Like any relationship, ours with Mother was complicated by feelings and good times which, just like the others, we can’t forget.
Category Archives: Robin Lawless
Georgann Rea and Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ Superstar!
One of Mother’s London boyfriends, a TV producer named Herb Sargent, swept us all off to a Wings concert one night, and Robbie and I sat in the booth. We didn’t get to meet Sir Paul (Mother did), but we did get to meet Ted Neeley, who we recognized as super cute Jesus in the film of “Jesus Christ Superstar”. We had only played the record a million times, so it was a huge thrill for us!
Rags to Riches
From Kansas City to Versailles in one blog post!
A much quicker version of my mother, Georgann Rea’s journey from Iowa orphanage to Kamsas City Plaza dweller to Minneapolis actor’s wife to Dakota dwelling Broadway Producer’s wife to wealthy American Divorcee in London! Thirty years from there to here and in ten more she’d be broke again.
Here we are on an ASL trip to Versailles. Note the crazy 70s styling.
Fighter of Pancho Villa, bank president, rib maker, man of mystery.
My grandfather, William McAdams…
…ran away from home at fifteen, lied about his age to join the army and fight Pancho Villa, started a bank and later, adopted my mother. Here he is the way I remember him, on his patio in Kansas City cooking his famous ribs. Served with hush puppies (one of the most incredible things my sister Robbie and I ever gobbled down). He’d spend all day back by the bbq slow-cooking them with a bottle of bourbon at hand. The ribs had a secret ingredient. Sadly, he took the secret to his grave along with many other mysteries we’ll never know the answers to.
Summertime Girls on Chanel Bonfire
Minneapolis Summers…
One of our summer babysitters, Beverly, with Robbie, her summer hair going wild, holding her teddy bear Guthrie (named for Sir Tyrone) and our friend Grettie. I think I took this picture. Daddy would hire a girl to watch us while he was in rehearsal. After a production started he’d spend the days with us himself and the babysitter would only come at night to put us to bed.
When the Music Boxes Were Whole
Juan Carlos: King and Dashing Backgammon Teacher
Kids with Dating Moms
The Great Migration – Chanel Bonfire
The Great Migration: from Summer Stock in North Carolina to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and, of course, divorce.
In the Smoky Mountains.
Having a wonderful time Skype-ing with Book Groups! If you’re group is reading Chanel Bonfire I’d be happy to do a live Q & A with you. Just email me at chanelbonfire@gmail.com