AUGUSTA, Ky. (AP) - During a break in their stage performance of
"White Christmas" in Cincinnati, stage and screen stars Lorna
Luft and Kerry O'Malley took a side trip to Augusta and Maysville.
Following a brief visit to the Rosemary Clooney House Museum,
Luft and O'Malley, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" costumer
Francine Gloaguen Curtner and hair and wig specialist Lisa Fraley
lunched at Caproni's in Maysville with their guides, Nick and Nina
Clooney.
When the entourage returned to the museum, curator Steve Henry
had placed a hat worn by the late Vera-Ellen, in the movie "White
Christmas," on a pedestal near the movie monitor.
"There it is," said O'Malley with excitement as the same hat
came into plain view during a train scene of the movie.
Henry explained how the collection of "White Christmas"
memorabilia and costume pieces have grown since the museum opened;
loans and donations helped, he said.
"This is on loan," he said of the black trimmed leopard hat.
As they explored the house last Monday, each visitor marveled at
the variety of displays and diversity the Clooney family brought to
the entertainment industry.
Mementos from Rosemary's children, plus brother Nick and her
nephew George Clooney are included in the displays.
"It is getting harder to find a place for everything, but that
is good," said Henry.
Cameras flashed, recording memories past and present, as
references for those who could not make the trip.
For the costumer and wig coordinators, the museum gave
validation their actors and actresses are properly attired to pay
homage to those who had played the parts in the past.
Luft, who has been performing since she was a child at the side
of her mother, the late Judy Garland, is playing a character which
is a collection of several notable female entertainers, but a
character which was not in the movie.
"They named her Martha "Megaphone" Watson, her character is
bigger than life," Luft said, "She is constantly reminding people
she is famous, during the show."
The "White Christmas" movie collection in Augusta has also
become bigger than life, filling room after room with everything
from dresses, a rehearsal piano and props, to pieces of Rosemary
Clooney's Bel Air, Calif., home, which was demolished after her
death.
"Lorna said she remembered visiting here when she was
younger," O'Malley said.
Clooney lived in California and Augusta during her lifetime,
Nick explained to O'Malley.
Luft, who lives in California and England, said she liked the
comfortable feel of Augusta, and complimented preservation efforts.
"I really like the way they have kept their history intact, you
don't see that everywhere," Luft said.
Visiting the museum and former home of the late Rosemary Clooney
was something O'Malley was not going to miss.
O'Malley plays Betty in the stage show, which is the character
the late Clooney played in the movie. She has a lengthy resume'
including appearances in several movies and several roles on the
television, including "Law and Order," and "Monk."
"Look at how small the costumes were," she said, noticing the
measurement tags on some of Clooney and Ellen's dresses on display.
Playing the role and visiting the museum have been something
O'Malley looked forward to.
"I was absolutely giddy before we got here. I couldn't wait.
There is so much here. I am such a fan of Rosemary and "White
Christmas," this is like a dream come true for me," O'Malley
said.
Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" with Luft and O'Malley is
playing through Sunday at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in
Cincinnati.
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Information from: The Ledger Independent