Readers of Dogwoods Blush may have noticed that the number "41" is used twice in prominent scenes. In chapter #2, when the mysterious stranger breaks into the Valhalla Theatre, he immediately goes to dressing room #41, the room once used by the late local acting legend, Angel Andrews-Bronson. The number is used again in a critical later chapter when an unnamed trio (for this post ... I don't want to ruin anything for readers who have not yet read the book) enter an assisted living center and go directly to room #41. The double use of #41 is a tribute to one of my all-time favorite actors in my absolute all-time favorite film, the 1959 epic blockbuster, Ben-Hur. This MGM massive success starred the legendary Charlton Heston in the role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role. In fact, Ben-Hur altogether won 11 Academy Awards, tied after all these years only by James Cameron's Titanic. If you have not seen Ben-Hur, stop reading this post and go rent or buy it right now! For those who have seen it, you know the classic tale of pain and redemption written by Lew Wallace (a Union general during the Civil War and later, Governor of New Mexico who signed the warrant for the arrest of William H. Bonney, aka "Billy the Kid"). The chariot race in the film, where Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur crushes his arch enemy, the Roman Tribune Messala, is still considered one of the most compelling action sequences ever filmed. What does this have to do with #41? Great question! When Tribune Messala condemns Judah to be a galley slave in the Roman Navy, Judah loses his name and is only assigned a number ... you already guessed the number. In 1991, while deployed to Saudi Arabia and eventually to Iraq and Kuwait as part of Operation DESERT STORM, I wrote Mr. Heston a letter relating my love of the film to him and asking for his autograph. When I returned to my home station in Germany several months later, there was the letter from Mr. Heston waiting for me along with a beautifully autographed photo of him in character as Judah Ben-Hur! In the letter he sent that accompanied the photo he wrote, "Thank you for defending so bravely those who needed you so desperately and representing all of us so nobly. You know you have my earnest support and respect." And then he signed it, "Charlton Heston, #41." Over the years, Mr. Heston and I exchanged many letters until his deteriorating health prevented him from continuing. Today his personal assistant, Mrs, Carol Lanning, keeps me up to date on the happenings surrounding Mr. Heston's continuing influence. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Heston at a book signing in St. Louis in 1997. My son Nick was 6-years old and was wearing my US Army hat with my rank attached (Lt. Colonel at the time). Mr. Heston smiled at him, shook his hand and said, "My, you are the youngest lieutenant colonel I have ever met." It was a great memory I will never forget. So when you read Dogwoods Blush and see the references to #41, there's a reason for it. And now you know what that reason is! Thanks for all the memories, #41! You were a real gentleman.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Lucky Number -- #41
Readers of Dogwoods Blush may have noticed that the number "41" is used twice in prominent scenes. In chapter #2, when the mysterious stranger breaks into the Valhalla Theatre, he immediately goes to dressing room #41, the room once used by the late local acting legend, Angel Andrews-Bronson. The number is used again in a critical later chapter when an unnamed trio (for this post ... I don't want to ruin anything for readers who have not yet read the book) enter an assisted living center and go directly to room #41. The double use of #41 is a tribute to one of my all-time favorite actors in my absolute all-time favorite film, the 1959 epic blockbuster, Ben-Hur. This MGM massive success starred the legendary Charlton Heston in the role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role. In fact, Ben-Hur altogether won 11 Academy Awards, tied after all these years only by James Cameron's Titanic. If you have not seen Ben-Hur, stop reading this post and go rent or buy it right now! For those who have seen it, you know the classic tale of pain and redemption written by Lew Wallace (a Union general during the Civil War and later, Governor of New Mexico who signed the warrant for the arrest of William H. Bonney, aka "Billy the Kid"). The chariot race in the film, where Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur crushes his arch enemy, the Roman Tribune Messala, is still considered one of the most compelling action sequences ever filmed. What does this have to do with #41? Great question! When Tribune Messala condemns Judah to be a galley slave in the Roman Navy, Judah loses his name and is only assigned a number ... you already guessed the number. In 1991, while deployed to Saudi Arabia and eventually to Iraq and Kuwait as part of Operation DESERT STORM, I wrote Mr. Heston a letter relating my love of the film to him and asking for his autograph. When I returned to my home station in Germany several months later, there was the letter from Mr. Heston waiting for me along with a beautifully autographed photo of him in character as Judah Ben-Hur! In the letter he sent that accompanied the photo he wrote, "Thank you for defending so bravely those who needed you so desperately and representing all of us so nobly. You know you have my earnest support and respect." And then he signed it, "Charlton Heston, #41." Over the years, Mr. Heston and I exchanged many letters until his deteriorating health prevented him from continuing. Today his personal assistant, Mrs, Carol Lanning, keeps me up to date on the happenings surrounding Mr. Heston's continuing influence. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Heston at a book signing in St. Louis in 1997. My son Nick was 6-years old and was wearing my US Army hat with my rank attached (Lt. Colonel at the time). Mr. Heston smiled at him, shook his hand and said, "My, you are the youngest lieutenant colonel I have ever met." It was a great memory I will never forget. So when you read Dogwoods Blush and see the references to #41, there's a reason for it. And now you know what that reason is! Thanks for all the memories, #41! You were a real gentleman.
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