Anna Wellingtons Pool Pary 1967

The 1967 pool party is an update to the originals after my finding of more pictures and getting reference on them from Mary and Stella.
The 67' pool party was an ironic sort of reunion party. Some names from years past returned to the party this particular year including the likes of Alan Kiri and Theresa Ruddy.
I'll explain some of the details as we proceed

Here's the lovely hostess Anna Wellington starting things off the right way for the pool party. It seems Anna felt the theater had been thin on variety the past year and the same was true for the pool party so she worked toward mending some fences and bringing back some of the original theater cast for a pool party reunion.

This is probably my favorite photo from the event. Here's Anna along with Richard and Vicki Cottington

Here's Anna's daughter Alexa. I'm not sure who that hand belongs to but this was Alexa's first pool party and looking pretty good just 6 months removed from giving birth to her first child; a handsome young man as i recall.

Here's Alexa again enjoying the pool...

Alana Kiri returned to the party in 67' nearly 10 years after her first pool party in 1958. Alana spent 2 years at the theater and moved on but by 1965 her career had went south. Alana spent most of 67' in the theater then did some random modeling before settling down and marrying sometime thereafter.

Here's Alana again sharing some conversation with Beverly Schulyer..

Also from the 1958 cast, Sylvia Grindle returned to the holiday pool party. Sylvia left the theater after 59 to do bigger things but had it rough considering some of the work she did and by 1967 her career had become non existent. Sylvia was going to return on a regular basis to the theater but after she was a no-show on 2 occasions in early 1968 that stint was over too. Sylvia later died of breast cancer in 1981.

Tonya Cortz was a local girl who worked in the theater in 64 and 65. Tonya returned off and on in 67 and 68 as well and remained in contact with the theater and the pool parties for many years.

Mia Downs also made an appearance during 1967 and joined the pool party. Anna and Mia had a falling out in 66 over Mia's involvment in the theater cast but Anna made amends and Mia was back in 67 however its said that when the two got in each others company, even at the pool party, things went sour again and Mia was fired from the cast at the end of the year 1967.

Long time friend and original cast member in the theater, Sherry Glasone returned to the pool party in 67. Sherry was always involved in the theater and attended the pool parties from time to time.

Theresa Ruddy also returned to the pool party in 67. Theresa's last appearance here was in 1960 as a hit sensation and her career was a roller coaster ride thereafter.Theresa's original 'riff' at the theater was mostly jealousy among some of the other actresses but she always got along well with Anna and Stella. Theresa went on to do modeling, then some European films, she then married, had a child, divorced and became politically active by 1966. She returned to the theater in 67' lookin to ignite her career again and actually was a good draw for the theater in 67.

Here's a great view of long time family friend Vicki Cottington with RIchard Cottington in the background..

One of the newer actresses to join the cast was Anita Eckard. Anita joined the theater in 67 and remained there on and off for many years.

Anita was well-liked at the theater and fit in nicely at the pool party as well...

Linda Clay returned to the pool party again in 67' and seemed to seek "assylum" from her European work. Linda's time in Europe had really changed her, she wasnt the same person everyone had known before. Linda didnt want to work in the theater, but did enjoy the solice of the pool party and Anna did everything she could to welcome her.

BR>

Pauline Nash was in attendance again in 67 and Pauline along with Mary Strat had become feature actresses at the theater by this time.

Perhaps one of the hottest pool party photos i've seen, Donna Mehnger soaks up some sun at poolside and of course was a long time cast member at the theater.

Mary Strat joins the party again and was the other big draw at the theater. Mary was the Gidget of the theater being so wholesome yet having this underlying sexiness to her.

The sexiness sure showed at the pool parties...

Here's Mary playing in the pool with fellow actor and long time friend Michael Bonneker

Here's theater original Beverly Schuyler sporting one of those fancy pool hats...

Here's Vivian looking much better without the pool hat!!

Once again the beautiful Stella was in attendance for the pool party though she was not as enthused about the reunion as Anna was...

In closing, the pool party of 1967 shows that while its nice to look at, sometimes reunions arent such a great idea.
Sylvia, Alana Kiri and Mia Downs did not return again. The biggest concern coming out of the pool party was over Linda Clay and some of the struggles she was going through.
Theresa Ruddy would return years later and Tonya Cortz was in the theater on and off but all in all the theater cast was set and I think Anna was content with her main cast from this point forward.

Pool Party 1968