Some Thoughts on the Late and Lovely Liz

Articles from Boomer Magazine in Richmond, VA

Monday, 28 March 2011 14:06

BY RANDY FITZGERALD

When I was thirteen years old, I met Elizabeth Taylor face to face as we both crossed an open field by the railroad station in Keswick, Virginia. I angled over so that I would pass as close to her as possible, and as a result I got a good look at those famous violet eyes. I was mesmerized. She was clearly the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen or could ever hope to see. Gorgeous.

It was 1955, and she and Rock Hudson were filming scenes for the early part of the movie “Giant.” Keswick, a prosperous farming community in Albemarle County, was standing in for the Maryland locale in Edna Ferber’s book. The shoot involved the Keswick train station and an estate across the road called “Belmont.”

My mother had taken all three of her children out of school that day to drive out from Charlottesville and watch whatever could be seen of the filming. A lot of other people had the same idea, so there were locals all over the place. Both stars walked around freely and unmolested among the fans.

My sister, Linda, was nine years old then, and when she went to Rock Hudson to ask for an autograph, he put his arm around her and walked back down the railroad track with her. I wish someone had gotten a picture of that. No paparazzi in Charlottesville then—or anywhere else in 1955, I guess.

While Linda, brother Terry and I were busy staring at the stars, my mom was chatting up and befriending crewmembers. She knew where the stories were. I remember Dad had just bought her a new Buick, and by the time we left the set that day, Mom had offered its overnight use to Rock Hudson’s stand in, who was going to chauffer the stars in it that night. He came by our family restaurant and picked it up at the end of the day.

When Dad found out, he made Mother go get the car back. He was not easily impressed with Hollywood and stars. But then, he didn’t see Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes.