Lucky

[karina]

(OK, so being lucky is not exactly a personality trait, but it was the most appropriate section I could think of)

We all know that Kate said she was lucky to have been blessed with such wonderful parents, but there are several incidents - whether natural disasters, accidents or her own risk-taking/adventurous behaviour - in which the outcome could have been much more serious if the gods hadn't been watching out for her. She's like the proverbial cat with 9 lives:

1) Rushing headlong into a tree to prove a point - ouch!
2) Getting lost as a small child and calmly jumping into a taxi home & putting herself to bed - guess she was lucky not to have been born in an era of child kidnappers
3) The hurricane at Fenwick - lucky no lives lost
4) Big game hunting in Africa - I'd have died of shock to find myself so close to a wild boar!
5) Crashing her car into a telephone pole - lucky she & Phyllis "only" suffered a mangled foot and a few cracked ribs etc.

Well that's only 5 off the top of my head, but I'm sure you lot can help me make it to 9...... there were probably a few near misses on set and I remember reading about the malfunctioning of the revolving staircase during a performance of Coco. Not sure how serious it was though?

And of course she was lucky in many positive ways too -not least of which was sharing her life for 25 years with her true soul-mate

[Cate]

How about almost being decapitated by a propeller whilst running from the press?

[Shaun]

In one of her biographies it says she broke into someone's house, fell three stories and remarkably, she landed safely. Also during one of her stage performances (Coco?) she was about to miss her cue and while in full costume, lept across a great gap in the catwalk high above the stage to make her entrance on time. If she had slipped in those heels she would have fallen to her death. Although I would contribute these "lucky" events to her athletic abilities.

[Cate]

I read in one of those biographies -- or maybe it was her autobiography -- that she went through a skylight or some sort of window that opened up over a foyer that was two or three stories down but she caught herself before falling and was able to pull herself up. Maybe that is what you are talking about...? Or maybe it's a separate story. I never heard that she actually fell three stories. That would be quite a fall. Most likely she would have broken something, if not her head.

Catherine

[smith]

I agree with the posters that Katharine had a fantastic life and was blessed with a wonderful family . However she didn't leave a charmed life and the death of her brother was an incident that would have finished off many people emotionally .

By the way Katharine had appendicitis while at university . She nearly died but her father did the operation and saved her life .

[Cate]

smith said:

However she didn't leave a charmed life and the death of her brother was an incident that would have finished off many people emotionally .

And that is what makes her superhuman But, on the contrary, I would say she lead a pretty charmed life no matter what anyone says... She lived life her own way, "like a man", did what made her happy and of course there were some low points just like everybody else. She lived a long life and enjoyed every moment of it (maybe with the exception of those last couple years) and she had plenty of money to boot (which, in my opinion, CAN make a person happy if you know how to handle it. I know that having millions of dollars sitting in my bank account wouldn't give me much of a headache).

Catherine

[karina]

Thanks for the other points made - I'd completely forgotten about the appendicitis op. I tend to agree that on the whole, she lived a pretty charmed life and her positive attitude ensured she never stayed down for long.

As for the money I'm sure it helped, although Katharine wasn't too materialistic and did give a fair bit away. I think she preferred life's simpler pleasures and as Catherine said, she lived life her own way, which brings more happiness than money ever can.

[Cate]

Karina, I agree that Kate enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and definitely was not materialistic but money makes enjoying those pleasures a lot easier

Does anyone else remember reading about the intruder in her New York apartment? My memory issues are causing me to forget where I read the things I do which is probably beneficial to Darwin Porter! Anyway, she found the door to her apartment open and went ahead of Phyllis and her driver (?) to investigate and found a psycho woman weilding a screwdriver. Her finger was almost bitten off in a struggle and she was like, 80 years old. I'm thinking, what kind of driver lets an 80-year-old woman go ahead of him?! Perhaps he was old as well. Although I'm sure if he had insisted she would have won the argument.

Catherine

[smith]

I believe that the incident happened in the early 1970's and both Phyllis and Katharine's stepmother were there . The intruder was a short term employee who Katharine had fired

[Cate]

Smith: Thanks for the clarification. Where did you read that information?

Catherine

[smith]

It was in the Anne Edwards book . By the way the loathsome Darwin Porter's latest book on Howard Hughes is being made into a movie . Lets all pray that Katharine doesn't appear in the film version

[Cate]

Wow. That's not surprising actually. I'm sure Kate will be in it since she was part of his life and knowing Darwin Porter, she will probably be portrayed as an angry feminist lesbian.

Catherine

[smith]

Actually Porter''s obsession is more sexual - in his book Katharine sleeps with absolutely everybody - except for Howard Hughes - thats a complete joke as Hughes was notorious for his affairs and Porter obviously hasn't read the recently revealed telegrams

[Cate]

Yeah, I haven't either. I have yet to figure out how to see them. You sent a link but I couldn't find them on the site. But I didn't really try very hard. Do you have to register?

Catherine

[Judy]

For Catherine and anyone else who couldn't open the site, I had transcribed the telegrams (including every mysterious letter and number at the start of each). Here they are (hope this message isn't too long). Judy

HD452 Wireless=MZ BRITCOLONIAL NASSAU NP 12 1045P
MARCH 12 PM 11 37
EMILY PERKINS
WADEPARK MANOR HOTEL CLEVELAND OH
PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ONE LARGE LUSCIOUS HAND PICKED PERSONALLY SELECTED MAGNOLIA WITH EXTRA SPECIAL SMELL THROWN IN FORGIVE THIS TELEVISIOIN AGAINST LAW SHIP OUT FLOWERS AND COCOANUTS ALSO NO FLORIST ON ISLAND DARLING I DO HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL TOMORROW LOVE=
DAN.


WA 372 46=FN FLORENCE SOCAR 16 1105P
1937 FEB 16 PM 10 49
MISS EMILY PERKINS=
MUEHLBACK HOTEL KSC=
WOULD YOU CARE TO KNOW WHAT TAKES PLACE IN MY MIND AS THE RATTLER RATTLES ON A SAMPLE THEN HOW DREADFUL I LIKE YOUR EVERYDAY USE OF CURSE WORDS NORMALLY CONSIDERED SO VIOLENTLY EXPRESSIVE AND YOUR SAVING FOR SPECIAL OCCASION I HOPE MY LOVE LITTLE GEE WHIZ. DAN.

NEXT IS HAND-WRITTEN:
TO: HR HUGES
STREET AND NO: BRITISH COLONIAL
PLACE: NASSAU BAHAMAS
REDECORATING CONKSHELL AND HAVE REMOVED WINTER COVER – WOULD SUGGEST REPLACING RED FIR TREES ON FRONT BORDER – WILL YOU WANT AN ELEVATOR

THIS NEXT LINE IS CROSSED OUT: FRONT WALK REMAINS THE SAME.

EVERYTHING DUSTY BUT WELL PRESERVED – FOR RENT OR FOR SALE MY CLIENT DESPERATE WILL TAKE EITHER – [there is some sort of signature that follows, but I can’t decipher it]



BAF29 18 3 EXTRA=COLONIAL NASSAU VIA HARTFORD CONN 19 PM
EMILY PERKINS=
RITZ CARLTON HOTEL=
DARLING BOSS CALLING TOMORROW WILL EXPLAIN THEN NEIL AIR MAILED ITEM SATURDAY TO RITZ CARLTON LOVE=
BOSS.

RXCAF444 33 WIRELESS=MZ FT MO AGU NASSAU NP 1COOP
1937 FEB 5 PM 10 07
MISS PERKINS=ROOM 747
AMBASSADOR EAST HOTEL CHGO=
HEAVY WIND DIRECTLY ACROSS NARROW CHANNELL MADE TAKE OFF IMPOSSIBLE ALL AFTERNOON LEAVING FIVE AM HOME TOMORROW NIGHT FOR ELSE LOVE=
DAN WITHOUT ANY DYNAMITE.


NEXT IS HAND WRITTEN:
TO H.R. HUGHES
STREET AND NO. BRITISH COLONIAL
PLACE NASSAU BAHAMAS
ARRIVED ONE ITEM
MISSING ONE BOSS LONELY ONE MOUSE-EMPTY ONE CONKSHELL.


MZA69 18 WIRELESS=MZ NASSAU NP 4 1200A
1937 FEB 5 AM 4 14

MISS PERKINS=
ROOM 747 AMBASSADOR EAST HOTEL CHGO=
MORE TROUBLE OF VARIOUS SORTS PHONING WHEN YOU AWAKE LOVE.



CBJ85 58 1 EXTRA RUSH-LR MIAMI BEACH FLO 3 1253 P
FEB 3 PM 12 21
MISS PERKINS=ROOM 747 AMBASSADOR EAST HOTEL=
AM WIRING YOU ON BEHALF OF AN IMPUDENT AND APPARENTLY SLIGHTLY DEMENTED YOUNG FOOL NAMED DANIEL WHO SAUNTERED OUT ACROSS THE BRINEY DEEP THIS MORNING IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NINETEEN SEVENTEEN FORD ANYWAY HE SAID TO TELL YOU IT LOOKS LIKE HE MEANS AS THOUGH YOU MAY EXPECT HIM HOME THIS EVENING BY ELEVEN THIRTY=
UNSIGNED.





CAK370 55 SER XC=WG BURBANK CALIF 3 8 30P
1937 FEB 3 PM 10 56
HOWARD HUGHES=
AMBASSADOR HOTEL=
KENDAL OIL COMPANY SENT REPRESENTATIVE TO LODWICK FOR OK ON ADVERTISING COPY FOR SATURDAY EVENING POST WHICH THEY ARE HOLDING FROM PRESS FOR THIS COPY LODWICK INFORMED THEM HE HAD NOT CONTACTED YOU IN REGARDS TO ADVERTISING KENDALL REPRESENTATIVE STAYING IN NEW YORK WAITING FOR YOUR OKAY STOP SIKORSKY DEAL COMPLETED HAVE NOT SHOWN BEECHCRAFT YET=
GLENN.


CAQ294 55 WIRELESS =MZ NASSAU NP 3 112OP
1937 FEB 3 PM 11 09
MISS PERKINS=
ROOM 747 AMBASSADOR EAST HOTEL CHICAGO ILL=
DARLING HAVE BEEN TRYING EVERY WAY REACH YOU BY PHONE BUT COULDN’T GET THROUGH ON ISLAND RADIO SERVICE FOUND GENTLEMAN FROM SWEDEN ILL IN HIS BED AFTERNOON WASTED IN VAIN ATTEMPT LEAVE SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED SHALL ENDEAVOR PHONE AGAIN WHEN YOU AWAKE MISS YOU TOO DAMNED MUCH=
DAN.


RXCAC324 55DLC=UD NEW YORK NY 19 1118P
1937 JAN 19 PM 10 34
MISS HEPBURN=RM 746
AMBASSADOR HOTEL=
DARLING CANNOT CALL YOU THIS EVENING BECAUSE SHALL BE ON A TRAIN BUOND FOR THAT GREAT MIDWESTERN METROPOLIS CONSIDERED BY SOME THE SEAT OF CULTURE AND LEARNING SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE SIX SOMETHING IN THE AFTERNOON PROBABLY NOT IN TME TO SEE YOU BEFORE THE THEATRE SO WIL TRY TO CONTAIN MYSELF UNTIL ELEVEN THRITY LOVE=
DAN.







QA1 91 WIRELESS=MZ NASSAU NP WAR 10 1130 P
1937 MAR 11 AM 3 49
NLT EMILY PERKINS=
WADE PARK MANOR HOTEL CLEVELAND OHIO-
IMPOSSIBLE MORE ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE WILL CALL SIX FORTY FIVE LOVE=
DAN.


BAH284 24 WIRELESS=B BRITISH COLONIAL NASSAU NP 22 812P
1939 MAR 22 PM 9 09
EMILY PERKINS=
RITZ CARLTON HOTEL BOSTON=
DEAR MRS. CM HAS ITEM ARRIVED MISS YOU VERY MUCH WISH YOU WOULD WIRE ME LOVE=
MR CONCH.
CM.


WP237 32=JAYETTEVILLE NCAR MAR 27 544P
MISS EMILY PERKINS=
CARLTON HOTEL WASHDC=
TOOK TRAIN LAST NIGHT IF STAY ON GET IN ONE TONIGHT IF WEATHER PERMITS CHANGE RICHMOND SHOULD BE THERE QUARTER TO TWELVE HOPE EMILY WILL BE ABLE EP AS USUAL DARLING DO NOT SEND YOUR MOTHER AWAY OR AT LEAST LET HER TAKE LATE TRAIN AS WOULD LIKE TO SAY HELLO LOVE=
DAN. 607P.


SY259 74 DUPLICATE OF TELEPHONED TELEGRAM=MIAMI FLO 9 853P
1938 MAR 9 PM 8 13
MISS EMILY PERKINS, DELIVER=
211 SOUTH MUIRFIELD DR LOSA=
DEAR BOSS WILL PHONE YOU TOMORROW EVENING HAVE NOT HAD CHANCE SO FAR YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS HAVE ENCOUNTERED TELEPHONING NEW YORK KANSAS CITY BOGOTA ETC TRYING HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LET BEATRICE OR ANY OF YOUR CONTIGENTS AND PARTICULARLY YOURSELF DRINK ANYTHING EXCEPT BOTTLED ARROWHEAD OR POLAND WATER AND DO NOT USE ANYTHING ELSE FOR COOKING THIS IS IMPORTANT MISS YOU TERRIBLY LOVE=
BOSS.


WA374 36=FN FLORENCE SOCAR 16 1105P
1937 FEB 16 PM 10 50
MISS EMILY PERKINS=
MUEHLEBACH HOTEL KSC
DARLING GO TO SLEEP OPPORTUNITY OF TELEPHONING DOUBTFUL THIS IS AST SCHEDULED STOP BE PREPARED TO FORGIVE ME IF I SHOULD AWAKEN YOU WITH ONLY A SECOND TO SAY WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW SO WELL LOVE=
H DAN.


BAF294 25 WIRELESS=VIATROPICALRAD IO=MX BR COL NASSAU NP 23
1939 MAR 23 PM 10 33
EMILY PERKINS
RITZ CARLTON HOTEL BOSTON MASS=
HAVE DECIDED REMEDY EMPTY CONCHSHELL SITUATION ON ARRIVAL REGARDLESS AND IRREGARDLESS HOPE YOU DON’T OBJECT TOO STRENUOUSLY MUCH LOVE=
BOSS.


BAH298 34 WIRELESS=BRITISH COLONIAL NASSAU NP MAR 21 807P
1939 MAR 21 PM 9 01
EMILY PERKINS=
RITZ CARLTON HOTEL BOSTON MASS=
CONKSHELL YOU ARE TERRIFIC BUT YOU MIGHT SAY SOMETHING NICE AMID CLEVERNESS AND REMINDERS WHICH MAKE ME LONESOME DON’T WORRY ABOUT ANY ENGLISH DUTY LIGHT OR HEAVY LOVE=
BOSS.


RXNDT8 9 1 EXTRA RUSH=MI WASHINGTON DC 1 348 P
1937 MAR 1 PM 3 19
MISS EMILY PERKINS=
HOTEL MARROT=
SAFE AND DOWN IN WASHINGTON ALSO DOWNHEARTED LOVE=
DAN.





HD166 27 WIRELESS=MZ NASSAU NP 9 320P
1937 MAR 9 PM 3 51
EMILY PERKINS=
WADE PARK MANOR HOTEL CLEVELAND OHIO=
STATIC CONTINUING SERVICE UNSATISFACTORY EVEN TO MIAMI EXPECTY ALL RIGHT TONIGHT PLEASE TRY FINISH WITH GUILD IN TIME LOVE=
DAN.


GA482 31 WIRLESS=MZ BC NASSAU 8 1030P
[THIS NEXT IS WRITTEN: BRITICH COLONIAL HOWARD HUGHES]
1937 MAR 8 PM 11 49
EMILY PERKINS=
WADEPARK MANOR HOTEL CLEVELAND OHIO=
NO PHONE ACCOUNT ELECTRICAL STORM HAVE ARRANGED CALL TOMORROW AFTER THEATRE ASSUME YOU WILL BE BUSY WITH GUILD DURING DAY IF NOT WIRE LOVE=
DAN..
[THIS NEXT IS WRITTEN AFTER DAN: DARLING CALL 6:30 IF POSSIBLE AS MAY NOT BE ALONE TONIGHT.]


CA1427 49=MIAMI FLO 8 933P
[THIS STAMPED ON TELEGRAM: DUPLICATE OF TELEPHONED TELEGRAM]
[THIS HAND WRITTEN UNDER STAMP: 211 SO MUIRFIELD DR]
1938 MAR 8 PM 7 01
MISS EMILY PERKINS=
PHONE WALNUT 1770 LOSA=
DARLING HOPE YOU ARE NOT FEELING TOO BADLY DON’T GO TO WORK UNTIL YOU FEEL ABSOLUTELY ALL RIGHT MAKING SOME HEADWAY HERE BUYING NEW PANEL AND HAVE STARTED WORK ON OTHER DAMAGE WITH LOCALLY OBTAINED MEN WILL PHONE YOU TOMORROW OR NEXT DAY SOON AS HAVE BREATHING SPELL LOVE=
BONN.









DA450 10=SHREVEPORT LA 30 918P
1938 MAR 30 PM 7 28
EMILY PERKINS= 211 SOUTH MUIRFIELD DRIVE
[THIS NEXT IS CROSSED OUT: TELEPHONE WLNUT 1770 LOSA=]
HERE I AM BOSS HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW LOVE=
BOBB.

BOSS BOBB.


SP106 28 4 EXTRA WIRELESS VIATROPICAL=DUPLICATE OF TELEPHONE TELEGRAM=MZ BR COLONIA NASSAU NP 13 645 P
1938 MAR 13 PM 8 01
PERKINS TELEPHONE WALNUT 1770=
(211 SOUTH MUIRFIELD ROAD {SIC}) LOSA=
JUST FINALLY FINISHED GETTING THROUGH TO LODWICK MUCH TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING SO GOING SLEEP CALLING TOMORROW EVENING MOST LOVE=
BOSS.

1770.