July 4th pool party 1971

Familiar faces were all about at the 71' pool party and the on-again off-again relationship between Anna Wellington and James Corey was clearly on again.

Here's our beautiful hostess taking in the sun with Mr. Corey

Anna certainly seems to have Mr.Corey's attention.. she was good at that..

Anna Wellington was nearly 51 years of age going on 31 and she always seemed to be most vivrant when things were good with her and Mr. Corey.

Alexa Wellington was here for the fun again. Hard to believe she was a mom by this time however she didnt speak much of it being her spouse and young ones were not along for the fun.

Caroline Kasner was a good friend of Alexa and joined in the fun at this pool party...

In my search thru old boxes, suitcases and files finding pictures and learning more of the pool party history im constantly amazed by some of the hidden photos i've discovered.
Here we see a steamy candid view of Vivian Arnell with Anna taking in some sun on the floaties...I originally thought that Vivian had not attended many of the pool parties but pictorial evidence suggests otherwise... I wonder who was the lucky one to take this photo....

Lisa Baker joined the theater in 1971 and also attended the pool party. Lisa went on to work in film and returned to the theater from time to time during the 70's

Lisa did a wonderful job in the theater as the sexy ditzy blonde... some considered her a 'young Anna' at the theater....

The sultry Anita Eckard joins the pool party again and had done well in the theater off and on over the course of 5 years. Anita left the theater the following year to pursue further acting ventures.

Here's Anita sharing some quality time with Tonya Cortz...

Here's Tonya again taking a swim at the party...

Here Tonya gets in on a bit of history with the famous underwater photo....

Donna Mehnger made her last pool party appearance in 1968 and returned to the pool party in 71. Donna was a very energetic and ambitious lady who married and started a family in 1968, she remained in the theater through 1972 but left theater and acting to be a full time mom and later went on to be a successful business woman.

Donna also got her mark in pool party history with a classic underwater photo and certainly leaves us all on an up note.

Theresa Ruddy brings her favorite pool floaty and returns one more time also..Since here last visit Theresa had went through her political activism phase and by this time had remarried and settled down to devote most of her time to her family and even ended up working part time as a secretary.

Pauline Nash joins the pool party again in 71' and had become one of the hottest draws at the theater by this time.

In fact Pauline and Mary Strat were celebrities in the theater group and there was some tension and difficulty as a result. Pauline was getting difficult to keep to the extent she was getting offers for other theaters and was doing alot of modeling. Her popularity would continue to rise and it would be interesting to see if the theater could keep her on a regular basis as time went on.

Despite the draw of Pauline Nash, Mary Strat was probably still as popular as anyone in the group and was always a senstation at the pool party.

Mary had not received the notariety outside the theater at this time but she had long been a close favorite of Anna and would always have secure work in the theater..

Anna's best friend Stella joins the party again in 71. Anna and Stella were the original bombshells of the theater and the pool party...

Here Stella takes to the water,, wet and wild.. still one of the original divas of the theater... and of the pool party....

Finally, here we see Stella to the right talking with Pauline Nash in the floatie.
If Pauline was getting too big for the theater my guess is Stella helped calm that situation making quite an impression at the pool party.
Stella also appeared in 6 different performances at the theater in 1971 and being a hollywood celebrity she clearly helped dissolve some popularity of the others... maybe a subtle hint?
Never cross the divas!!

The 1971 pool party was memorable and great fun yet it symbolized a beginning to the end of an era in some ways...
Familiar names and faces from the years past would not return,BR>Times were changing and some of the faces of the pool party were changing also. Those in the theater had increasingly conflicting schedules and the theater was actually short on help by 1972 and it wouldnt be until 1974 until things were back in full swing, and when the next July 4th pool party took place.
Pool Party 1974