Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Famous People Column – An open Column for all writers

November 25, 2007

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Hazel’s Highlights   

Leona Ebling

Hazel's Highlights is a story I have considered writing for several years.  At one time she would have consented to my putting it on her web page as added information to the short writing they have of who she was and her contribution to the entertainment of so many people in her young career. But Hazel became ill and was not able to finish this writing.

I first met Hazel, a petite little red head as she looked at me from across the room in a hospital bed.

Introducing myself as the one sent to be her personal companion throughout the night, I soon realized she resented my being there in her room.  She was not happy with being in the hospital in recovery (due to a fractured hip and pneumonia.)  And was even more frustrated with having an "invader of her privacy" again sent against her will.

Yet something in her eyes and her will made me conscious of the fact here was indeed a very interesting lady and I could maybe learn something to make my life fuller from her acquaintance.  Soon we were chatting comfortably about "this and that" and she informed me her career had been in movies and on Broadway.  That was to have been my only night to "sit" with her but thank God I was privileged to become her "Personal Companion" for many more days and nights, and even a few years.

Hazel became my friend and encouraged me to finish writing and publish my book "Dancing With Life."  I feel much richer for having been blessed with her friendship until she was called home to be with her Lord.  This is the information she had ready to be put on her web page as added info and was typed up by her.

"The Highlights of Hazel's Career."

I started in Los Angeles, at the age of 3 1/2 years, doing a comedy act which included dramatic impressions, singing and dancing.

Also worked in silent films on M G M lot, followed by a twenty-two week engagement in "Burlesque" stock for Dalton Brothers, at the age of 5...shocking eh????

Worked for Fanchon and Marco at Loew's State and for Mr. Al Kaufmann at Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre, now known as the Paramount, for ten weeks.

Toured the Pantages Circuit for the first time, between six and seven years of age...then back to the Metropolitan for six more weeks.

From there I was booked at the Granada in San Francisco by Jack Partington, to be a featured act with Paul Ash, for a ten week stay.

Was a child star in "The Snob" for Metro-Goldwyn Myer, being Monte Bell.

My travels then took me to the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii, booked by Joe Cohen, for a three month's engagement.

I again toured the Pantages Circuit a second time, playing a second engagement in Honolulu.

Upon my return to Los Angeles, I went out on a third tour for Pantages, with Martain Mortenson as accompanist and partner.

I headlined the opening bill at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, with Paul Ash for two weeks, following up with the Chicago, Tivoli, and Uptown theatres for Balaban and Kats.  Then on to the State theatre in Detroit, Michigan for two weeks for Kunsky Brothers.  Coming back to Los Angeles, I played a return engagement in Honolulu.

I then toured the Publix theatres, being booked out of Chicago for fourteen weeks.  I then made a short subject of the act for Warner Brothers in Hollywood.

At the age of eleven, was booked by Union Theatres Limited, in 1928 and 1929, opening in Sydney, Australia, touring the Continent to the Indian Ocean.

When I was thirteen, formed a sister team with Jean Hamilton; the act was known as "Jean and Hazel Kennedy."  Booked out of Chicago by Ed Morse and Max Richards. And by Miles Ingalls in ....(there is part of the information not printed off because of typewriter errors.  The next page I have was as continues...)

I played the R.K.O. and Loew's houses in and around New York, then went out on a forty (40) week R.K.O. Intact Show., playing the Hillstreet Theatre in 1932.

I then formed a partnership with Phil Silvers, doing comedy talk, playing theatres in New York and New England states.   (Hazel told me that Phil Silvers was at that time around 16 years old and played her straightman. That Phil was a very nice young man and she enjoyed working with him. There is mention of Hazel and him working together in one of Phil's books that we read while I was spending time with Hazel.)

Returning to the single act again, I toured the South and East with Road Shows, with Sid Page and Bobby Henshaw.

I then ventured into the Night Club field, working Hotels and clubs through-out the Mid-West.

I worked four seasons on the Fairs for Barnes and Caruthers, touring the Mid-West, West and Canadian Fairs.

Finished a season of Night Clubs in Michigan and was about to start out again on Fairs, when I became ill from a siege of pneumonia...thus a temporary end to "Kennedy's Kareer."

also asked to make more movies with M G M but declined as she loved the acting in person  and was bored even as a small child with the world of film making.  She said they had to re-take so many times over and over that it was tiresome and boring to her.  She loved making people laugh and always did her own spur of the moment acts she thought up her own self even as a small child.  She never learnt scripts or what ever but went from scratch.  there were many clippings from newspapers in her small amount of items and keepsakes that she shared with me about her talents and top head lined reviews.)

This concludes the writings of what Hazel had typed out  but she told me that her mother took ill with bad heart problems and was to ill to continue traveling with Hazel as her agent.  So Hazel quit her acting and stayed with her mother until her death. 

Then she moved to Los Angeles where she was employed at May's Department Store .  She was sales lady for a couple of departments and worked her way into top executive position where she worked for many years. 

During these years she met and finally married her husband Ted.   He met with an untimely death due to complications following a minor surgery and Hazel lived out her life staying in their home to be close enough to visit his grave.  Her heart was broken at her loss of her dear Ted and she looked forward to their being reunited at her passing.   Hazel was a very refined and educated lady and I enjoyed her stories of her travels and exciting career many hours as I taught her to "play games."  She loved to play Chinese checkers and rummy.  And we sang together many old songs and had lots of fun and laughs as she struggled through the aches and pains of her last years.  I pray I brought her half as much comfort and enjoyment of companionship as she did me.  And I too look forward to a reunion someday when my Lord calls me to my eternal home with Hazel Kennedy.

Leona Ebling

wwjdleona@aol.com