I have
written about this topic before, but I’m not altogether sure where I filed the
story.
Frances
Langford, the WWII era movie actress and USO performer, was my dad’s second
cousin. Their grandparents were half-brother and half-sister. (I have visited
my gg Aunt Rhoenia’s gravesite in Mulberry, Florida). My dad once told me that
John, Rhoenia’s brother, rode from southern Georgia to central Florida on
horseback in the second half of the 19th century to see his sister.
When I was
in Valdosta, visiting with my Aunt Olline, my dad’s 1st cousin,
Sonny McDonald, came by her house, and I struck up a conversation with him.
“Sonny, I
understand Frances Langford was your second cousin;” (which he affirmed with a
nod).
And I
continued,
“My dad told
me that he once saw her perform in Hawaii during WWII, but didn’t bother to
introduce himself.”
Sonny piped
up.
“Well, I didn’t exactly meet her either, but I saw her. I was in the same
room with her. You see, my dad drove me down to Lakeland once since he got a
hankering to see his first cousin, Vasco, Frances’ father.
I was maybe
five or six, and while I was playing, or simply being bored in the living room,
a young lady walked through, and almost immediately out the front door. I
learned later that this was cousin Frances. By this time she had already made a
few movies, and was a star. Later, during WWII, she did lots of USO shows for
the military, and was Bob Hope’s female ‘side kick.’”
I had always
wanted to talk to a family member who had actually spoken to, or seen Frances.
I’m glad I had that unexpected opportunity. It would not present itself again.
By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 20. Copyright pending
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