Ava

While Donna and Bob are here, we decided to go to Smithfield, North Carolina (about 1 1/2 hours away), home of the farm girl and Hollywood star that became  Ava Gardner.  Her museum is located right on Main Street across from a diner right out of the '50's.   I don't think any of us were expecting much, but we were pleasantly surprised at the displays and the short movie we saw where we learned about her life before she was a Hollywood glamour girl. 

Looking back, I don't think that she achieved the fame she should have.   She was beautiful and able to play a variety of roles.   To some extent, I think she was overshadowed by Elizabeth Taylor and some of the other studio beauties. 

So, take a short tour with me and enjoy the Ava Gardner museum:

You can drive right up to the front door.

One of the museum staff people told me this lights up at night.

This is a famous photograph of MGM's most popular stars....notice Clark Gable, my favorite, right in the center. 

 

Magazine covers on which Ava appeared.

Paintings of her done by different artists in the museum library.

 

Her first "starring" movie poster.

Mogambo, one of my favorites...with Clark Gable....where she played the bad "girl" opposite Grace Kelly, who was the good "girl" attracted to Clark Gable. Ava would later attend Grace's wedding to Prince Ranier and corresponded with Grace throughout her life.

Various gowns designed for her by the best fashion houses in America and Europe.

She had an 18 inch waist, as evidenced by her jacket in a movie with Gregory Peck, one of her long time friends.

The gown she wore in Show Boat, with Howard Keel.  She was "Julie" the mixed race woman scorned by her white husband when he finds out she carries black blood in her.  Julie becomes embittered and hard. A perfect role for Ava.

 

Here's Donna doing her Dixie thing...."I want, I want, I want...."

I wanted it too.....a three diamond drop necklace....right in style today.

An embroidered and jeweled cape she wore in the "Count of Monte Crisco."

 

One of her glamor shots on the outside of the building.

Alas, she had a stroke at 67 while she was living in London, and died.  She is buried with her family in the Smithfield cemetery. 

Goodbye, Ava Lavinia Gardner

 

 

Smithfield's best....The Diner....Bob is still waiting for the straw he asked for!!