Griffin Mark - All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson

Contents

Contents

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ASSISTANCE AND CORRESPONDENCE

Woolsey Ackerman, Alida Aldrich, Cassandra Babbitt, Chris Bacon, Miranda Barry, Brent Beckwith, Tane Beecham (Winnetka Historical Society), Michelle Bercon, Rachel Bernstein (Margaret Herrick Library), Cassie Blake (Public Access Coordinator, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Archive), Peter Brodeur, Mary Ellen Budney (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University), Willard Carroll, Anita Clearfield, Nancy Coleman, (The Oracle Known as) Edward Sykes Comstock (USC Cinematic Arts Library), Len Cortigiano, Laura Craig, Patrick Cristaldi, Mitchell Danton, Douglas Davenport, Neil Davin, Wendy Davis, Kay de Toledo, Nicole Ziegler Dizon (Director of Communications and Alumni Relations, New Trier Township High School District), Denise Dubravec (Principal, New Trier High School, Winnetka Campus), Linda Evans, Martin Flaherty (Rock Hudson Estate Collection), Alexa Foreman (Turner Classic Movies), Cullen Gallagher, Dr. Sandra Garcia-Myers (USC), Lee Garlington, Paul Garlington, Ellen Geiger (Frances Goldin Literary Agency), Allan Glaser, Jodi Goldberg, Heather Greene, Martin Griffin, Ken Gross (Walsh History Center, Camden Public Library), Alan Helms, Darcy Hettrich, Steve Hodel, Suzanne L. Hoffman (Wilmette Illinois Family History Center), Jorgen Joergensen, Molly Kennedy (Illinois Genealogical Research), Tami Kennedy, Ginny L. Kilander, Jane Klain (Manager, Research Services, The Paley Center for Media), Lotti Pharriss Knowles, Kristine Krueger, Nicci Leamon, Ann Leifeste, Nancy Leman, Paul MacDougall, Boyd Magers, Diane Markert, Quinn McGuire, Jane McKnight, Cristina Meisner, Dee Michel, Craig Miller, Cal Morgan, Lynn West Mullen, Maura Murphy, Gary Natkin, Russell B. Needham, Keary Nichols, David Orr (Cook County Clerk, Bureau of Vital Records), Gerald Peary, Heidi Perkins, David M. Perry, Howard Prouty, Mark Quigley (Archive Research and Study Center, UCLA), Beverly Radell, Karen Richards, Cynthia Richardson, Jaydon Riendeau, Joanne Riendeau, Ryan Riendeau, Lily Robinson, Donna Roginski (Wilmette Illinois Family History Center), Jenny Romero (Research Archivist, Margaret Herrick Library), Peter Royle, Bree Russell (USC Cinematic Arts Library), Laura Russo (Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center), Steve Sauer, Jerry Scherer, Liz Scherer, Dr. Lanny Seese, Brett Service (Curator, Warner Brothers Archives), Robert Sigurdson, Charles Silver, Rick Speer (Lewiston Public Library), Eric Spilker (for screening his print of The Lawless Breed for me), Robert Spindler (Archivist, Arizona State University), Justin Spring, Claudia Squitieri, Kim Stankiewicz (Chicago Ancestry), David Stenn (for his invaluable assistance in reference to the Marc Christian trial transcripts), Anna Steuber (Florianfilm GmbH), Seth Stewart, Kevin Stoehr, Chris Sweet, Ashley Swinnerton (Film Study Center, Museum of Modern Art), Germaine Szal, Sean F. Taylor (SAG-AFTRA), Bertrand Tessier, Brian Tessier (Peter Jones Productions), Heather Thomas (Library of Congress), Lou Valentino, Patti Van Cleave (Winnetka Historical Society), Melissa Veilleux, Larry Verbit (Vice President, Business Affairs & Legal, Ralph Edwards Productions), John R. Waggener (American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming), Robert Wagner, Phet Walker, John Walters-Johnston (Moving Image DivisionLibrary of Congress), Kirby Warnock, Tom Weaver, Jack Webster, Steve L. Wilson (Curator, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin), Rebecca Wolf (Winnetka-Northfield Public Library), Hailey Woodall (Photo Assistant, American Heritage Center), Dan Works (Maine Public Broadcasting Network), Prince Zaporoschenko, Abigail Zelz (University of Maine Alumni Association), Laurie Zuckerman.

For the guidance and support this project received, special thanks to the following: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming; Arizona State University; Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University; Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin; Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University; Lewiston Public Library; Museum of Modern Art Film Study Center; New Trier High School (Winnetka Campus); Rock Hudson Estate Collection; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California Cinematic Arts Library; Wilmette Illinois Family History Center; Winneconne Public Library (Winneconne, Wisconsin); Winnetka Historical Society; Winnetka-Northfield Public Library.

SPECIAL THANKS...

A life with the cinematic scope and complexity of Rock Hudsons requires long and careful examination, and Im very grateful that I didnt have to go exploring alone. I am forever indebted to those extraordinarily resourceful members of Team Rock, who provided an overwhelmed author with unparalleled support and invaluable assistance over the course of four delirious years: Alexa Foreman (of Turner Classic Movies)whether it was chauffeuring me all over greater Illinois or rounding up an impressive list of the famous, infamous, and notoriously tight-lipped for me to interview, you were the consummate professional and the ultimate Dr. Watson. As Bette Davis says to the unfailingly efficient nurse played by Mary Wickes in Now, Voyager: Dora, I suspect youre a treasure.

Diane Markertyou are, quite simply, a walking encyclopedia of all things Rock Hudson. You may have been half a world away in Omro, Wisconsin, but you were always right there with whatever I needed. I think your crowning achievement was unearthing a nearly sixty-year-old letter from G. D. Buccola Investment Co., which detailed when the water was turned on in Rocks Newport Beach Home (February of 1959). You somehow found it allfrom Nielsen numbers for the debut of The Devlin Connection to a Scarlet Angel costar stashed away in Copenhagen (and in your spare time, you managed to pore over the finer points of the California Health & Safety Code, Section #103526). Bravo from start to finish.

Kim Stankiewicz (of Chicago Ancestry and Genlighten.com)Without your extraordinary efforts, we would not have been able to uncover all of those priceless artifacts, from the Cook County Archives and beyond... including the original version of Rocks birth certificate, Katherine Woods marriage certificates, and the transcripts from her divorce hearings. If all that werent enough, you located the military files for Seaman Roy Fitzgerald as well as Tommy H. Clark and Wallace E. Fitzgerald. All of this information not only sets the record straight but really helps bring Rocks early years to life.

My gratitude to Karen Richards, who compiled some helpful genealogical information concerning both sides of Rocks family tree. Kudos as well to proxy researcher Ann Leifeste, who carefully combed through mountains of material related to A Farewell to Arms during a series of visits to the Harry Ransom Center, which archives the voluminous Selznick Collection.