McHALE’S NAVY COMES TO AN END (part two)
Given my life experiences, those that had been aggressive in their passion with me in the past, my beloved father leaving our little family for another woman, decimating my poor mother, all this branded my soul against all, but those that I would perceive as “safe.” I may not have even known that consciously at the time, but it is surely how things would invariable work out.
All things come to an end, and Linda and I were indeed there for the final episode. We were to again be dancing the jitterbug, at a farewell soirée. I was too depressed to enjoy myself, but Linda was the life of the party. Each member of the cast seemed to be taking the floor with Linda, and each one seemed to be swinging her around more vigorously. This all to their enjoyment as her tights exactly matched her dress. It was a beautiful outfit, and the crew would spin her around to reveal her legs and those matching tights. And it was filmed and in the can before I could tell Linda what was going on. Actually it was a wonderful way to say goodbye. Although I was rushed over to “Warner Brothers,” to do a small part on “Not with my Wife,” and was unable to say my goodbyes properly.
Gary would quickly pick up the part of the sheriff on a new show titled “Pistols and Petticoats.” And I could hardly wait to receive the word from casting that I would be working “Pistols,” which would not be long. It was also that very weekend that I would confess to my fiancé, David, that I had this deep and abiding crush on Gary Vinson. He was remarkably understanding, stating that he expected such to happen considering the work that I was doing. And that he would do all he could to see me through this little flirtation, knowing that I would soon recognize his lasting love over against this fleeting and imaginary “thing.” That was surely logical, but I had not been logical in any of this.
I must add here that Gary’s tragic death, a suicide, I can’t fathom. The accusations that apparently weight so heavily on him I also find very hard to believe. To me as my fantasy inamorato he was a dear man, unassuming, and one I romanticize as the perfect love. Is it possible that subconsciously I had concocted a dream of one who was more than safe, but unavailable in any way? For so long he was idealized in my mind as a great idealized love, which had made the development of any real romantic involvement extremely difficult. It is too distressing to really absorb from my vantage point!
THE SPRING OF 1966
Work remained steady there was “I Dream of Jeannie,” Where I was to care for a chimpanzee, which was magically turned into Larry Storch, as an astronaut, with a chimps mind. This would be great fun. I got to play with a chimp, and also spend time with one of the funniest men in Hollywood. We all enjoyed ourselves except for being around the star. Once a scene was shot she would go into vocal exercises. She would run the scales, and sing out loudly various verses in a high and I found grating voice. Obviously she was in training to expand her career into stage performances.
I would find myself on the “Munsters,” playing a teen-ager. And then Linda and I worked on the movie, “Munsters Go Home,” filmed out at Malibu Lake, watching a car race as we faced a hot Southern California sun. The filming of the various antics on the raceway ran long. There we were on that hot March day in our English tweeds. And then were asked to flee a crash scene at the raceway in our tight skirts and high heels. Linda found it extremely hazardous, and filed a protest. It took time, especially convincing the Union rep. But when Linda offered to loan him her tight skirts and high heels, and see how he felt running from the top bleacher. We would instead be seated in the first row, which allowed us to flee quickly and easily out of the crash scene even in high heels. However, the next day we both were suffering from severe sunburns, and we had two more days of filming. This was not fun. It was in April that on the Fox lot that I would run down a hat that the wind had taken from a well dressed older man. Upon returning the hat to him, he thanked me profusely, and asked my name. “Sharon Leigh,” I replied. To which he said, “See you in the papers.” I thought nothing of it until the next day the event was related in Walter Winchell’s column; unfortunately he misspelled my name as “Lee.”
May found me working quite a bit on “How to Succeed in Business,” and “Project 120,” where I was to see Gary. But unfortunately he was too far away. There were many others shows and commercials most unmemorable, except one; that was for “Jungle land,” a wonderful refuge at the far west end of the San Fernando Valley. Here were found many of the “wild” animals one sees in the movies, like Clarence the Lion, so tame one could go to sleep resting against him. Here I was to do a series of commercials to generate some additional revenue by interesting visitors to drive out and see the ranch.
It was especially intriguing when the promotion called for me to be filmed with Izzie, a very large python. She was surprisingly large and as the filming began she stretched out from her handler next to me, and started to move across my shoulders. Then I began to feel her weight and had to readjust my feet and stand a little straighter as her great weight began moving clear around my shoulders. The director encouraged me to
