Free Sunset & Vine: Loose Lips by Per Hampton Page B

danced while doing housework. Ms. Vaught loved it! Informing Maria-Angela, “An artist for an artist, you’ve got the job as long as you keep dancing!” She’s had been counted among the screen legend’s few close confidants since.
    Legendary film star Mae Vaught exploded onto the Hollywood movie scene in 1944 at the age of 19 by winning the Oscar for Best Actress in A River With No End. Mae brought with her an exotic face, piercing blue-gray eyes, and a fiery persona. Her exquisite etiquette and mysterious past only added to her allure. There was speculation that led many to believe that she was indeed descended from exotic royalty. A rumor that had been cooked up by a tabloid reflecting her Oscar winning film role.
    The lead role was that of a half-breed, Indian princess kidnapped and forced to marry a powerful, barbaric white rancher enchanted by her irresistible beauty. So captured by her charm he prevented her escape three times as she attempted to flee down river back to her people. Upon return after the third attempt she decided to stay and fight for her life. The ensuing battle resulted in the untimely death of the arrogant rancher and her eventual control of his fortune. Those who had assisted in her imprisonment and recapture now faced her revenge. The movie was a massive box office hit!
    “I’ve had to fight for everything in my life. From decent film roles to pay. I won more than I lost!” she was fond of saying.
    Mae Vaught had held Hollywood at her feet, having reached the pinnacle of box-office power early in her career. She was one of the first actors to demand a percentage of her films in lieu of a straight salary. This shrewd move endowed her with enormous wealth even by Hollywood’s standards.
    Her life had been shared by two husbands. The first sought a divorce and half her fortune upon discovering that her “German” ancestry was overshadowed by a much larger percentage of real Cherokee blood... and for icing on the cake, a black grandmother! All of which was barely reflected in her white skin, blue-gray eyes, and envious face, except her incredible cheekbones.
    One must remember this was an era of intense racial discrimination. Mae had fried much bigger fish when facing down Hollywood studio heads.
    “I demanded a fair share in my highly successful career. They didn’t like that. But I won.” Relating the story to journalists.
    As one of the richest women, or men for that matter, in Hollywood, she would not be deterred or flinch in defense of her reputation and honor...along with the best legal minds a huge fortune could buy. Her sense of fairness fueled her passion to fight injustice.
    Having been raised under mixed parentage she understood a smattering of the Cherokee language. Her traitorous first husband, the spoiler, hustler, ex-theatrical agent and seeker of a free fortune, had discovered her secret and verified it by speaking to her one morning in Cherokee.
    “Osdasunale.” Good morning. He’d spent a week learning the proper pronunciation.
    She automatically replied, “Wado,” thank you, and quickly realized what he had done.
    He used this as a confrontation to blackmail her about her secret past.
    A fierce survivor, Mae met the accusation head on by holding a press conference to announce to the world, “It was discovered that I am of mixed Cherokee heritage, and I hope it will not change the love and devotion of my fans. I say this based on the equality of all human kind, so defined in our beloved US Constitution.” And she continued on with something about, “All red blooded, decent Americans believe in freedom and justice for all!”
    It worked. Months later, upon exiting the court house, when questioned by reporters about her feelings regarding her just-granted divorce, her only reply, as she stopped cold and stared directly into the reporters eyes was, “Lie down with dogs...well, you know the rest.”
    “I am thrilled to know how devoted my fans are, and to discover