Veteran actress, photographer and socialite Jean Howard discusses her life and career, including friendships with Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh and Cole Porter, in this rare 1990 half-hour interview with cable TV host Skip E Lowe.
These interviews are priceless , this is when stars we're stars , they knew there jobs , we're paid pennies to today's standards , knew how to party , have great times , sleep around , keep there mouths shout and had class all the while . I watched the Golden Globe Awards this past Sunday , and realized there we're but a few people there I would call stars than nothing , it was so very sad . I'm so glad I grew up with real movie stars , 🇺🇸☮️😘💐💐💐
Jean howard is my great great aunt💜💜💜 ty for posting this ive never heard/ seen her talk. I've read so many articles and the books but never her speaking of it tysm for this
I have never seen or heard of Jean Howard. She was a very articulate well spoken woman. I was totally surprised that Skip actually let her finish a sentence I've never seen him do this in any of his interviews! May he rest in peace, may they both rest in peace.
She is a fantastic witness of the golden era. How unbelievable to hear the stories of someone who actually knew those legendary people! When Kirk Douglas and De Havilland are gone, it will definitely be over.
I turned 51 this year and .... I'm just starting to realize just how far BACK!!!! These films were made. Back when my mother was alive and other people i knew in other families were alive .... it wasn't in my mind to ask them of "YESTERYEAR ". I grew up watching black and white films thinking they weren't made THAT LONG AGO .... boy was i WRONG, that Golden Era was ALREADY 50 YEARS OLD when i started watching then in the 1980'S, I'm am African American and grew up in the ghettos of NEWARK NJ and had a few bullies so i was in the house watching TV a lot is how i saw so many films.
Vivienne Leigh was NOT schizophrenic and didn't not suffer from a "split personality ". She suffered from bipolar. She would have crippling depression and mania. Back then, they didn't know anything about mental illness at all. Ms. Leigh died at age 53, in 1967. This was long, long before mental illness was talked about in the mainstream. Treatments were barbaric and included shock treatments and even lobatomies. Mentally ill patients were often locked up in under terrible conditions that were exposed by a few journalists in the 1970, years after this woman died. Ms. Leigh was one of the best actresses I've ever watched on film and her performances were full of realism. Watching her is like watching a character become a real life person. It doesn't look like acting at all. Vivienne Leigh was known for her great beauty, but it is her amazing talent that should be remembered just as much. She really was one of the greatest actors of all time. Today and otherwise.
She was amazing. In her stunning beauty and acting talent. In her best, in my opinion, in GETWind, Streetcar named desire. Other plays in London. She had bipolar. It was not understand or acknowledged in Vivien s time
I have Jean Howard's book which I purchased decades ago. It's a wonderful book full of fabulous photos of Hollywood during its Golden Age. This interview is better than most conducted by this fellow.
I find it detestable when an interviewer verbally steps on the person being interviewed. I'd love the interviewee to interrupt the interviewer and say something like, "Look - you seem to have this well in hand. I have other things to do. Good day sir." At any rate, the interviewer is obnoxious any way you slice it.
So interesting to watch actresses of the golden era of Hollywood. Still waiting the bit where she talls abt Vivien Leigh, my favorite. The most beautiful woman to grace the silver screen.
Fascinating interview. Jean Howard is a lovely person and look at her beautiful hair. What happened that women don't wear pretty hair styles anymore? It's all long, straight, flat like a floor mop. This woman's hair is gorgeous, soft, with lovely waves and not overly long. Refreshing that she is not a catty or bitchy woman about other women. Really enjoyed this interview. I would like to buy her book and learn more about her.
Because most women today, simply dont care how they look.....she comes from a time when women looked their best.....now women wear Jean's, tee shirts, and look sloppy....
Oh please... it takes a long time to style that hair. She is on TV you know. Most people don’t have time for that these days working so much. If I had a pro to style me like I was on tv I’d look great all the time.
The creepy guy, Skip, wouldn't shut up long enough for Jean to talk. He asked questions and answered them himself. She seems to be a fascinating woman... I would have loved to hear more from her.
Like the previous post I wish the interviewers style was one of less interruptions. You are left wondering how much more the guest could have shared if uninterrupted. That aside- what a fabulous interview. An insight into Hollywood long gone. Jean HOWARD I found articulate with a great memory for details, and a pleasure to listen to. I'm going to get a copy of Jean's book.
Pick up Jean Howard’s’ coffeetable book full of fabulous candid Hollywood stars. Stories were added and it’s one of my many favorite books about old Hollywood. The photography is exceptional, Ms. Howard was a very talented photographer
I never like when an interviewer steps over someones sentences, and directs the next question before one has finished talking. That aside, the overall interview was fun.I enjoyed learning from Mr. Lowe that this lovely actress is also an author and photographer and has had works published by different magazines, newspapers, etc...and in the 1990's has also undertaken a new book called, "Tripping With Cole!" Then, as to that, I appreciate Mr. Lowe's generously featuring some of the photos that Ms. Howard had taken and and then had published in this large coffee table type book; his pleasure at this 'find' is very genuine. That, I can well understand and I am glad I ran across this charming interview.
Thank you so much for posting this interview. I think Skip E. Lowe asks good questions that draw her out. Jean Howard lived a fascinating life. She must be in her late seventies in this film, since she came out west in about 1930 at seventeen years old. And she looks terrific. Kudos to whoever did her hair.
It is misleading to have Monroe’s name so prominently in the title. Howard really had nothing groundbreaking to say about Marilyn Monroe that hasn’t been said by others. MM came after Jean Howard’s peak in Hollywood.
Skip E was famous for being strange. He’d sit down with notes about the guest. He say something like, “so in 1946, you were in such and such a film with Humphrey Bogart...” and the guest would respond, “What? What? I was never in a movie with Bogart...!” Skip E would be all confused and mumble. Ten minutes later he’d do the same type of mistake again.
That’s crazy ! I have that book. I got it as a gift and it was so fascinating to see how close everyone was. Masculine macho Bogart on screen, adored Clifton Webb, Webb sitting on his lap and it’s just awesome . Wish Gable was more relaxed like Bogart
Goodness, I think the interviewer's much more interested in hearing his own voice than Jean Arthur's... But very interesting when she manages to get a word in edgewise
Really this interviewer is one of the most annoying people, with a voice that could etch glass ...what made people tolerate him - let alone seek him out? The questions he asked were very rarely interesting, and usually he interrupted much more fascinating reminiscences to ask them _insistently._
This a rare interview where Skip doesn't shoot his mouth off too much. In other interviews he is so misinformed and can't keep his mouth shut. He interrupts constantly. How he got some of the great people from old hollywood is beyond me.
With Jean Howard's personality, strength, intelligence, practicality and gentleness, she would have been a great friend for Marilyn Monroe. Too bad Marilyn was probably intimidated by her. She needed a friend like Jean Howard. Also, Marilyn met Arthur Miller at a Feldman party. Marilyn was "with" Elia Kazan and Kazan and Miller were friends and were trying to drum up interest for a Miller project. (Which never got off the ground.) Marilyn met Miller in 1951 and wanted him from that time on. She said meeting him, and the time she spent with Miller, was like "running into a tree", and like a "cool drink on a hot day". And the rest, as they say, is history.
I love old Hollywood so much, it is so fantastic and interesting, there are not many people like this alive anymore, maybe olivia de Havilland and a few more...so 😥 sad
Another great recounting by a star of Thirties and Fourties Hollywood is David Niven's " Bring On The Empty Horses." This book by Howard, as well, seems a book to have.
I waited until minute <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1558">25:58</a> and what I find is that she says that Vivien was schizophrenic... well, I guess it says a lot about how little they understood Viv's mental health at that time... she wasn't schizophrenic, she had bipolar disorder (used to be called manic depression).
Supposedly, Marilyn Monroe met John F. Kennedy at Charles Feldmans home around 1954. It would have been interesting to hear her take as she would have witnessed most of what happened in the beginning of that relationship that was on and off for nearly 10 years.
This was So very entertaining. Thank you so much for posting. I never see anything about the Gifted and charming Jean howard and this was just that..is there a part 2?
This has to be one of the worst interviewers. Talks too much and Jean not able to finish her stories. Terrible. Not really listening to the answers, asked the same question about a photo twice.
Love Jean Howard's hair so shiny and shimmery and healthy and bouncy. On the other hand the interviewer was hideously comical it's like you can't stand him but yet he makes the interview interesting.
I bet those were some nice parties, good food, good entertainment, the works. Everyone looked well dressed, they had cool houses, cool cars and I suspect politics was not even an issue or even brought up. What a concept, what a cool time.
She Says Basically The Old Owner System Should Be Brought Back !!! Give Me An The Free Thinking World A Damn Break. Bondage And Control Of Actors And Limiting Their Choices And Monies (?) Oh Please
Charles Feldman also discovered Betty (Lauren) Bacall along with Howard Hawks. And, a good interviewer knows whom he is speaking with beforehand an is informed, then asks a good question…then SHUTS UP!! This guy took a great person to interview then ruined it, by interrupting and consistently talking over Jean when all we want to here is what Jean has to say about Hollywood History. I have no interest in what Skippy has to add to here sentences that add absolutely no content to the conversation. Sad to waste Jeans time and our to have to listen to his poor chatter. He is plain annoying.
Vivian Leigh was not bipolar was not schizophrenic either. Her daughter was the original Judy Garland who had been Shirley Temple. She was murdered in 1947. See Steam Heat singer Haney She took over Judy role and Leslie Caron became Shirley. Paulette Goodard was the Black Dahlia. Veronica Lake was the Beautiful Suicide? Her legs tied up with her own panyhose! Someone was killing actresses in 1947.
The new actors and actresses of today.. hold no mystique for me... not at all. Mostly completely talentless!! Utterly talentless and bogus. They're stomach turning..."As The Stomach Turns".