Clyde Beatty (From Roger Smith)

clyde beatty, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. There was not an appropriate place to put this on the blog today, and I'm running late tonight, but perhaps if no one has heard the story put this way before, it may hold interest for Clyde Beatty fans. On July 6, 1965, the world press carried stories that Mr. Beatty was rushed from his home in Ventura, California, to Community Memorial Hospital, hemorrhaging severely from his metastasized cancer. Immediately upon admittance, he lapsed in to a coma, which lasted until the early morning of July 19th. His brother-in-law, Earl Abel, Jr., for whom I worked in San Antonio, told me this story: "Clyde came out of the coma very suddenly. He reached over and buzzed for a nurse, which really took them by surprise. A staff of nurses entered his room to find him out of bed, walking around and he was very coherent in everything he said. They were floored by how clear-minded he was. He told them, 'Find my wife. Jane's around here somewhere. Get my clothes, and I'll have her bring the car around, so I can get out of here.' A nurse said, 'Mr. Beatty, are you all right? Is there any pain?' He told them all, 'No, no, I'm fine. I'm over it now. Let me get dressed and I'll go home. It's all OK now.' " Jane was summoned from a break in the cafeteria, and was astonished that her husband was up and demanding to be taken home. She helped him get his clothes in order, as the doctors came in. They knew what they were seeing was a terminal patient rallying--the point in which human life makes one last determined drive to survive. Vital signs go up and stabilize, and for a few moments, or sometimes days, families try to take on hope. The doctors never set his dismissal papers in motion, and within a few hours, Mr. Beatty's coma returned. At about the time Boom-Boom would have been making Mr. Beatty's announcement for his matinee, at 2:30 pm, he passed into legend these 43 years ago. His funeral was held in the Church of the Hills, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, in Los Angeles, on July 22nd. Character actor and friend Pat O'Brien delivered the eulogy. Gee Gee once said the two greatest men she worked for in showbusiness were Clyde Beatty and Gene Autry. One day maybe we'll get to listen in on their jackpots. On this day, some of us feel we have never really said good-bye to Mr. Beatty. Just, "So long, Boss. See you again on the Big Lot." May all our great showfolks share eternal rest and peace. Roger Smith