In the Spotlight with.. Barbara Fan

[Angela Channing]

A few more questions, if I may:

1. We all know about your admiration for Barbara Bel Geddes and Ingrid Bergman but which contemporary actresses do you like?
2. If you were holding a dinner party and could invite 5 famous (living) guests, who would you choose to have around your dining table?
3. On the subject of dinner, what is your favourite meal to cook and when you eat out, what is your favourite type of restaurant to visit?

 

[Barbara Fan]

@Barbara Fan :

1. What made you be the biggest fan of the Legend BBG
2. What if you saw Bobby {that night you saw Bobby and Jenna film that scene at the OBC} wearing that blue spotted shirt, would you have ripped it off poor Bobs back? Hahahaha

Hello @Pammy P

I wrote this tribute a day after the death was announced of BBG. It probably says it all and i was rather emotional at the time

This is a copy and paste job as it will take me a long time to type out. (Im a 4 fingers person on computer! ie not quick)


Barbara Bel Geddes has been my favourite actress since I was 13 years old.

When I first watched Dallas in 78, I watched it because I liked Patrick Duffy as Mark Harris in the “Man from Atlantis”. I had never heard of the other cast members, other than Barbara who I recognised as “the blonde lady” from the Five Pennies, a film I liked as a child.

At first, Bobby and Pam were my favourite couple and Victoria my favourite actress, because she was married to beloved Bobby and was the pretty, sexy young female on the show. Dallas was a show I watched every week, but was usually doing my homework at the same time. By Barbecue, the homework was put to one side, Dallas was compulsive viewing!!

But by the first series, I think it was Bypass I suddenly realised that BBG was the best actress on the show and she could show more emotion with a smile, a raised eyebrow, a sad look, a knowing glance than anyone else. She didn't need words to act.

By the time S2 and Mastectomy was shown I was a fan. I thought that her acting was outstanding in those episodes, it was so realistic and you could imagine what she must have been feeling as Miss Ellie.

NO ONE ELSE ON DALLAS COULD HAVE DONE THOSE SCENES SO MOVINGLY AND PASSIONATELY.

I cried my eyes out, and was astonished to read in the press the following day that she had undergone a radical mastectomy 8 years before and agreed to relive her real life experience "to help woman realise that it isn't the end of the world and you learn to live with it and are able to laugh again".

She said that when the Producers asked if she would mind Miss Ellie finding a lump on her breast, she thought “No, THIS time I wont mind. It might be useful to somebody going through the pain and anguish. When I had mine it was still a very hush, hush thing. You felt mortified, humiliated about telling anyone. Recovery was not quick, at least for me, I still get funny on ladders and clothes problems are a pain in the neck. There is no sense in saying its a little itty bitty thing, it was a hell of a blow. But you learn to live with it all. Thats how I'd like to help if I can by talking about it - to say there is HOPE and not to give up. You DO get well".

She said that she didn't think about it too much until she got the script then thought "Oh boy, this is going to be tough. I guess I dreaded bringing up the past".

Barbara admits she didn't handle the situation as well as Miss Ellie. "Ellie handles it a lot more intelligently than I did. Self examination was a term I had never even heard of. Even after I realised I had the lump, I ignored it until it became just too painful, at which point I went to see my Doctor who put me in hospital right away. It just never occurred to me that I could have breast cancer. I thought it was old age and I was getting lumpy. Woman are a lot smarter about it today".

And at the time she underwent surgery she was nursing her husband who was dying of a brain tumour and had given up all stage work to care for him. He sadly died the following year.

I think it made me admire her, her courage, and strength to relive a very painful episode in her own life and in front of a world wide audience. She said that on Dallas Miss Ellie recovers "very quickly" but for her it was a slow process. "It was a devastating thing to go through and a shock to your soul. But what I want people to know is that while it takes a long time, you do get better eventually". It was one of the few times Barbara gave extensive interviews and she was honored by various Cancer charities for her promotion of breast cancer awareness.

S2 turned me from a fan into a Dallas addict and I collected everything and anything on all the Dallas cast. BBG was the most elusive of cast members and kept a very low profile. Sadly a lot of press came about because of real life incidents such as Jim Davis dying of a brain tumour, same as her husband, and her heart attack and quadruple bypass op.

I often wished she was like the other cast members who appeared frequently in public but I respected the fact that she guarded her privacy.

When Barbara suffered a massive heart attack in March 1983, the press were full of stories asking "Will she live, will she return to Dallas??" I cried and worried about her when she had life saving heart by pass surgery and rejoiced when she returned. Fortunately she was well enough to return to Dallas, albeit with a limited shooting schedule from episode 12 onwards.

When she quit the show in 84 I was devastated and loathed her replacement, who simply wasn’t Miss Ellie. I almost stopped watching the show.

When along with 1000s of others I wrote to Lorimar productions (twice!) to say Please bring back BBG, I couldn't believe it was true when she returned in 85. I remember seeing the headlines on a newspaper at a train station and bought every paper that day. Dallas for me wasn't the same without her. The glue that held the Ewing family together was missing. She was the heart of Dallas and gave it credibility.

Her part in Dallas was small from S8 onwards, but she was back and that was good enough for me. Although she must have choked at some of the awful scripts she was given! especially in its final years. Howard Keel and Barbara deserved better scripts and plotlines than the ones they were given!

When I went to LA in 1983 and spent time on the Dallas set I asked everyone and anyone about her, and they all said the same thing:

A lovely lady, quiet, shy and reserved with a great sense of humour.
It was a thrill to be on the set, watching them film my favourite TV show, but I was disappointed that there was no BBG, who was still recuperating from heart surgery. I guess I will always regret it, I was 2 weeks too early and I always thought “so near and yet so far”.

I have managed to aquire over 3000 articles on her and her career over the years and probably a lot of Dallas fans wont know about her earlier brilliant career in Theatre, and on the Broadway stage, which has always been her first love. I think it would have been awesome to see her as Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” or in comedies such as "The Moon is Blue", "Mary, Mary" or even as a bored housewife turned prostitute in "Everything in the Garden".

The play that first brought her to the attention of Broadway audiences was as Genevra Longdon in “Deep are the Roots”. She played a white girl who fell in love with a black soldier and was considered ahead of its time in a country where racial segregation still was a feature. She received hate mail and was spat on by people as she left the Theatre. Many believe it was the reason Howard Hughes sacked her in the 1950s from her RKO contract.

A lot of articles on Barbara have always commented on how she used to love to "Go home" to her farm in Putnam, NY state when each series was finished, to get away from glitz, glamour and the phonyness, which was Hollywood, and back to real life and her garden, wildlife and pets.

Dallas came along in her mid fifties, and she said she accepted the role as she was “flat broke” after caring for her terminally ill husband had wiped out their savings.

I think she was seriously underused in Dallas, and fact is SHE IS THE ONLY CAST MEMBER TO WIN AN EMMY AND GOLDEN GLOBE for her performance. Barbara Bel Geddes was the best actress I have ever seen and I loved her for her role as Miss Ellie.

Yes I wish I had a grandmother like BBG/ME! I think there was a lot of BBG in Miss Ellie and she had such a kind face, twinkling, sparkling eyes and warm smile that she would make anyone feel at ease.

It was strange to me at first that a middle aged American actress could have SUCH an impact on me, and the more I read about her away from Dallas and pre Dallas, the more I wanted to know about her. I’m the first to admit she wasn’t the most stylish on the show, but that wasn’t important.

She was one of the more genuine, realistic characters on the show (along with Susan Howard). She was warm, caring and friendly and made Miss Ellie a believable character.

She was the most beguiling of actresses, the fact that she didn't need a script to convey what she was feeling made her a class act and a cut above her co stars. I would have loved to see her on Broadway, in the Theatre - her true love. And I guess I hoped she would return to the stage after she hung up her pearls and cardigans as Miss Ellie in 1990. Sadly for fans that never happened as I think she would have been great, back treading the boards, and I would have been on the next flight to NY to see her.

I wish that I had met her and I am grateful to have met Hannah. I will never forget our meeting in NY and I hope we will stay in touch. Barbara has a beautiful, trendy granddaughter, with a lovely personality to match.

I always knew that one day Barbara would die - we all will - and I have always wondered how I would feel. She was getting older, and doesn't appear to have enjoyed the best of health over the years. When I heard the news on August 10th I felt like I had lost a friend, someone I knew, loved and cared about, without ever having met her. I hope that in her final months she didn't suffer, I couldn't bear that, and that her pain was well controlled. It doesn't seem fair that someone who had suffered before from breast cancer should die from lung cancer.

Thankfully she has left a wonderful legacy behind both on TV and film, and I'm sure many more generations will appreciate her talents.

SHE TOUCHED MY LIFE AND MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME. I WILL NEVER FORGET HER.

 

[Barbara Fan]

@Barbara Fan :

1. What made you be the biggest fan of the Legend BBG
2. What if you saw Bobby {that night you saw Bobby and Jenna film that scene at the OBC} wearing that blue spotted shirt, would you have ripped it off poor Bobs back? Hahahaha

Oh absolutely, and I would have wrapped it up and sent it to you x

 

[Long Lashes]

, i got to see Kate in 1979 as my next door neighbour who was 2 years older than me but about 20 years more mature than me (she had a boyfriend 6 years older when she was 13! - got dumped by him) and she had tickets to see Kate Bush in Edinburgh and i got to go! Also saw her signing her Never forever LP in HMV! I skived off school for that one! That was when she was less of a recluse and sadly wasnt fortunate to get tickets for her see out concert a few years ago.

How lucky you were to see the mighty Kate Bush, wow! thank goodness your neighbour was dumped by her boyfriend

My fav Deacon Blue songs are
Your town,

This is my favourite DB song too I still play it at least once a week.

Yes absolutely, Im not Scotish, Im British and I call myself an Anglophile, I like England very much

Pardon me, I just assumed (wrongly) that you're Scottish. You do live in a beautiful part of the UK, Scotland can be stunning

I am a fan of Englsih football (RIP SCottish football, Div 2 at best!)

I'm now going to be nosey and ask a few more ...

Do you speak with a Scottish accent?

Do you like Haggis? lol! (I do, its really tasty)

You mentioned how you enjoy to dine out. What would be your perfect starter, mains course and dessert?

Thanks again BF.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Pardon me, I just assumed (wrongly) that you're Scottish. You do live in a beautiful part of the UK, Scotland can be stunning

I am Scottish -was born here / north of the border - but im not a Nationalist and as 50% of blood coursing thro my veins is English, I consider myself a Brit!

This is my favourite DB song too I still play it at least once a week.

You have good taste

 

[Barbara Fan]

Do you speak with a Scottish accent?

Do you like Haggis? lol! (I do, its really tasty)

You mentioned how you enjoy to dine out. What would be your perfect starter, mains course and dessert?

People in Scotland dont think i sound too Scottish, but if im South of the border they know im Scottish
I have an accent that doesnt need sub titles I dont have a Rab C Nesbett or Taggart accent lol - But my English Nan thought i used to talk too fast.
Some patient think Im Irish or English - some even American - hey ho!!

Haggis - UGH!!! Not for me, dont like whats in it and have been to a few Burns Suppers and ive had a chicken salad or similar for main course

My perfect starter

Something like Garlic Mushrooms with a dip, I also like soup if its thick and chunky, Spare ribs if its chinese

Main course

I like Pasta dishes with chicken and like a whole variety of sauces to go with it, I like Steak (well done) or rack of ribs, Fajitas but they are messy

One restuarant we go to does a lovely chicken, bacon and leak pie and another does a lovely Countryside Style Risotto made with chicken breast, Italian sausage, rice and wild mushrooms, cooked in a sauce made with shallots, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs

Its delicious

Dessert - love Choc fudge cake, cheesecake, Homemade apple pie with cream or ce cream
I dont like fish much and couldnt eat shellfish if you paid me

Thanks again @Long Lashes xx

 

[Barbara Fan]

How lucky you were to see the mighty Kate Bush, wow! thank goodness your neighbour was dumped by her boyfriend

Yes I know, Im sure it was April 79 - it was the 2nd concert I had ever been too so was a big day out for me to Edinburgh and she was a fantastic performer live on stage, very talented young girl and she shoud have kept on touring thro the decades

Oh I agree - Im glad he dumped her too!

 

[Barbara Fan]

A few more questions, if I may:

1. We all know about your admiration for Barbara Bel Geddes and Ingrid Bergman but which contemporary actresses do you like?
2. If you were holding a dinner party and could invite 5 famous (living) guests, who would you choose to have around your dining table?
3. On the subject of dinner, what is your favourite meal to cook and when you eat out, what is your favourite type of restaurant to visit?

Hello again @Angela Channing - thanks for more great questions

1 - I do prefer older actresses but out of ones who are still alive!!! I like Jane Fonda (not young) Maggie Smith (not young) Cate Blanchett (younger!) and on TV i like Claire Danes and Nicola Walker (under 60, maybe even 50!!)

2 - Five living guests - Victoria Principal, Harrison Ford (From @Ome - take it they can come to UK now) Steven Spielberg (just a fab and visionary director) Bruce Springsteen and Michael Palin - so i can talk Dallas with, swoon over Mr Ford, Steven can film it, Bruce can sing and Michael can make me laugh

3. Im not a cook, im pretty rubbish but will never starve - I do easy things like stir frys, chicken or beef with pasta or rice and shop bought sauces

I do like a traditional roast beef or chicken dinner.

Eating out, Italian first and foremost, in my next life Im an Italian.
I like Chinese, general restaurants that have a varied kind of menu, quite like Mexican once in awhile, not so keen on Indian and it wouldnt be my choice but would have something very mild. Im not an adventurous eater and i can be fussy (or was when i was young)

thanks again xx

 

[Barbara Fan]

Hi @Barbara Fan

Another question for you.

Outside of Dallas have you ever visited the sets of any other tv soaps?

If so, which ones and what did you make of them.

@Englishboy - i was lying in bed last night and it suddenly dawned on me that in 1983 when visiting the Dallas set, Steve Kanaly took me "next door" onto the Fame
(I wanna live forever) set and spent about 30 mins there seeing round that too. I didnt have my leg warmers with me!!

 

[Willie Oleson]

I am Scottish -was born here / north of the border - but im not a Nationalist and as 50% of blood coursing thro my veins is English, I consider myself a Brit!

Is it not possible to be and feel Scottish without being a Nationalist?
There must be some upsides, too.

 

[bmasters9]

2 – My favourite season is S2 original ending with the shooting of JR, it’s the series that turned me and many others into a Dallas fan, and me to an addict. It became compulsive viewing, must see TV and my Saturday nights were taken! Terry Wogan also contributed to Dallas success and by the time JR was shot in May 80 in UK, Dallas was hot, hot hot! Its when I started to collect everything and anything about Dallas and its cast (Jan 12th 1980 to be precise) and when the pocket money went on Dallas and lunches and train fares from school were skipped!!

After that I love S4-6 original, then 1, 3, 8 and 9 and mini. Not a huge fan of S7 (Dreary for one was a huge put off for me - but did love Swansong) Once the core cast started to leave, Dallas went downhill, I have never watched final season 13 original ever again and 11 and 12 were weak.

Following on from that, something I'd like to know (and I don't know if I have asked this of you at any time): do you have any seasonal releases of O-R CBS Lorimar Dallas on DVD?

 

[Barbara Fan]

Following on from that, something I'd like to know (and I don't know if I have asked this of you at any time): do you have any seasonal releases of O-R CBS Lorimar Dallas on DVD?

Im not quite sure I understand the question - its getting late lol O-R = original??

I have all of Dallas taped onto VHS or bought original Guild Home Video for mini, S1 and S2 (the correct naming) - (some series i have 2 copies off) and I have all of Dallas on DVD as well and i have bought Mini - 6 original and 8 twice
thanks BF , hope Ive answered that correctly but probably havent!

 

[Barbara Fan]

Is it not possible to be and feel Scottish without being a Nationalist?
There must be some upsides, too.

Scotland can be a nice place to visit, but if you want to see stunning scenery, mountains, wildlife and nature Id go to New Zealand myslef! So much better and not as wet! ! Scotland does have some lovely places, the majority of people are friendly, but its expensive to visit, rips off tourists with their prices for a cup of tea and a wee cake! And Edinburgh is geared up for Americans and lots of Tartan shops!! I dont know many people who wear a kilt except for a wedding

I went to the islands of Scotland for 4 days and i could have had 10 days in Tenerife for the same price and it would be warm and sunny

Like all places there are beautiful places to live and some awful places, the main cities have some of the poorest areas in Europe and west of Scotland has the highest rate of heart disease in Europe. You can go 12 miles and its going from the land of the Haves to the have nots and areas of real social depravation and a life expectancy much less than the "norm"

I dont like what Scotland is becoming if im honest -its a biggoted country and getting worse IMHO

I think that maybe someone from Ireland might understand this?? @Sarah as I think there are similarites

Scotland is a divided country in many ways, East Coast doesnt like the west coast, North doesnt like the South, but more importantly and sadly religion plays a very big part - One thing unites many Scottish people - they dont like the English, again its inbred!

It matters what religion you are, what football team you support - ie especially West coast - the bottom line is are you a Protestant or a Roman Catholic and sadly through generations there is a lot of hatred biggotry, Rangers V Celtic at football - it can define you - Rangers are Proddies and Celtic are RCs and there are always fights and arrests after "an old firm game"

There are always fights at an orange walk in July which celebrates King Billy and the Battle of the Boyne - Im sure half of them on it dont have a clue who King Billy was but he beat the Catholics so thats a good excuse for them to march.

sadly schools are segregated here too, you go to Proddy school or a catholic school and that instilled mentality passes down thro the generations
Us and them. Its so wrong

@Willie Oleson I wont consider applying for a job with the Scottish Tourist Board - Happy to be a Brit xx

 

[Karin Schill]

Glad you're enjoying your week in the spotlight.

I am so pleased you had such a great time in Stockholm. It was great to see ya again!

You are right that it probably won't be possible to go to South America next year. So go for 2022.
I do wish you'll be able to go to Italy next year. It's such a lovely country that I also keep visiting for some reason. (I love it)

Some travel inspired questions this time.

1) When was the first time you went to Rome?
2) Which countries in Europe have you already visited and which ones are on your bucket list?
3) Italy: Venice or Rome?

That's all for now.

 

[bmasters9]

Im not quite sure I understand the question - its getting late lol O-R = original??

That is correct-- O-R is my name for the first Dallas series (short for original-recipe, which is a marketing phrase I borrowed from Kentucky Fried Chicken advertising; I use it to describe the first and oldest version of any series that has had two or more versions; Dynasty is another series that has had two [O-R on ABC from 1981-89, and today's one on the CW that started in 2017, IIRC]).

 

[Michelle Stevens]

I certainly enjoy reading all of your answers in thread @Barbara Fan. You are such a cherished member of this community.

1. One question comes to mind in regards to your yearly Dallas Calendar. Do you have a large group of saved images that you devote a day of each year to a specific character or scene? I so adore looking at each day's entry.

2. As you don't watch Season 14 of Dallas anymore does that mean we will never get a Johnny Dancer day on the calendar? LOL, I'm just thankful I see Michelle Stevens about once a year.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Thank you for the explanation, Barbara Fan!

 

[Pammy P]

@Barbara Fan very moving tribute to BBG.

Oh, the BSS makes an appearance, I’d frame it and send it back to you .......

 

[Englishboy]

@Englishboy - i was lying in bed last night and it suddenly dawned on me that in 1983 when visiting the Dallas set, Steve Kanaly took me "next door" onto the Fame
(I wanna live forever) set and spent about 30 mins there seeing round that too. I didnt have my leg warmers with me!!

Hi @Barbara Fan

Were the studios that housed the Dallas and Fame sets located in Los Angeles or somewhere else?

 

[Jock Og]

BF, would you have accepted Donna Reed in another role, during season 7 (DVD-8)?

Imho Donna was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't think she would have ever tried to copy Barbara's Ellie and if she did there would undoubtedly have been criticism levelled at her. That being said as the ole saying goes the original is more often than not the best. BBG brought Ellie to the world, with such gusto.

Maybe Donna could have portrayed Jason Ewing's wife. Jamie and her mother Mabel show up in their rags, being from the poor side of the Ewing family. Never heard off but now with an ownership document they are set to battle for a third of the lucrative oil business. Another other alternative could have been DR as Ellie's Southworth cousin. The new character breeds and farms horses, not cattle.

Ellie pays a rare visit to Ewing Oil. A showdown is set to happen between the matriarch and her boys, (a scene from season 9; DVD-10, 1986-'87):

Ellie: "Hello Phyllis."

Phyllis: "Hello Mrs. Ewing."

Ellie: "Is J.R. in his office?"

Phyllis: "Yes he is but ah."

J.R. is on the phone: "Say I'll get back to ya. Mama what brings you here?"

Ellie goes around to J.R.'s chair: "Sit down J.R. where I can see you and get your brother in here."

J.R.: "Something the matter?"

Ellie: "Now J.R.!!!!"

J.R. buzzes Bobby, on the phone: "Bobby, mama is in my office. She wants to talk to both of us. Can you come in here a minute? Please!"

Bobby: "Be right in."

Bobby: "Mama. J.R. What is going on?"

Ellie: "Sit down Bobby! I want to talk to you and J.R."

Bobby: "Sure!"

Ellie: "I always thought no matter what happened I'd standby my family. It was always that way with the Ewings. It was always family against all outsiders. We always stuck up for each other, even when we knew we were wrong. But no more! It as gone too far and I won't defend either of you, any longer. I can't!"

Bobby: "Mama what do you mean?"

Ellie: "I've thought about this a lot and believe me this is one of the hardest things, I've ever had to say but as far as I'm concerned you two don't deserve to own Ewing Oil."

J.R.: "Well mama this is daddy's company, you're talking about."

Ellie: "Don't you ever, ever speak his name in front of me again. You disarm his name and his company and I guess that's what hurts me the most because your daddy would have been so ashamed of you. I know he would because I sure as hell am!"

J.R.: "Well mama I know you're upset but can we talk this over?"

Ellie: "I have nothing more to say. You are both on your own now and as far as Ewing Oil goes it should have died with your daddy. It would have saved us all, a lot of trouble."

Ellie leaves the building, which Jock founded. She has left J.R. and Bobby sitting like two reprimanded children.