Spencer Tracy_ A Biography - James C. Curtis [3]
Eugene Cullen Kennedy was a constant source of inspiration, sharing not only his memories of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, but his deep understanding of the Irish experience and the role the Roman Catholic Church played in the lives of many first-generation Americans. Gene was kind enough to review the manuscript of this book, making suggestions and offering thoughts that were always well considered and immensely valuable. It’s been my great fortune to enjoy both his counsel and his friendship.
For various assists, courtesies and nudges, I am also indebted to A. Scott Berg, Ralph Blumenthal, Diana Caldwell, Don Cannon, David E. Cote, Dr. Dean Cromwell, Lee Ehman, Mike Germain, Erik Hanson, Charles Higham, Christy Hughes, Dan Ford, Karen Fyock, Robert Gitt, Ronnie James, Carmen Johnson, Tracey Johnstone, Christopher Knopf, Betty Lasky, Mindy Lu, Patrick McGilligan, Leonard Maltin, Judy Samelson, Sherry Sauerwine, Stephanie Shih, Anthony Slide, Michael Sragow, Gilbert Thiede, Kerrie Tickner, Susan Updike, Toni Volk, and Jordan Young.
A number of libraries and institutions held parts of the Tracy story, often through related collections, and I am grateful to the librarians and administrators who made that aspect of my work so rewarding.
Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills: Stacey Behlmer. American Academy of Dramatic Arts: Betty Lawson. Louis B. Mayer Library, American Film Institute: Caroline Cisneros. Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives: Shelly Solberg. Bay View Historical Society: Greg Bird, Ronald Winkler.
Hall of History, Boys Town: Thomas Lynch. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee: Barbara Kowalewski. Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University: Tara C. Craig. Freeport Public Library: Cheryl Gleason. Fullerton Public Library: Janet Melton, Cheri Pape. Special Collections, Georgetown University: Heidi Rubenstein.
Library of Congress: Dr. Alice Birney, Josie Walters-Johnston. Marquette University High School: Dan Quesnell. Midwest Jesuit Archives: Dr. David P. Miros. Milwaukee High School of the Arts: Eugene Humphrey, Chris Wszalek. Milwaukee Public Library: Brian Williams– Van Klooster. Museum of the City of New York: Marty Jacobs. Film Study Center, Museum of Modern Art, New York: Charles Silver. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Barbara Knowles, Karen Nickenson. Fales Library, New York University: Ann Butler.
Ripon College: Rev. Dr. David Joyce, Richard Damm, Valerie Viers. Rockhurst High School, Kansas City: Theresa Fessler, Laurence W. Freeman. St. Bonaventure University: Dennis Frank. St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy: Anita Kopaczewski, Chuck Moore. Shubert Archive: Maryann Chach. Regional History Collection, University of Southern California: Dace Taube. UCLA Film and Television Archive: Mark Quigley.
Trowbridge Elementary School of Discovery and Technology, Milwaukee: Montina Nelson. 20th Century-Fox Archive, Arts Library, University of California, Los Angeles: Lauren Buisson (with a special tip of the hat to David F. Miller of the 20th Century-Fox Legal Department). Special Collections, University of Arizona, Tucson: Bonnie Travers. Warner Bros. Archive: Haden Guest, Sandra Joy Lee. White Plains Public Library: Miriam Berg Varian.
The core of this book was formed from interviews conducted with those who knew and worked with Spencer and Louise Tracy (and, in many cases, with Katharine Hepburn) and were gracious enough to share their memories. My heartfelt thanks go to Donna Anderson, James Arness, Lauren Bacall, Leah Bernstein, Betsy Blair, Pat Bolliger, Ernest Borgnine (courtesy Scott Eyman), Jimmy Boyd, David Caldwell, June Caldwell, Harry Carey, Jr., Edie Carr, Esme Chandlee, June Dally-Watkins, Lewis W. Douglas, Jr., Jean Porter Dmytryk, Betsy Drake, June Dunham, Gene Eckman, John Ericson, Joel Freeman, Anthony Harvey, Dr. Robert Hepburn,