What a big bowl of ripe red cherries with a dollop of Cool-Whip on top this new offering appears to be.
Without too much effort and no more than two Gibson cocktails, one can imagine this burgundy beast gliding past the HOLLYWOOD sign and heading up Sunset Boulevard. Behind the wheel is George Reeves, fresh off the set of ‘Superman’. Seated oh-so-close next to him is Judy Garland. In the back seat, cuddled up together are Marilyn Monroe and James Dean gazing much more intently into each others’ eyes than the southern California scenery around them.
The four have an early dinner at the Brown Derby before heading over the the Bar Marmont for dancing and more cocktails. So many more.
In between stops, Judy pushes the ivory buttons of the radio like Nat King Cole tickles the ivory keys of a piano. She finally finds just the right tune to set the mood in the sleek coupe. A Rosemary Clooney ditty does the trick for the occupants in the back seat as Marilyn can’t seem to keep her hands to herself.
It’s a cool night, just the right conditions for all windows to be down, making the long lines of the Lincoln look even more lithe as it lumbers down the lane.
Pulling up right in front of the Frolic Room to catch a set being performed by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, the four exchange pleasantries with Lucy and Dezi who are making their way out of the bar at the same time. Once in, they hear rumors that Martin and Lewis will soon split their act and each go solo. No one in the group thinks either make it on their own.
They stagger out to the Lincoln several libations later. George searches for some Perry Como on the radio while Judy hunts for a flask in the glovebox that takes up the whole right side of the dash board. In the back seat, James seems to have more hands than a clock factory.
Last stop: The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The men treat themselves to a couple Moscow Mules while the women down Mai-Tais with reckless abandon.
Loading the Lincoln one last time, George doesn’t feel much like Superman, nor does James Dean feel like a giant. Judy Garland can barely see the yellow brick road in front of her, and Marilyn feels like a complete misfit. Only the Lincoln soldiers on without missing a beat.
Coming to the corner of Hollywood and Vine, George makes a quick right and then an immediate left on to Fate Street. It was a dead end, and there was no turning back for the four of them.
Here’s to 1954 when the cars were long, the drinks were strong, and the stars all got along.
