. In contrast, the desire of past and especially current actresses, musicians and celebrities to do or say anything--anything!--to get into and remain in the public eye merits an equal amount of scorn and disdain.
We live in a world of Kim Kardashian, Lindsey Lohan, "Teen Moms" and other celebrities who may laugh all the way to the bank, but can never be held to the same level of respect as Annette Funicello. Scoff as anyone might at Annette's innocence, but I doubt any of the aforementioned women will ever be considered as a person of Class--and as horrific as it was that Ms. Funicello died of multiple sclerosis, it's more likely than not she lived and died happy...and with a clean conscience that is a result of a life well-lived.
I pray that other young celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence and Zac Efron can stay true to their talents and not resort to "re-inventing themselves" into a "wild child" or "bad boy" (Really, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber? Really?) Talent and personality doesn't require sainthood, but one need not lower one's dignity and choose a path--no matter what the fame and money--that leads to personal unhappiness and regret.
Moving to the political realm, the passing of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher paints as challenging a conundrum for those trying to define a "modern woman" as those trying to define where Annette Funicello fits into the grand scheme of feminism.
Of course, for those trying to figure out where a demure Funicello or acerbic Thatcher would be categorized, perhaps the right approach to modern-day feminism is to allow an individual woman to be whoever she wants. However, what won't ever be changed is that women and men react and respond best to women who act (and lead) as women, and to men who act (and lead) as men.
The example of a strong female leader like Prime Minister Thatcher, who (like the late President Ronald Reagan in the U.S.) pulled England to a better economy (despite the controversies of pulling England rightward both politically and economically) and finally stood down the Soviet Union to preside over the demise of "the Evil Empire", is hardly new.
Take Queen Elizabeth I of England and Joan of Arc--they were strong and influential female leaders of their time who changed world history. For that matter, take the figure of the Virgin Mary--for whom both men and women live and die for, and who arguably was the original example in the Christian West of the strong female figure who is both leader and mother, and who would live, love and die for their fellow humanity.
I'm certainly influenced by my own experiences of leadership during my medical school/residency training, where my two greatest role models for leadership were women--but I saw other strong-willed leaders who were wise, hard-working and sincere but couldn't command as much respect because they didn't come across as a "real man" or a "real woman", consistent with their gender. This had nothing to do with whether they were straight or gay, but rather because human beings are wired to follow leaders that fit their expectations based on outward appearances.
Margaret Thatcher was a strong woman, and Ronald Reagan was a strong man--because of their convictions, wit and dogged determination, and they enjoyed enormous followings and influence because of it. Ditto for Americans Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt; the perception of being a strong leader need not have, and has never had, a requirement that one be male.
(Although I'm guessing it's a lot easier to achieve power if you're male.)
From the powerful to the funny--but classy--we move now to the third of the trio who we just lost: the incredibly brilliant and funny Jonathan Winters.
For those who love Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, but wonder where they got their comedic influence, one need not look farther than the late Mr. Winters. What's fascinating is that I've yet to read any part of his eulogies that describe HIS comedic influence; in other words, he started the whole improv thing!
As with Williams and Carrey--or even the late Jerome Howard (that's Curly of the Three Stooges, to most of us), the ability to throw out funny and impromptu impressions and expressions is a talent that's possessed by few. It was Winters, however, who took it to a new and unprecedented level. His was truly a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and we were all the better for it.
(And for those of you too young to remember Winters, well, check him out. Otherwise, you have my deepest sympathies).
What does not get enough play, however, is that Winters was a sweet and harmless man of class. Married to the same woman his whole life, Winters served in the Marines during World War II after surviving a miserable childhood. As with the late Rodney Dangerfield, Jonathan Winters was very kind and both a friend and mentor to younger comics. He had his own personal demons and was once hospitalized for the better part of a year because of mental illness, but he always bounced back better than ever.
Winters could take the ordinary and make it funny. Winters could take the odd, or the strange, or even the sad...and make it funny. Which probably is as nice a way to make life more funny and liveable as any.
Winters' self-invented characters made fun of the yokels in our society, but yet weren't meant to be hurtful and actually left Winters beloved by those very individuals who Winters would parody (think Jeff Foxworthy and "rednecks", and you get the picture).
As with Annette Funicello and Margaret Thatcher, Jonathan Winters was "the Real Deal" who embodied Class. I doubt that any of this trio grew up knowing they'd be role models or celebrities, but they succeeded.
Which leaves us all wondering how much class we all have in our own imperfect lives, and with our own personal tragedies and demons, and if we have what it takes to be a role model (even if we're not rich and/or famous, and even if it's just to a few friends and/or family).
But it's nice to know that it has been done, than it can be done, and that it certainly therefore can be done again.
(Ken Alpern is a Westside Village Zone Director and Boardmember of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC), previously co-chaired its Planning and Outreach Committees, and currently is Co-Chair of its MVCC Transportation/Infrastructure Committee. He is co-chair of the CD11 Transportation Advisory Committee and chairs the nonprofit Transit Coalition, and can be reached at [email protected] He also co-chairs the grassroots Friends of the Green Line at www.fogl.us. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Mr. Alpern.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 31
Pub: Apr 16, 2013