Anna set the mood and tone for this pool party early and
often
Anna's Pool Party
July 4th 1960
There was a considerable amount of turnover in the theater the first few years, not even 2 years later many of the original cast members had moved on.After a dismal turn out the year before, Anna's 1960 fourth of July party was quite festive and drew a significant number of celebs and dignitaries as well as some fresh new faces that would set the stage of the pool party for years to come.
Anna set the mood and tone for this pool party early and
often
Donna Mehnger and Mary Strat photoed here.
Donna was with the
theater group from 1960 through 1968. Mary Strat joined the theater in 1960 at
the youthful age of just 17 and was a regular there through the 1960's.
Mary
Strat came from a not so well to do background, a split family which as a result
Mary spent alot of time on the street and on her own. Mary was looking for a
waitress job when encouraged by Anna to take part in the theater group...and as
you can see,, take part in the pool pary as well.
Here's Anna with her young apprentice Mary in the pool, not sure who's behind Mary at this time but most likely its Jim Corey. Further study has suggested that Mary was probably not quite 17 at this time but had produced "identification" to say so, at least enough to convince Vivian to let her work in the theater.
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Here's James Corey in a rather enviable position courting Mary
Strat around the pool,its noteworthy to point out that by this time Anna had taken quite a liking to Mary Strat and likely knew that Mary wasnt honest about her age; as a young lady Anna was notorious for this same behavior. One other point of interest here is that at this time Mr. Corey was well known to be in a romantic relationship with Anna.
Theresa Ruddy was the hit sensation of 1960 at the theater. a
wholesome figure and a schoolgirl face had all the townsmen in an uproar. The
production had to 'create' parts for her in the show since when they did the
theater packed full every night.
Over the next year Theresa caused a bit of a riff within the theater ensemble and was gone to model in men's magazine's by the end of 1961.
Linda Clay took the theater by storm as a newcomer in 1960 with
her revealing and controversial roles; she could be sexually intimidating and
Vivian loved the diversity that Linda offered and the potentials she
revealed...
As I said,, Linda could be very revealing....
Laura Burns was
a favorite at the theater and at the pool party in the early days..
Sherry Glasone returned to the pool party in 1960 a bit
leaner and just as fun as ever.
Tina Louise was the attraction at the pool, not nearly as
dominating and seductive as our dear Ginger would have us believe but everyone
enjoyed Tina...
Pat Priest also joined the 1960 pool party before those
wild munster days.....
Here's a fun view of Linda Clay playing in the pool with James Corey..
Bevery Schuyler was another fun young actress at the theater.
Here we see the perky young Beverly Schuyler at the pool...
Beverly would make pool party history at Anna's in the years to come...
Here's Donna Mehnger getting rather comfy in the pool as the day moved along...
Here's Vivian showing a most pleasing bosom at the pool
party......
Here's an incredible view of Vivian poolside...
Stella was a main attraction of course but she was said to be
rather aloof at the fun for this gathering. It was said that Stella did
much of the photo shoots for the pool parties and took particular pleasure in
doing so.
The 1960 pool party really planted the seed for things to come, with youthful new talent such as Linda Clay, Bevy Schuyler, Donna, Mary, and for a short time Theresa Ruddy, the theater and the pool parties would truly evolve into something very unique and special.
