GONE 6O YEARS AGO (tomorrow) HE was KOOL.

[Tonyko]

Hard to believe he was killed on that Highway 6o years ago, and he's STILL so famous. (for 3 films thaz it)

AGAIN TRIED TO PICK NON-ICONIC PIX WE DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.

http://s14.postimg.org/8d1wr0lc1/image.jpg

 

THIS ONE ROOM APT I BELIEVE HE KEPT RIGHT UP TILL THE END, EVEN THOU IT'S A 5 FLOOR WALK UP WITH A SHARED BATH. IT'S A BROWNSTONE A FEW BLOCKS UP FROM ME IN THE W60's, THOSE PORT HOLE WINDOWS ARE STILL THERE THERE'S THREE ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BLDNG.

http://s7.postimg.org/5v9symtp7/JD2.jpg

 

AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY THE VERY LAST PHOTO OF HIM ALIVE, TAKEN BY HIS MECHANIC WHO WAS ALSO HIS PASSENGER THAT DAY, WHO WAS THROWN CLEAR AND SURVIVED. HE'S GASSING UP ON THEIR WAY TO THE RACE THEY WERE HEADING TO OUTSIDE LA. HARD TO BELIEVE ONCE HE GOT BACK IN THAT CAR HE NEVER GOT OUT.

http://s17.postimg.org/mgearkabz/JD3.jpg

 

I KNOW PROLLY EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GUY :-) EVEN HAD SOME CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS CLOSEST FRIEND A FEW YEARS AGO, THE ONE WHO WROTE THE FINAL (AND PROB MOST HONEST BOOK SINCE HE WAS QUITE OLD WHEN HE WROTE IT AND TRULY LOVED THE GUY), AS WELL AS SOME TALES TOLD TO ME ATA PARTY IN LA I WAS BROUGHT TO AT THE (surprisingly modest apartment) OF ACTRESS SHELLY WINTERS. HE WAS STRAIGHT, THAT WAS THE REALITY. TODAY THEY MIGHT ATTACH THE NEG LABEL G4P, BUT HE REALLY WASN'T HE WAS G4F (FAVORS :-) IF GUYS WHO HELPED HIM CAREER WISE WANTED TO SERVICE HIM, HE'D GIVE THAT TO THEM. EVEN HIS CLOSEST FRIEND WHO SAID THEY WERE INTIMATE ONCE SAID IT WAS MORE A "GIFT" FROM JIMMY BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AND JIMMY KNEW HE WANTED IT SO MUCH. BUT HE LIKED GIRLS :-) THE HOLY GRAIL OF THAT ASPECT OF HIS LIFE WOULD BE THE (PURPORTED) LOST MEMOIRS OF AN OLD PRODUCER NAMED ROGERS BRACKETT (don't bother Googling there's very little on him) WHO HELPED JIMMY IN HIS EARLY CAREER, DEAN EVEN LIVED WITH HIM. BUT IT'S LIKE MARILYN'S LOST DIARY OR CAPOTE'S LAST LOST NOVEL ETC, PROLLY NEVER EXISTED.

*PS if anyone's been watching TCM they've been showing all his old TV work, DOZENS of live TV dramas that were done in the 50's, some when he's only 21-22, and some just a few weeks before he began filming East Of Eden. They're not particularly good shows by todays standards, mostly anthology series which were the rage, a diff tele-play every week. Some great writers did start this way and some GEMS did come from these TV shows when they were expanded into films, MARTY, THE CATERED AFFAIR, THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, etc. But for the most part they were like summer stock for actors. And (much as I love him) Jimmy was not particularly a stand-out in the ones I've seen. He was good, but his brilliance didn't jump out at you, not the way it DID on screen. He was MADE for the big screen

[bigvalboy]

Brilliant Tonyko...this made my afternoon!! Great great photographs, and yes, so nice you chose the non-iconic ones. Loved the one in his apartment, and the gas station photo is just haunting. Could be the last photo of him alive. Quite special.

[Tonyko]

Brilliant Tonyko...this made my afternoon!! Great great photographs, and yes, so nice you chose the non-iconic ones. Loved the one in his apartment, and the gas station photo is just haunting. Could be the last photo of him alive. Quite special.

It IS the last photo of him alive. (as least none have surfaced in the six decades) The only ones after that photo he was covered on the ambulance gurney on the roadside)

*

PS WAS JUST ABOUT TO WRITE - Also his crumpled Porsche' "Little Bastard" which was on display for many years and changed private hands a few times, DISAPPEARED and went to check exactly what year it was last seen 1960'I think, and found this from TWO HOURS AGO! FOX NEWS:

The long-lost – and some say cursed -- car that James Dean died in may soon be found, if a half-century old memory can be believed.

 

The 24-year-old Hollywood star was killed when the Porsche 550 Spyder he was driving to an automobile race he was scheduled to compete in collided with a Ford Tudor coupe at an intersection in Cholame, Calif., on Sept. 30, 1955.

 

Nicknamed “Little Bastard,” the tiny Porsche was totaled in the crash. The wreck was sold to one of Dean’s competitors, who removed the engine and other useable components, then passed what was left to famed car customizer George Barris.

 

Dean’s car gained the reputation of being cursed in the wake of several incidents over the years, including the death of a racer whose car reportedly was built using some of its parts.

 

After shelving plans to restore the Porsche, Barris began lending it to the National Safety Council to use to promote car safety, and showing it at automotive events. While being shipped back to Los Angeles from Miami in 1960 it mysteriously disappeared from the locked container it was in, either on a train or truck, depending on the report.

Museum director Brian Grams told FoxNews.com that many tips have come in over the years, but none led to the car. But a break may have come after the story of the car and the reward was retold on a recent episode of “Brad Meltzer's Lost History” that aired on the History channel.

This past spring, the museum got a call from a man in Whatcom County, Wash., who said that, as a boy in the 1960s, he had witnessed the car being hidden behind the false wall of a building. Grams said the story included details that rang true, such as the then-boy cutting his hand on the car.

With so much at stake, the museum asked the man, who the museum has not identified, to take a polygraph test. He passed with flying colors, according to Grams.

Unfortunately, the man doesn’t own the building and has no claim to the car himself. Its location is still being kept secret as the two parties hash out an agreement regarding a reward.

Volo’s lawyers are “vigorously” trying to determine all of the ownership issues involved, including whether or not Barris has a claim to the car, as there was no paperwork involved in his acquisition of the wreck, Grams said.

Volo is hoping to resolve the situation soon and move forward with the car’s discovery. As for what it’s worth, Grams said the $1 million offer to buy it from its rightful owner is still on the table.

 

----------

[marylander1940]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean

 

[+ WilliamM]

I was 12-years old when James Dean died. I remember reading about his death in the local newspaper. It was big news, despite only "East of Eden" showing in theaters." Almost immediately a James Dean cult started

 

"Rebel Without A Cause" and "Giant" had not been released yet. I remember eventually seeing "Rebel Without A Cause" with my parents in a small theater in Lexington, MA.

 

I agree with Tonyko about the TCM James Dean TV shows. The only decent one is Dean working in an expensive resort restaurant; it was written by Rod Sterling, I believe.

[Tommygunzz]

Amazing that when he died only "East of Eden" had been released. "Giant" and "Rebel without a Cause" both came later. I never knew that most of his fame came after the crash. So sad.

[Tonyko]

I was 12-years old when James Dean died. I remember reading about his death in the local newspaper. It was big news, despite only "East of Eden" showing in theaters." Almost immediately a James Dean cult started

 

"Rebel Without A Cause" and "Giant" had not been released yet. I rember eventually seeing "Rebel Without A Cause" with my parents in a small theater in Lexington, MA.

 

I agree with Tonyko about the TCM James Dean TV shows. The only decent one is Dean working in an expensive resort restaurant; it was written by Rod Sterling, I believe.

Yes he was good in that one, even thou the writing was not very Rod Serling-like, at least not like what he did best and became known for. But again, I saw only a little of the talent we see in his movies. (there's one where he was a hoodlum on the run that prolly came closer to to the JD we know today, at least for me

[Tonyko]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean

 

Thanks for posting, I'd read about this but had not seen the trailer. (and what I read wasn't very accurate based on this trailer, I'd read it focused on his early life in Indiana, but it appears to be a "trip of discovery home" movie that happens after he's already a working actor. I do like the fact that the actor playing him ISN'T gorgeous, which he wasn't. He was SEXY, but not particularly handsome maybe even a little on the mousy side;). BUT still incredibly SEXY.

[+ WilliamM]

(there's one where he was a hoodlum on the run that prolly came closer to to the JD we know today, at least for me).

 

In that TV show, James Dean as a hoodlum seemed to be making it up as he went along (for about 45 seconds - a long time on live TV).

 

Watching all those TV shows made me think about his various hair styles. I think he looked better as time went on because he had a more modern (for today) hair style by 1954/55. Wonder what you think?

[Tonyko]

In that TV show, James Dean as a hoodlum seemed to be making it up as he went along (for about 45 seconds - a long time on live TV).

 

Watching all those TV shows made me think about his various hair styles. I think he looked better as time went on because he had a more modern (for today) hair style by 1954/55. Wonder what you think?

Yes he had hipper hair later fo' sure lol he looked way better. And his improvising was the bane of every establishment actor who worked with him, that and his refusal to give any hint of his performance before the actual show. The old guard co-stars DETESTED that, they were trained to learn their lines pick a way to do it then freeze it. (in the 90's I was friends with an older man who had directed many of those teleplays before moving into soaps because his wife refused to follow the TV biz to LA and leave NYC, and he DID direct Jimmy just once, I think a Lux Video Theat, not sure, Jimmy only had a small role. I "think" it may have been something with the Adler's, Stella and her brother. But the man said he KNEW this kid would be a star because he was a PAIN IN THE ASS:rolleyes:. Oddly this same man told me just a few years later he RECOMMENDED Jimmy to a director friend he ran into in Philly who had a show going into rehearsal and THAT play when he came to Broadway was what got JD his first role in "Eden" so he quit shortly after it opened.

[+ WilliamM]

James Dean appeared in two Broadway shows:

 

"See the Jaquar" by N. Richard Nash, 5 performances (1952)

 

"The Immoralist" based on an Andre Gide novel, co-stars were Geraldine Page and Louis Jourdan ("Gigi"), 104 performances (1954)

 

He did many more TV shows than TCM showed, including the Kate Smith Hour, which was a variety show.

 

He likely got his big break with "The Immoralist."

[Moondance]

Thanks for the post, Tonyko, and for sharing some of the interesting details you know.

 

I look at the picture of that car in which he died and, despite it being 60 years old, it looks futuristic still--kind of a metaphor for Dean himself; nothing about him seems dated.

 

It's somehow (magically) possible to imagine him coming back at the age he was when he left us, not having to change a single thing about himself and picking up a great career without missing a beat.

 

The pictures you shared got me looking for more, and I found this one I hadn't seen before of him smoking cigarettes on a rooftop with Marilyn:

 

 

And then this one of him sweetly goofing around with Sal Mineo (8 years younger than Dean) when they were making Rebel:

 

 

And this beautiful one with Pier Angeli (just look at the look on his face):

 

http://images.closerweekly.com/uploads/images/file/8432/james-dean-pier-angeli.jpg?fit=crop&w=680

 

All gone way too soon. Rest in peace, one and all.

[Tonyko]

Thanks for the post, Tonyko, and for sharing some of the interesting details you know.

 

I look at the picture of that car in which he died and, despite it being 60 years old, it looks futuristic still--kind of a metaphor for Dean himself; nothing about him seems dated.

 

It's somehow (magically) possible to imagine him coming back at the age he was when he left us, not having to change a single thing about himself and picking up a great career without missing a beat.

 

The pictures you shared got me looking for more, and I found this one I hadn't seen before of him smoking cigarettes on a rooftop with Marilyn:

 

Sadly the one on the rooftop is a fantasy pic I believe only Marilyn is real in the photo he was added, I believe there's also the same photo with someone else, like Brando added beside her instead of Dean. Yes that goofing around pic is from the wardrobe tests for Rebel, there's video of it on youtube, Natalie Wood is cut out if that still but she's on his other side. (I'm sure the crush Mineo's character had on Jimmy's was probably true for Sal in life too

[Tonyko]

James Dean appeared in two Broadway shows:

 

"See the Jaquar" by N. Richard Nash, 5 performances (1952)

 

"The Immoralist" based on an Andre Gide novel, co-stars were Geraldine Page and Louis Jourdan ("Gigi"), 104 performances (1954)

 

He did many more TV shows than TCM showed, including the Kate Smith Hour, which was a variety show.

 

He likely got his big break with "The Immoralist."

 

Yes The Immoralist was prolly the play the man I knew was referring to. (The play ran but Dean was cast in "Eden" and stayed in the play less than TWO WEEKS before leaving for Hollywood.

[Moondance]

Sadly the one on the rooftop is a fantasy pic I believe only Marilyn is real in the photo; he was added.

 

Apparently so...

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcs3mvBnsu1rhe1o0o1_500.jpg

 

... sorry I didn't realize that before I posted. Ah, well, maybe they've since gotten to have a smoke together someplace higher than a rooftop.

[AdamSmith]

(I'm sure the crush Mineo's character had on Jimmy's was probably true for Sal in life too

 

Mineo did say one time "We didn't have an affair but we could have."

[Rod Hagen]

 

 

And this beautiful one with Pier Angeli (just look at the look on his face):

 

He's in heaven!

[AdamSmith]

The reconfigured Family Romance...

 

http://classichollywoodcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Mineo-Wood-and-Dean-in-Rbel.jpg

 

http://i2.listal.com/image/1181880/936full-rebel-without-a-cause-.jpg

[AdamSmith]

And that one, in action...

 

http://33.media.tumblr.com/b0dace8443efa31bf170029c001b1363/tumblr_nrx3pk4ts21u5ct0ho1_400.gif

 

...in context...

 

http://i40.tinypic.com/35avz34.jpg

[sincitymix]

I think there was also a picture of james in a tree naked floating around..

[Tonyko]

I think there was also a picture of james in a tree naked floating around..

Yes THAT (by all accounts from anyone who knew him) is NOT him Just one post WWII dirty pic that someone along the line noticed did bear a strong resemblance to Jimmy and the legend began. Friends say Jimmy would have NO prob is he were walking around naked and someone took a pic, but that he would NEVER "pose" for one like this.

http://s22.postimg.org/ua7800uq9/james_dean_naked.jpg

FACTOIDS: Rebel was released 6mos after his death and Giant almost a year after. Because they were dramas the studios had no fears re his death afftecting the Box Office. The OPP happened in fact. (like with Heath Ledger) When it's a COMEDY there's always a fear the audience will be affected if a film is released after the star's death. Like with Jean Harlow's last film which was finished with a double from behind, and Carol Lombard's which was already done and in the can when she was killed.

[JDXXX]

Was James Dean Gay or Bi-sexual? He's admired a lot by the gay community, so I'm just curious if he was in any way.

[Tonyko]

Was James Dean Gay or Bi-sexual? He's admired a lot by the gay community, so I'm just curious if he was in any way.

From my first post on the thread: HE WAS STRAIGHT, THAT WAS THE REALITY. TODAY THEY MIGHT ATTACH THE NEG LABEL G4P, BUT HE REALLY WASN'T HE WAS G4F (FAVORS IF GUYS WHO HELPED HIM CAREER WISE WANTED TO SERVICE HIM, HE'D GIVE THAT TO THEM. EVEN HIS CLOSEST FRIEND WHO SAID THEY WERE INTIMATE ONCE SAID IT WAS MORE A "GIFT" FROM JIMMY BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AND JIMMY KNEW HE WANTED IT SO MUCH. BUT HE LIKED GIRLS

[JDXXX]

From my first post on the thread: HE WAS STRAIGHT, THAT WAS THE REALITY. TODAY THEY MIGHT ATTACH THE NEG LABEL G4P, BUT HE REALLY WASN'T HE WAS G4F (FAVORS IF GUYS WHO HELPED HIM CAREER WISE WANTED TO SERVICE HIM, HE'D GIVE THAT TO THEM. EVEN HIS CLOSEST FRIEND WHO SAID THEY WERE INTIMATE ONCE SAID IT WAS MORE A "GIFT" FROM JIMMY BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AND JIMMY KNEW HE WANTED IT SO MUCH. BUT HE LIKED GIRLS

 

Hey Tonkyo,

 

I must have missed that part of the story in your fist post, but thanks anyways for answering my question as it was my bad for not catching it in the original post.

 

Quite hot to think this beautiful man had a gay encounter with his closest friend. Who knows - if he lived longer, he might would have been Bi or Gay.

[TruthBTold]

Of course, photography like many other things reflect something in us rather than what is really in the pic.