Jane Russell once called Socorro home

[pengwen]

© 2005 Ben Moffett Reprint Permission Granted
By Ben Moffett
Jane Russell, the movie star, once called Socorro home.

Actually, she said she was "from Socorr-ah," but she meant the place along the Rio Grande that we all know and love.

Russell whispered the name of her hometown while lying on her back, looking up at actor Jack Beutel in the 1941 western "The Outlaw."

Normally I don't watch old westerns on TV but if you're male and walk past a set that has a head-and-ribs shot of Jane Russell, filling most of a 52-inch flat screen, you probably, at least do a double take. Incidentally, I didn't notice any ribs. I'm just guessing what kind of shot the director requested.

I stopped in my tracks just as Jack asked Jane "Where you from?" and Jane said "Socorr-ah" and I had all the excuse I needed to sit. Research for a story, you know.

The fact is I was only interested in the plot. It turned out the movie was about Billy the Kid and Jack Beutel played the role of Jane's love interest and vice versa. During the hour I watched The Kid, Doc Holliday and Pat Garrett, accompanied by Rio (Jane Russell) were involved in an endless chase scene that was set along Highway 380, before 380 was born. The names Fort Sumner and Lincoln came up a lot and there was talk of "Mescalero smoke signals."

The movie ended with Pat Garrett shooting and killing Doc Holliday while hustling Billy the Kid out of town. The result was the local population thought Billy the Kid was in the grave when it was really Doc Holliday. I've heard a lot of stories about who resides in Billy's grave, but none of them included Doc Holliday.

So I called DeAnn Kessler, the manager at Lincoln State Park, and asked her if there's any way Doc Holliday could be buried there.

"There's more chance that Smokey Bear was buried there," Kessler said. I knew that meant little chance at all because we all know Smokey rests under a ponderosa and a marker in Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitán. Eddie Tudor, the park manager and Socorro High graduate pointed me to the grave two or three years ago.

To double check I went on line and found some interesting stuff. This wasn't just another B western but a legitimate classic -- not so much for its content but because it was 19-year-old Jane Russell's debut on the silver screen.

The movie, first released in 1941, was banned by censors and finally released in 1943, recalled, and released again in 1950. By then Russell was a 30-year-old. The legal skirmishes added a lot of allure to the movie, but, trust me, you get more exotic stuff on any prime time comedy show on TV today. Don't watch it for prurient interest. Heck, Vanna White shows more flesh and tighter clothes than Jane Russell did in that movie.

The banning of the movie may have been mostly to do with the "from Socorr-ah" scene. It seems that producer Howard Hughes had Jane fitted with a special bra to maximize the décolletage, and there was no scene more uplifting in the entire movie. Jane later claimed she never wore the bra because she didn't need to, and that Hughes never knew.

Critics contend that Hughes exploited Jane in the movie, because at 19 she was not yet up to a lead role. But she recovered nicely and went on to become a fine actress, making many more appearances, all more erotic than "The Outlaw."

Today Jane is well known for her career and her post career TV ads, and she is known also for her great generosity, especially in helping homeless and foster children.
I found an address for her in Arizona, and called the local Chamber of Commerce to ask if they could try and get her to call me for this story, but they said she had long ago moved.

Anyway, Jane Russell once called Socorro home -- but only once, unless she had to do a lot of retakes with Jack Beutel staring down at her.

Jane, by the way, was actually born in Bemidji, Minn., and as far as I can tell, never set foot in Socorro.

That's one question I had for her -- still have. That, and I'd like to know where the movie was actually filmed -- I couldn't see it in the credits -- and if she really didn't wear a bra.

Jane, if you're reading this, e-mail me. It's benmoffett@comcast.net or right here at Steppin' Out.

Photo courtesy sig@movietreasures.com
from Movietreasures (http://www.movietreasures.com/main/Jane_Russell/jane_russell.html)

(Ben Moffett is a San Antonio native, who saw his first movie, Father Was a Fullback, starred Ed McMurray, at a makeshift theater behind the Owl Bar.)

[tumbleweed]

Howdy there strangers - just passing through!


http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Desperately_Seeking_Jane2.jpg

Like a rolling piece of tumbleweed, I recently came across Bens article on the internet about Jane Russell while also, seeking to establish contact. My own reason for wishing to make contact outlined in my letter below which I have currently circulated among numerous sources hoping to establish contact – fingers crossed!

Ben was kind enough to answer my initial email regarding my attempt to find Miss Russell and kindly directed me to where I might find potential leads to my quest; unfortunately it appears that Ben was also unable to find Miss Russell. So has the sun rises here on my beautiful concrete prairie, I guess I’ll saddle up my trusty keyboard and contemplate sending out a posse of mail in hope of contacting the ‘Illusive’ Jane Russell!



PS Will update if anything ‘positive’ should arise.



Kindest Regards and thanks for your kind hospitality.

David



Letter:



Dear Sir/Madam,



I’m a 3D artist/Illustrator based in the United Kingdom and I’ve recently completed an image based on the artwork of Jane Russell by Alberto Vargas; the image itself is largely based on the great Illustrator’s work, but combines a feel of the traditional ‘nose art’ which adorned many of the WWII aircraft of the 1940’s period.

I was recently given a commission to paint the A2 flying Jackets of the crew of a fully restored and flight worthy B-25 Mitchell named “Russell’s Raiders” in a tribute to the beautiful actress Jane Russell, all credit for this achievement alone must go to the JAF (Jet Alpine Fighter) based in Switzerland who operate and fly the period warbird; specifically Bernard Moix the vice-president who designed the overall image and lettering for use with the aircraft itself – not least to forget the superb crew who fly and maintain the lady herself.



Full details of the aircraft and crew can be found at the following website:

http://www.jaf.ch/index.php?lng=en (http://www.jaf.ch/index.php?lng=en)



Unfortunately through an hereditary illness which affects the dexterity of my hands, I had to turn down the commission to hand paint the jackets for the crew, after struggling for a week with a few test pieces in preparation for the final work. The following extract was taken from my correspondence with Bernard Moix and shows a little of the frustration I was encountering at the time.



As I mentioned in our first correspondence, I have a hereditary illness that sometimes affects the dexterity of my hands, hence my main work now with 3D rather than the traditional painting methods. Over the last few days, I have tried once again to paint using these traditional techniques in preparation for the work you have in mind, unfortunately two days of painting using brush again has caused me severe pain and discomfort in my hands and I am afraid that I shall have to decline the commission work you have asked me to undertake.I am sorry to have to announce this to you now, but unfortunately after serious consideration based on the last two days, the work commitment would unfortunately be just too much for me to undertake, apart from the sheer physical problems I would encounter, my own painting techniques using these traditional methods are not up to standard for the professionalism that the commission requires. Once again I am sorry to have to break the news to you like this, I have enjoyed our correspondence and I wish you the very best of wishes with the ‘Russell Raiders’ project.I for one don’t like to give up on anything, and I know I will at some point have to complete the artwork for myself, just to prove that I have not been beaten ….unfortunately that doesn’t help you has the client.

I eventually completed the work for myself and finished an Illustration based on the original commission work, which can be viewed upon my website at the following link:



http://www.davidsankey.com/view_image.asp?imageID=140&category=Nose%20Art (http://www.davidsankey.com/view_image.asp?imageID=140&category=Nose%20Art)



Now finally to the reason for my contacting yourself; since completing the Illustration I thought it would be a wonderful tribute to everyone concerned Alberto Vargas, JAF and the beautiful Jane Russell if I could get Miss Russell to sign the image herself, unfortunately I have made various attempts at locating Miss Russell but regretfully I’m at a loss of how and where I could approach her, therefore I would be grateful for any assistance if possible and I attach my details to pass on to Miss Russell if anything of a ‘positive’ nature arises through my correspondence.



Kindest Regards

David Sankey



3D Artist/Illustrator

www.davidsankey.com (http://www.davidsankey.com/)

david@davidsankey.com (david@davidsankey.com)