Trivia of Shirley Jones

Trivia of Shirley Jones (31 March 1934)

*Jones says that many people have incorrectly assumed that her middle name Shirley Mae Jones was named after vaudeville and film legend Mae West, but Jones was actually named after her aunt.Coincidentally, Jones ever met Mae West, who was performing at the Twin Coaches supper club in Rostraver around 1954.

*By the age of 6, Shirley had shown signs of extraordinary talent by becoming the youngest member of her church choir. Recognizing her gifted and natural singing ability, her parents took her to see Ralph Lewando, one of Pittsburgh’s top vocal coaches. Once a week, Shirley’s father was more than happy to drive her fifty miles from Charleroi, Pennsylvania to the big city, for her hour-long vocal session.

*Jones and her parents were vacationing in New York when she was 19. There was an open casting call for Rodgers and Hammerstein productions. It was her first audition and she had not heard of the famous Broadway duo beforehand. Nevertheless, she impressed casting director, John Fearnley with her talent.He actually ran across the street to fetch Richard Rodgers, who was busy rehearsing. Rodgers then called Oscar Hammerstein at his home. They saw Jones’ potential and signed a personal contract with the songwriters, the first and only singer to have this honor. They cast her in a minor role in South Pacific, then a choir girl in Me and Juliet.The duo soon cast her as the lead in the film adaptation of their hit musical, Oklahoma!(1955).The movie became a smash hit and Shirley had become America’s sweetheart overnight.

*Jones was friends with her co-star in Oklahoma! (1955), Gordon MacRae and his ex-wife Sheila, and he was named godfather to Jones' first son, Shaun. Jones admitted that she had a crush on MacRae and was starstruck when she worked opposite him on Oklahoma!.She says it was she who convinced MacRae to take the part as Billy Bigelow in Carousel (1956), where they worked together for a second time. Frank Sinatra had originally been cast, but dropped out during the first days of filming.

*Jones has said that of all of her musicals, Carousel (1956) is her favorite.The film was not successful at the box office despite the positive reviews, but the soundtrack album became a national best seller.

*In 1961, she won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for portrayal of Lulu Baines in Elmer Gantry along side Burt Lancaster.At the beginning, Director Richard Brooks did not want Shirley Jones for the role of Lulu Bains, but Burt Lancaster insisted. Later Jones named Burt Lancaster as her favorite co-star, and said he was the best kisser of them all.

*Shirley Jones was pregnant during filming The Music Man (1962) . When she and Robert Preston embraced during the footbridge scene, her unborn-baby - who would be named Patrick Cassidy - kicked Preston. The costume designers had to adjust her dresses several times to conceal her pregnancy. Years later, when Patrick Cassidy introduced himself as Shirley Jones' son to Robert Preston, the actor told him, "Yes, we've already met."

*Her love story with actor-singer Jack Cassidy ended tragically.Their 19 years marriage ended with divorce in 1975.On December 11, 1976, Cassidy invited his ex-wife, Shirley Jones, to his home, an apartment in West Hollywood, California, for drinks, but she declined.In the early morning of December 12, 1976, Cassidy lit a cigarette and fell asleep on his Naugahyde couch. Asleep, he dropped the cigarette, igniting the couch. The flames spread throughout the apartment and building. A body was found near the front door of the apartment among the ashes, and was identified as Jack Cassidy by dental records and a signet ring that he wore, bearing the Cassidy family crest.Jones said it was terrible that she did not reconcile with Cassidy because as much as he wanted her back, she wanted him back too.