Henry Jaynes Fonda
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At this time "Leland Hayward, who was on the brink of becoming the top talent agent in the country, signed him up and convinced a reluctant Fonda to go to Hollywood for $1,000 a week." (''My Life'', p 37). By Aug 1934, Henry had "signed with Walter Wagner, to play an important part in ''The President Vanishes''" (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=45596791¤tResult=7&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). And [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=40782721&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=0 here] they state that he signed with Walter Waller to "make two pictures a year starting with the summer months of 1935." But note that "Henry Fonda, Broadway actor who will be seen this season [Winter of 1934 ?] in 'Rome Haul'" (erroneously called Rome "Hall"), which probably means he was still then in New York. Evidently this title was the title of the book by Walter Edmonds, and the play was re-named ''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=49072003¤tResult=21&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). The play appeared on Broadway, and tells the story of Molly Harkins, a pretty girl who works as a cook on a boat, moving from town to town. She meets Dan Harrow, a rough, simple man who wants to settle down as a farmer. He has to convince her to marry him and farm. Henry Fonda plays the man, and June Walker the woman (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=23032494¤tResult=22&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). Noel Thornton was a bit psychic when he stated,<blockquote>"Indeed young Fonda is so good in the early part of the show that he undoubtedly will be transferred to the movie colony in jig time to become the newest of the leading men for Norma Shearer, Constance Bennett or Miriam Hopkins."</blockquote> | At this time "Leland Hayward, who was on the brink of becoming the top talent agent in the country, signed him up and convinced a reluctant Fonda to go to Hollywood for $1,000 a week." (''My Life'', p 37). By Aug 1934, Henry had "signed with Walter Wagner, to play an important part in ''The President Vanishes''" (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=45596791¤tResult=7&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). And [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=40782721&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=0 here] they state that he signed with Walter Waller to "make two pictures a year starting with the summer months of 1935." But note that "Henry Fonda, Broadway actor who will be seen this season [Winter of 1934 ?] in 'Rome Haul'" (erroneously called Rome "Hall"), which probably means he was still then in New York. Evidently this title was the title of the book by Walter Edmonds, and the play was re-named ''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=49072003¤tResult=21&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). The play appeared on Broadway, and tells the story of Molly Harkins, a pretty girl who works as a cook on a boat, moving from town to town. She meets Dan Harrow, a rough, simple man who wants to settle down as a farmer. He has to convince her to marry him and farm. Henry Fonda plays the man, and June Walker the woman (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=23032494¤tResult=22&src=search&firstvisit=true here]). Noel Thornton was a bit psychic when he stated,<blockquote>"Indeed young Fonda is so good in the early part of the show that he undoubtedly will be transferred to the movie colony in jig time to become the newest of the leading men for Norma Shearer, Constance Bennett or Miriam Hopkins."</blockquote> | ||
| − | + | Margaret Sullavan evidently caused a bit of a stir in some corners. Henry received one fan letter with a courteously enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope but presumptuously stating:<blockquote>Dear Mr Fonda: I am one of Miss Sullivan's [sic] most ardent worshippers, in fact, I'm in love with her. I see by the papers that you are her former husband. Will you introduce me when you arrive to Hollywood? Or, better still, write me a letter of introduction to her?"</blockquote> | |
| − | Margaret | + | Henry and Margaret had remained on reasonable terms for some time. They were seen out-together once-in-a-while, and there was some gossip that they might again remarry. Jane Fonda however states that just after Henry and Margaret separated, Margaret had taken up with producer Jed Harris. "Dad would stand outside her window, knowing Harris was inside with her."<blockquote>"That just destroyed me," he said a lifetime later to Howard Teichmann. "Never in my life have I felt so betrayed, so rejected, so alone."</blockquote> Margaret and Jed however didn't marry, her next marriage was to director William Wyler. |
Henry met his next wife Frances Seymour in London in 1936 where she was vacationing from New York, and while she was visiting the set of ''Wings of the Morning'', in which he was starring. Soon after their return to New York, they were married. Frances was a wealthy widow with a daughter Frances "Pan" Brokaw from her prior marriage to George Brokaw who had died about 1933. | Henry met his next wife Frances Seymour in London in 1936 where she was vacationing from New York, and while she was visiting the set of ''Wings of the Morning'', in which he was starring. Soon after their return to New York, they were married. Frances was a wealthy widow with a daughter Frances "Pan" Brokaw from her prior marriage to George Brokaw who had died about 1933. | ||
| − | Henry Fonda was the father of actors [[Jane Fonda]] (b. 1937) and [[Peter Fonda]]. Jane was born in New York City while Henry was filming ''Jezebel'' with [[Bette Davis]]. | + | Henry Fonda was the father of actors [[Jane Fonda]] (b. 1937) and [[Peter Fonda]]. Jane was born in New York City while Henry was filming ''Jezebel'' with [[Bette Davis]]. William Wyler, the director of Jezebel, was none other than the next husband of Henry's ex-wife Margaret Sullavan. |
| − | Henry that | + | Henry had had it written into his contract that if his wife gave birth while they were shooting, he could fly back to New York to be with them. Jane comments in her biography, how her father stated that he took dozens of pictures while there at the hospital, and that she has them. She wistfully comments that in none of these pictures is there one of her mother holding her. |
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| + | Margaret Sullavan eventually married Fonda's agent Leland Hayward and "lived just down the street in the 1940s", this according to his daughter Jane who remembers playing with the Hayward children. Margaret eventually committed suicide in the 1960's. Her daughter Brooke Hayward wrote a book ''Haywire'' about her parents Margaret and Leland Hayward. | ||
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| + | Henry in 1937 returned again to the stage for a brief run in ''Blow Ye Winds''. The next year 1938, saw Henry's appearence in ''Spawn of the North'' starring George Raft and Dorothy Lamour. You will of course remember George Raft because of the role he played in the relationship between [[Lucille Ball]] and Desi Arnaz. | ||
In 1939 Henry "had a leading role" in ''The Story of Alexander Graham Bell'' also starring Don Ameche and Loretta Young. In newspaper articles, at this time, is where we find the appropos mention that Henry had written a thesis on communication systems while he was in college. | In 1939 Henry "had a leading role" in ''The Story of Alexander Graham Bell'' also starring Don Ameche and Loretta Young. In newspaper articles, at this time, is where we find the appropos mention that Henry had written a thesis on communication systems while he was in college. | ||
