Helen Hayes' grouch bag.

AuthorBaker, Robert

A friend in Washington sent me a letter asking me to look after Helen Hayes, the great American actress, who soon would arrive on a private one week visit to Sydney, Australia. I did cultural and public affairs work at the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney. At our first meeting, I liked her immediately for her simplicity, warmth and intelligence. That impression never changed.

Helen was in her mid-70's and touring the Pacific region with Richard Coe, retired drama critic of The Washington Post. He left me to entertain Helen while he went on a separate tour of Australia's rough Northern Territory. A star of stage and screen, she even had a theatre named for her in New York.

Shortly after their arrival, we met for coffee to arrange her schedule. Helen wanted to attend an opera and a ballet, meet the dancers, see something of Sydney, meet some interesting people and shop for Australia's famous opals. She also agreed to do a couple interviews and receptions. Her warmth, bright blue eyes and fresh complexion belied her age, although she usually rested afternoons.

A couple incidents stand out. We were in a Sydney television studio when the young lady interviewing Helen said on live camera that she looked wonderful. Then she asked if that was because Helen had a face lift. Helen was a great trouper. Her eyes lit a bit and she laughed. She raised her right hand to her cheek and said, "My dear, I consider these my battle stripes, and I would not part with one of them."

While meeting people and sightseeing, we had talked a lot about our lives, our marriages, children and careers. We attended the ballet at the Sydney Opera House. During the long intermission, Helen wanted to remain seated. We talked some more about our families. I said how hard it was to lose my Mom and Dad. Helen had lost both her daughter and her husband many years ago. Her husband, Charles McArthur, was the love of her life, a great wit, fine writer and a very heavy drinker. His film credits included The Front Page. Helen talked about him a while. Tears came into her eyes. Just before the curtain rose, she said, "It has been many years since Charlie died, but not a day goes by, but I think of him."

After the show, we went backstage to meet the cast. The faces of the young dancers lighted up as Helen went down the line to praise each one for the pleasure their dancing gave. Australia is far from New York and Hollywood, but both are wonderful towns to Aussie artists. Helen's visit for...

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