Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1956)

The Fairmount News Volume LXXX Fairmount, Grant County, Indiana SPECIAL EDITION Special Because of the overwhelming demand {or this week't iuue of THE FAIRMOUNT NEWS, which contain* exclusive, material concerning tha brief, brilliant career of James Dean, we have sold all of our regular copies, eTen though wc printed htviI hundred extras. Consequently, we decided to publish this Special Edition to try and meet tha public's demand. Wa. as members of tha staff, would like to Sake this oppor«inirr of expressirjg our sympathy to tha bereeved family of Jim Dean, Words can not begin to express amotions during periods of time such as this but Jim Dean and his influence on Fairmount will never be forgotten. JAMES DEAN'S "EDEN" PROVES HIGH TALENT Of FAIRMOUNT ACTOR Even if Jimmy Dean weren't a hometown boy, "East of Eden" would be one of the most powerful productions ever released by Warner Brothers and it would well be worth the effort and money of anyone. "Eden" opens Easter Sunday at Marion's Indiana Theatre and will continue through Thursday, fcc or ding to John DeBoo, Manager. However, homefolks will be going to see Dean. And, they won't be disappointed if they are looking to find a splendid performance and magnificient interpretation by Jimmy. Fai rmoum's star has been compared to Marlon Brando and this written can see some faint larity between the two. But, Dean's is a wanner personality one that projects itself with freedom of action that keeps movie-goers on the edge of their seats. In "Eden" Jimmy plays the role of an unpredictable, lovestarved youth who was reared with a brother by their father (Raymond Massey). Plagued with an inferiority complex brought about chiefly because he thought his father prefered his brother to himself. Dean, as CaX does everything; in his power to "win" his father's love. Three climatic scenes, each topping the former, are seen in the latter stages of the show and in each of them Dean seems to bare his very soul with portrayal Written by John Steinbeck, "East of Eden" takes place in the Monterey-Salinas section oi California, as is usual with Steinbeck, Ella Kazen, who produced and directed the picture, did an exceptional job; but, this is expected of Kazan, who is one of the nation's foremost producer-directors. It has been said that there is a possibility Jimmy will candidate for an Academy Award in 1956 for his work in "Eden". This early in the year, though, it would be hard to forecast Packed houses have seen TEaat of (Eden" every place it has played and in our opinion this will be true from Keirmounl to Ttmbuctu. Tuesday morning the Indiana Theatre gave a special performance of "Eden" for -Mrs, Adeline Nail, Fairmount High School speech instructor, who started Dean on his way. She, together with the senior class, school officials and several others, are enthusiastic with the picture as most people who see it will be. frleprinttd from April 7. JUS Wane of THE FAIRMOTJUT NEWS.) Photo by Curtis Bernard, Santa Monica, Calif, ... a Student at U.C.L.A. James Dean A native son who startled the nation with a brilliant flash of genius was brought back home this week for last rites. His brief career was as bright as a meteor which flows like a golden tear down the dark cheeks of night. By the law of averages, it was most unusual for a lad 24-years of age to leave a rural environment from an agariah community and go so far and fast in so short a time on Broadway and Hollywood. It is in the grass roots of Grant County from which he made his start that the body of this restless youth has been returned to rest He made his living at acting— by his own definition — "behavior of and for other people". For a little perjod of time he made the lives of many more entertaining, . more interesting, and in some cases more bearable. Such a life is not suddenly wiped out in the wreckage of a car in California. Some of us have learned to distrust our senses and to know that as long as we remember, there will live on in our hearts the influence of others. To be an actor requires a trained memory, the ability to be a severe critic of oneself, and to create moods and atmosphere for the development of that art. James Dean's part, to those of us who knew him best, was steep and rugged and was covered with, sandpaper instead of velvet. As he said in a letter to a friend, "we are impaled on a crook of conditioning. A fish that is in the water has no .choice that he is. Genius would have it that he swam in sand. We are fish and we drown. We remain in one world and and wonder. The fortunate are taught to ask why. No one can answer.'' Human life has been compared often to an automobile. Some get more mileage in 30 years than others do in 60. So even though we "weep for the dead, the doubly dead, in that he died so young", yet we feel that Jim who lived dangerously would have had the last act come as it did as last nights must come to all earthly things. Perhaps he would recite for us, if he could, the lines of a lesser poet, John G. Neihardt who wrote, "Let me live out my years in heat of blood! Let me die drunken with the dreamer's wine! Let me not tee this soul-house built of mud Go toppling to the dust— a vacant shrine! Let me go quickly like a candle light Snuffed out just at the heyday of its glow! Give me high noon— and let it then be night! Thus would I go. And grant me, when I face the grisly Thing, One haughty cry to pierce the gray Perhaps! O let me be a tune-swept fiddlestring That feels the Master Melody — and snaps ■ J AD James Dean Killed As Result Of California Car Accident $105,000 ESTATE Lff7 BY ACTOR JIMMY DEAN An estate valued it $106,000. according to court records, was left by James Dean, whose body will be buried In Parle Cemetery Saturday afternoon. Whrton Dean, father of the young actor, is the only direct heir. Attorney L. Dean Petty filed a petition for letters of administration to Dean's estate Wednesday In Hollywood. The attorney named Carl Coulter and Willi am Gray as administrators requested by Dean's father. FAIRMOUNT 15 STUNNED TO LEARN Of TRAGEDY WHICH CLAIMED NATIVE SON; HEADON COLLISION NEAR INTERSECTION CAUSES FATALITY FRIDAY Fairmount was stunned. Saturday morning, which was the time most people learned of the violent tragedy that claimed the life of James Dean, the people who knew and loved him best could hardly conceive of the fact. Death is always a hard thing to understand and especially when it strikes a young person, who apparently has much to give to the world and who is just beginning what could be a brilliant career. That's how most people look at the accident which kil!<:d Jimmy (as he was known to homefolks). Death came as result headon collision last Friday night near Paso Robles, California when the sports car he was driving was struck by another vehicle. He died en route to the Paso Robks hospital after ' suffering multiple fractures of both and internal injuries. Ralph Wueterlch, 27, Hollywood, Dean's auto mechanic, was seriously injured. Donald Turnups eed. 23, Tulare, Calif, driver of the other car, escaped with minor injuries. . Aceorosag to the California State Patrol, Tarnupseed*s car turned kit from a road onto the highway where Jimmy was driving and the smash-up occur ed. Press, said, "Dean could well become Hollywood's first posthumous Academy Award windct for his role in "East of Eden"". Many critics have credited Jimmy's debut in the movie as the male Oscar performance to beat "Dean was the hottest property we had," a Warner Brothers official said. "We had great plans for him". George Stevens, who directed "Giant", said Jimmy's death was "a great tragedy. He had extraordinary talent" Comments like' QDj could go on and on for It was generally conceeded that James Dean was' "something special" . . . and he was "something special" to his home town, too, forgetting his achievements in movieland. During high school days, Jimmy was extremely active in extra curricular work. His portrayal of "the monster" in a high school version of "Frankenstein" will be recalled by many. . . . Basketball Star Warner Brothers, who owned his contract, had told Jimmy not to drive his sports car, a Porsche Spyder, while working picture. However, he had Just finished "Giant" at its Texas location a few days beforehand. Reportedly, he wra traveling to an amateur car race. Jimmy was born in Fairmount, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Winter* Dean, on February 8, 1931. They lived here five years from that time when they moved to Santa Monica, Calif. His mother, the former Mildred Wilson, died in 1940 when Jimmy was nine-years-old. He then came to live with his uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Winslow. and graduated from Fairmount High School in 1940. Following his high school graduation, Jimmy enrolled at the University of City of Los Angeles. Then be left college and went to New York City where he was cast in minor TV rolls on, "Studio One", "You Are There" and Television Playhouse". As result of his television act ing, Jimmy was cast in tru Broadway play, "The Immoraland ultimately won the David Blum award for the most promising stage newcomer. Ella Kazan, famed Hollywood director, caught Jimmy's per. formance on Broadway and sighed him to play Caleb in "East oi Eden", based on John1 Steinbeck's novel Jimmy shot to stardom with top «?1*tf med41 almost unbelievable rapidity as 1 111 *cho°1 * wluch result of his work In Tden".l *" *bo ■* Each time that he came home for a visit he would also visit the high school and talk to the student body. On one occasion he explained the art of bull fighting . . . which he had practiced somewhat On his last visit he arrived In time to attend a dance at the high school and during the evening he played the drums ■ . . mambo fashion. Magazines galore have given valuable publicity space to the "Indiana farm boy" who had risen to a Hollywood star In such a short time. LIFE magazine even sent a photographer to Fairmount with Jimmy to get shots of him in his home surroundings. (Copies of this magazine were sold before they arrived at the newsstands and are at a premium today.) Just a few days before his death a Sunday supplement in one of the larger daily papers in this area carried an article dealing with the filming of "Giant" in Texas. It went into detail explaining how the heat taxed the energy of all the actors. All of them, that is, except Jimmy Dean, who would go rabbit hunting in the evening. Jimmy Dean contributed a lot in the 24 short years he lived. A great many people, who didn't understand him, called Jimmy eccentric. Perhaps he was. But then again, when a person becomes so wrapped up in something he forgets everything else but that one thing. When he lets off steam it is apt to be outside the regular bounds of activity, according to the measure of society. His homefolks understood him, though. And they'll miss him. Last Rites Will Be Held Here Saturday Hoekea Studio Then too, he was « of th« ever-popular basketball team representing the Quakers from Fairmount High. Daring his senior year in the sectional tourney he shot a last-second field goal to beat Gas City 19-97. In addition he was a member of the track and baseball teams 1 and was awarded the school's Homefolks who saw tha movie were heard to comment that many of the marmerlsms Jimmy used were just like he did "at me". m Mrs. Adeline Nail, ■former Fairmount High School teacher, first started Jimmy on bis road to success as she reoognlxed hi* ability and tutored and encouraged him to develop it. "That spontaneous laugh", Mrs. NaB said after seeing 'Aft of Eden", "was so very natural It was one of his traits Td no Used throughout school." James Bacon, Hollywood cor respondent 1 the Associated older feQowt. oaent medal Perhaps among the first ihrns of his dramatic talent oame while he was a youngster and won silver and gold medals in WCTO speaking contests. In 1949, his senior year In high school Jimmy won first place for acting during the National Forensic League's stale contest at Peru. Outside of bis school activities, many people will remember Jimmy ice skating on the Winslow ponds just North of lairmount Ha was pretty good, too . could keep up with the) Dr. James A. DeWeerd, Rev. Xen Harvey To Conduct Funeral services for James Dean, 24, will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Friends Church in Fairmount by Dr. James A. DeWeerd and the Rev. Xen Harvey, pastor of the church. Dr. DeWeerd, who has a telecast at Cincinnati shortly before services begin at 2. o'clock, will be flown in the private plane of Buford Cadle to Marion Airport and is scheduled to arrive there at 1:45. He win be met by* a State Police Patrol car and be driven to the Friends Church. Following the church service, burial will take place at Park Cemetery in Fairmount. The Rev. Xen Harvey said Thursday night that his church will accomodate approximately 600 people by adding extra chairs. In addition to the ampli fying system at the church, a public address installation will enable those outside to hear the rites. Wilbur Hunt, director of Hunt Funeral Home which is handling arrangements, said he had received requests from Hollywood that seats be reserod. Hunt said the requests were denied in view of the fact that this is to be a public funeral A Hunt Funeral Home ambulance met the plane returning young Dean's body from. California at 10:17 Tuesday night at the Indianapolis airport The body was taken to Hunt's Funeral Home, where friends may call Survivors include the father, Winton Dean, Los Angeles; maternal grandfather, John Wilson, Marion ; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Dean, Fairmount; Charles Nolan Dean, uncle, Gas City; and, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Winslow, uncle and aunt, Fairmount. DEATH OF JAMES DEAN, FAIRMOUNT HIGH ALUMNI CASTS A PALL OF SADNESS OVER STUDENT BODY The shocking news of the death of James Dean has cast a spell of unbelievable saddness over Fairmount High School. The graduate of the class of '49 had soared to fame in his first picture "East of Eden" and had just completed two more pictures. The students, faculty, and townspeople have all been very proud of his great aocomplishmenta in such a short time. Jimmie's family had Just spent a month with him in California and were on their way home when the fatal accident occured. The Wlnslows arrived borne early Monday evening only then to learn of the tragic car accident which lolled Jim hat ope week ago today. Tha students feel they knew Jim well because he spoke before them in convocations whenever he was home and visited many of she classrooms, especially speech classes. Because he was i Fairmount graduate, the students felt especially proud -whan he came back to the school with nil greatness never making them feel small or unimportant. Jim did everything with an intense desire to do it well If he liked a certain thing, it seemed to be with everything ha had. Racing, bull-fighting, and drums were things he loved with this intensity. They set him apart from others, made him an interesting person, not afriad to be different, but with a personality atl his own. Commentators from Hollywood have stated that Jim had a brilliant career ahead of him. In one picture be gained a popularity that usually takes young actors a long time to achieve. ' Cards of sympathy hare poured into the postoffice for the family from all over 4he United States. It is apparent that he has many, many friends. Actors and actresses he has worked with art expected to attend the funeral. The final funeral rites will be held tomorrow in the Fairmount Friends Church. Falrmount's Chamber of Commence has made tentative plans' for a James Dean plaque. Compile details win be announced as soon as possible.