Times of Crisis


Following the 1971 pool party Anna Wellington was faced with multiple crisis and stress situations which resulted in the cancellation of both the 1972 and 73 pool parties.
The list is a lengthy one and worth noting, so lets get started.

1972
Alexa's divorce in early 1972 was first and foremost on the list, the problems in her marriage had been lingering but really came to a boil in late 71 and then boiled over in 1972. Alexa didnt handle the situation well and in fact Anna kept the children at the estate for long periods of time as early as December of 71.
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Reason number two would be Anna's (latest) break up with James Corey. The on/off again relationship between the two had many "riffs" over the years but this time around it was more serious where in times past the two always seemed to remain friends to some degree but this time around it was a very permanent type of break up, and for the first time, it wasnt Anna who dictated the terms.
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Reason three for the pool party cancellation in 72 was the total meltdown at the performing arts theater. Five women from the theater left or prepared to leave the theater during the year. Donna Mehnger left in late 1971 since she had recently married and was going to start a family. Beverly Schuyler also left prior to thanksgiving 71' due to health issues and some family problems she needed to deal with. Lisa Baker had married in September of 71 and in January of 72 announced she was pregnant. Anita Eckard landed a part in a musical and left the theater, then Pauline Nash really shocked everyone in early May that she too was expecting a child.
The theater struggled through the fall of 72' with Anna, Vivian and Sherry Glasone playing theater roles just to cover all the parts; no one had much time to think of a pool party.


1973
Things didnt fare much better in 1973 at least during the time leading up to the pool party. Anna was still keeping her grandchildren for long periods of time while Alexa was off... well just off. Alexa was also having problems with her son Michael Vincent not to mention dealing with the stress of it all was causing her health problems of her own.
Stella was also dealing with parental issues concerning her son and had become qutie busy and stressed with her career landing some pretty big movie roles, Stella didnt make it to the estate but once all year and was not in the theater.
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The theater meltdown continued into 1973 with Mary Strat taking a leave of absence til spring; however Mary did return as did Pauline Nash and Lisa Baker and by mid summer the theater did some wild skits that did very well yet another problem occurred when Vivian Arnell had to take a leave of absence from June through most of the summer after losing 2 family members in a very short period of time.
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Finally there was the tragic passing of theater actor Paul Hendon who had returned to the theater for a stint in 72 and was hoping to return again in the fall of 73.
Paul Hendon died in a motorcycle accident.

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As with anyone who has spent any time in this world, times of crisis and stress hit is all and such was the case at the Wellington estate in 1972-73 yet there was light at the end of the tunnel as time moved on.
Anna would find friends to lean on in late 73 into 1974 and despite finding out that James Corey was to be married in the summer of 74, somehow this seemed to resolve their conflict and the two were friends again.
Alexa had finally gotten herself back together, Vivian returned to the theater and in early 1974 both Donna Mehnger and Bevy Schuyler agreed to return to the theater at least for awhile thus by early 1974 the theater was full of skits, life had mellowed and the setting was right for another 4th of July pool party.
PoolParty 1974

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