Hollywood’s Hedy Lamarr, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner goddess era spawned red-haired Maureen O’Hara, then considered one of the world’s most beautiful women. Films like “How Green Was My Valley,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and starring opposite John Wayne in five movies including “The Quiet Man”, she’s called “Ireland’s most famous actress.”
Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Helen Mirren, Mia Farrow backed honoring her with a film school in her West Cork hometown, biggest thing to happen there since the Potato Famine.
Through my friends who are friends of Maureen’s, I’ve already reported that Maureen, 92, “heartbroken . . . visibly upset,” albeit clearheaded, has dismissed her former personal assistant/friend of 35 years, Carolyn Murphy, from holding power of attorney. Murphy, petitioning the High Court in Glengariff to overturn this, is battling to control O’Hara’s Foundation.
Murphy: “I have done nothing wrong . . . I didn’t take any money” and she denies allegations of elder abuse. O’Hara claims they’re in debt, board members are owed money and “it’s a mess.”
Thrice married O’Hara has one daughter, Bronwyn, one grandson, Conor, and says: “Discoveries give me grave concern regarding the handling of my affairs . . . Carolyn Murphy’s no longer my personal assistant.”
O’Hara’s lawyer Edward Fickess has ordered an audit. Since the Irish Mail reports “family members felt she’s too elderly and frail to withstand the demands made on her,” the lawyer states, “her family’s concern is there are too many unanswered questions about what has happened to the money so far.”
Mickey Rooney, Brooke Astor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Maureen O’Hara . . .
OBAMA likes to look cool. He told me he “is never nervous . . . I never sweat.” OK, but he is at least anxious. No time to even listen to his wife, let alone Congress, because he’s so busy fund-raising and causing traffic tie-ups in NYC. He also found a moment to authorize a letter on his behalf. It says if you send some donation right now, at this moment, before you even blow bus fare to hit the unemployment line, you will be eligible to be right with him and his missus at the inauguration.
On a scale of one to 10, this operation might be a three.
Can’t you see some sweet thing mailing her Girl Scout Cookies money and expecting to squat right alongside Michelle and her sleeveless dressmaker on that night?
QUINNIPIAC’s new poll loves Ray Kelly. Despite a spike in shootings, still the fewest murders in half a century, still America’s safest big city. The top cop cops a 64 percent favorable rating . . . After the Olympics, Special Olympics, and a bye-bye at Just Restaurant in NJ, quadriplegic sailor Paul Callahan leaves for London to rep us in Aug. 29’s Paralympics.
LOIS Tarter, remarried divorcée, is a divorce party planner, divorce blogger, whatever that is, and she’s written “The Divorce Ritual” paperback. Info like “You save money because no more giving gifts to his side of the family.” And forget being alone because “now you avoid that back and forth about making holiday decisions. You can plan whatever you want.” And come Christmas holiday?
Invite your divorce support group over.
OK by me, but if this divorce shtick is so great, why’d the lady marry again?
WEST Indian Day Parade organizers want Nicki Minaj and Rihanna to aid their struggling institution. If you can’t sing, at least march, they say . . . Geraldine Page and Rip Torn’s daughter Angelica Torn has written a play about her mother’s early Actors Studio days. “Turning Page” opens at the Cherry Lane in October.
BARBARA Bush has called today’s Democrats “a sorry group of politicians.” Karl Rove may be George Bush’s brain, but Barbara is definitely his middle finger.
THIS month Ryan Kipp does a one-man — straight go-go boy in a gay club — show at REDlight. At the finale, he flashes his naughty bits. The other night the light cue got excited and left him all out there high’n’dRyan. Only on off-Broadway, kids, only on off Broadway.
MICHAEL Kors, pay attention: Thursday, noon, your downtown boutique. Attractive thirtyish woman (green silk dress, dirty blond hair) holding a for-sale bag visibly at shoulder level, tag showing (like she’s just reaching the window for a clearer look), walked out and turned north. Shopping there, my friend gasped to a young male salesman nearby: “That woman just shoplifted a handbag!”
Didn’t move. Didn’t react. Didn’t do anything. He said only: “Oh.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.