Anna's Pool Party
July4th 1981
High expectations was the theme of the
81 theater year and pool party yet fate would cast a cloud over some of the events
of the year.
The theater had went into a slump again, many of those who had been
friends and regulars for so many years were now working elsewhere.The most devastating
news close to the Wellington family was the declining health of Richard Cottington.
Mr Cottington and his wife Vicki had been long time participants in the pool party;
however Mr Cottington most significantly had been the long time CEO of Wellington
Timber and had overseen the financial aspects of the estate for nearly 25 years.
The Cottingtons were just like family to Anna and the emotional distress took its
toll on her in this particular year.
The 81 pool party was a festive event in
that it became a meeting point for many of the previous regulars who returned not
just for the party but to visit and offer comfort and support to the Cottington family
in this difficult time. We present the 81 pool party in a fun get together for the
festivity yet being mindful of, and paying respect to close friends of the family,
Richard Cottington and his family.
Anna's
appearance at the 81 party was brief, seen here with Mary Strat and Bob Lunney who
was an attorney for Wellington Timber. Anna had encountered health problems during
the holiday weekend and ended up visiting the doctor the following week yet during
the party in typical "anna fashion" she put on a good face and insisted
the party continue.
Here's one
more of Anna the next afternoon in the pool with James Corey and Mary Strat. Anna
left the party this same afternoon.
Alexa Wellington
took over hostess duties in provacative form
Here's Alexa
at poolside it seems with her newest love Phillip Brandeis next to her and Monica
Fahey in the background.
Here's a
brief but fun view of Alexa browsing around the pool...
As you see
from above, Monica Fahey joins up again this year and had become the real workhorse
of the theater from acting parts to helping out with production, costumes, you name
it and Monica was doing it. Monica had become the right arm to Vivian Arnell in the
theater and had also spent recent years training with Sherry Glasone, who was no
longer with the theater due to age and other health issues.
Monica gets
in on pool party greatness here with a pool dive photo that I dont think has been
matched before!
Lisa Baker
attended the party in 1980 and did some support roles in the theater but they were
far and few as her family committments didnt give her much time to work in the theater.
Melissa Martin
was a newcomer to the theater actually working primarily as a waitress but was training
in the summer to possibly be in a theater skit by the fall.
Melissa was
originally not invited to the pool party yet when she heard about it she threw a
fit about not being asked to attend. Anna thought Melissa might not be ready for
the pool party event but it turns out Melissa took to it quite well.
There was
also some behind the scenes gossip that theater actor Dale Sellers had his eyes on
Melissa and up til recently had also been dating Dianne Martindale... see how trouble
gets started?
Sure enough,
Dianne Martindale showed up for the pool party and there was a bit of tension however
Dianne chose to focus her eyes on a few others at the party and spent little time
fretting over Mr Sellers.
Dianne's
personal affairs around the theater were concerning at times however she was great
at covering major roles particularly when some of the long time regulars were no
longer available.
Joan Rydalch
attended the party again in 1981
Joan had
dabbled in small skits at the theater but her future really moved in a different
direction as she became an administrative assistant to Mr. Cottington just the past
year.
Here's Joan
Rydalch along with Melissa Martin in what looks like one of those "nip slip"
photos.
Jennifer
Lyn returned to the pool party again in 81 and caused a bit of a riff with her "enterage"
that came along with her. Jennifer utilized the pool party as a bit of self promotion
and her traveling company really had not been invited which caused a bit of conflict
however Jennifer could help fill seats at the theater and they always enjoyed her
presence.
Marilyn Paul
was back again in 81 and had two fantastic performances at the theater
Marilyn
was always fantastic at the pool party as well..
Stella's
friend Sybill joined the party briefly in 81 but similar to her last appearance,
she made an acquaintance at the party and didnt stay too long..
Pauline Nash
returned to the party again in 1981 facing some difficult career choices as well
as having some relationship problems in her life. Pauline returned this year in particular
due to the poor health of Mr Cottington and didnt perform in the theater.
Despite somber
times, Pauline was the ultimate red head of the pool party and still was an eye catcher.
Bottoms up
as Shelly Freidrichs joined again in 1981..
Shelly was
now the most consistent performer in the theater appearing in every skit over the
past few years and also getting in on the underwater photo history of the pool party.
Mary Strat
had become a headliner years ago in the theater and had now become the same in her
theater career particularly in New York. Mary took time to return for the party and
did a solo dance/song performance at the theater specifically for the Cottingtons
to whom she had been close friends with for some 20 years.
Here's Mary
having a chat with Jennifer Lyn in the pool and its interesting that the only name
that could pack the theater full moreso than Jennifer Lyn, was Mary Strat. Perhaps
Mary is offering pointers and advice....
Here's Mary
in a classic underwater photo taken by the guy you saw in the background of the last
photo, Matthew Thanes, who was an English theater actor and romantic interest of
Mary's.
Here's a
classic photo of the original "young n wild" girls of the pool parties.
Taking in some sun at the estate house is Mary Strat and Pauline Nash.
Anna's long
time closest friend Stella returned again this year and was a big help at organizing
the pool party when Anna was under the weather..
Here's
2 photos of Stella mingling around in the pool, the first was with her then boyfriend
Marting(I dont know his last name) and the second is with theater actor Chad Dunnigan.
Here's a
pool view of Stella this time with Barb, who was only able to attend the latter part
of the pool party, and also in the photo is Zeke Range, lead crew foreman at Wellington
Timber.
Finally we
have a pool view of Stella and Martin along with Barb and Zeke and hard to see clearly
is Monica Fahey among that group as well, not sure what the story is on that scene...
The 1981 pool party was an enjoyable
event and well documented in photos yet surrounded by other dismal circumstances.
Richard
Cottington passed away later that same year and it devastated his wife Vicki and
saddened everyone who knew him. Mr Cottingtons passing would also create a tense
set of circumstances for Anna in managing the estate along with the theater, a task
she wasnt entirely prepared for.
Tensions conflicts and various situations stemming
from this put a doom to any pool parties in 1982 and in fact 82 brought on endless
health issues for Anna and continued stress over the financial dealings of the estate.
In early 1983 things seemed managable again and another pool party was planned
by Anna and Stella, Anna did not realize it at the time, but it turned out that 1981
would be Anna's last pool party appearance yet in 1983, one last hurrah of the holiday
pool party would still take place.