Rita Hayworth's firstborn, her daughter with Orson Welles, Rebecca, passed away on October 17, 2004 at age 60. That was also the day that would have been Rita's 86th birthday. The following is her obituary from the News Tribune, local newspaper in her hometown of Tacoma, Washington:
"Rebecca Welles Manning, 60, passed away peacefully October 17, 2004 at home in Tacoma, WA. Rebecca was born to Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, December 17, 1944 in Santa Monica, CA. Rebecca grew up and was educated in many places around the world. Rebecca chose the University of Puget Sound for her college education, where she received a degree in the Arts. Soon after graduation, she met her future husband, Guy Manning. Rebecca loved to write and was a true artist at heart. Those of us who have had the privilege of having Rebecca in our lives will sincerely miss her. Rebecca is survived by her loving husband, Guy Manning; son Marc Welles; stepchildren Kristine (Manning) Scholtz, Michael Manning, Brandi Manning; sisters Yasmin Aga Khan, Christopher Welles Feder, Beatrice Welles O'Donaghue; eight grandchildren, and many other family and long time friends. A memorial service for friends and family will be held Friday, October 22, 2004, 4pm-8pm at Tuell-McKee Funeral Home, 2215 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 272-1414."
My thank you to all of you who have emailed information regarding Rebecca's untimely passing. May she rest in peace.
July 7, 2004:
Touble in Texas is coming to DVD without the Rita documentary on July 27, 2004.
Music in My Heart will be released on DVD September 7. Click the links to pre-order the titles from Amazon.com. They will ship the DVD's to you as soon as they are available!
June 04, 2004:
The original Turner Classic Movies documentary,
Rita is coming to DVD on June 15, 2004. It comes with one of her very early films, Trouble in Texas as a bonus. Also,
They Came to Cordura will be released on DVD July 17. Click the links to pre-order the titles from Amazon.com. They will ship to you as soon as they are released!
April 18, 2004:
Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom, a new book on Rita will be available this June! Click the link to pre-order the title from Amazon.com. They will ship the book to you as soon as it is released!
March 20, 2004:
You Were Never Lovelier is coming to DVD on May 25, 2004. Click the link to pre-order the title from Amazon.com. They will ship the DVD to you as soon as it is released!
March 7, 2004:
Down to Earth is coming to DVD on May 11, 2004. Click the link to pre-order the title from Amazon.com. They will ship the DVD to you as soon as it is released!
September 10, 2003:
One of the movies Rita was most proud of will be released on DVD on October 21,
You'll Never Get Rich, co-starring Fred Astaire. Click the link to pre-order the title from Amazon.com. They will ship the DVD to you as soon as it is released!
August 13, 2003:
The Turner Classic Movies channel is premiering their original documentary on Rita Hayworth, Rita, on September 9th at 8pm. Among those interviewed are Rita's youngest daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, friend Ann Miller and co-stars Tab Hunter and Marc Platt. This will be followed by a festival of five Hayworth titles: Gilda, The Lady from Shanghai, You'll Never Get Rich, Separate Tables and Affectionately Yours.
July 11, 2003:
One of Rita's best-loved films is coming to DVD on August 19,
Cover Girl. Click the link to pre-order the title from Amazon.com. They will ship the DVD to you as soon as it it released!
March 29, 2003:
Fans in the Hartford, CT area will receive a special treat when a production of Edwin Sanchez's play Diosa, inspired by the life of Rita Hayworth, comes to the Hartford Stage. The show will run from April 10 through May 11, 2003. Melia Bensussen directs the drama which stars Karina Michaels as Josefa, the character based on Rita Hayworth, and Josie de Guzman and Robert Montano as her parents. From the Diosa press release: Bensussen says, "Through Josefa's journey from a young Latina woman to a glamorous 'American' movie star, the production will explore the dark sensual undertones of her life, as well as her struggles with assimilation and identity. With striking visual elements and period music, along with the story and dancing, Diosa gives us all an opportunity to feast our senses." Tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased by calling (860) 527-5151 or by visiting www.hartfordstage.org. Unfortunately, I won't be attending as I do not live in the area, but if any of you do, please email me and let me know your thoughts!
July 12, 2002:
Sorry I haven't posted any news in so long! Another Hayworth title is going to be released on DVD soon, Angels Over Broadway. It will be available August 20th. I just wish they would release Miss Sadie Thompson on DVD! It could have the 3-D version on it! Also, the book Rita Hayworth: Hollywood's Love Goddess is going to be released this December. Now don't get excited yet! I don't think it's anything new. On Amazon.com it says it's by John Kobal so, since he has since passed away, I'm guessing it's just a re-issue of his book, Rita Hayworth: The Time, The Place and The Woman (which is a terrific book, by the way). Or it could possibly be a photo book of pictures from his famous collection but judging from the price I highly doubt that. Anyway, that's the news for now!
June 19, 2001:
Very exciting news for you Rita fans! Those of you who are members of the Rita Hayworth fan club already know but a new book about Rita is going to be published this September. It is by the founder of the fan club, Caren Roberts-Frenzel. It will be called Rita Hayworth: A Photographic Retrospective. A few months ago Caren was nice enough to allow me to get a sneak preview of the book while it was in one of its production stages and it simply blew me away. Every page is filled with never before seen and rare pictures spanning Rita's entire life. It's a truly great tribute to Rita that'll get you in touch with the real woman behind the "Gilda" image.
April 30, 2001:
I have some more big Rita news to report! Pal Joey, one of Rita's wonderful Technicolor musicals (co-starring the great Frank Sinatra) will be shown on the big screen in Los Angeles very soon! It will be shown Wednesday, May 30 at the Los Angeles Theatre, the most lavish of the historic movie palaces in downtown LA as part of the 15th annual "Last Remaining Seats" film series brought to you by The Los Angeles Conservancy. At the screening will be Pal Joey director George Sidney and film critic Leonard Maltin live on stage for an interview prior to the film! For more information about the show and how to order tickets go to Los Angeles Conservancy- Last Remaining Seats- PAL JOEY. Just click around the site for all the information about the show.
February 20, 2001:
Ok I'm very late with this news since it is so important but I found out about it only a few days ago. Rita's fifth and last husband, James Hill died last month, on January 11th at the age of 84. Tragically, he succumbed to the same disease that took Rita's life, Alzheimer's. He was living in Los Angeles. Along with Burt Lancaster and Harold Hecht he formed his own production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster and later formed the Hillworth production company with Rita. This weekend, when I have more time I will add more information about Hill and his relationship with Rita. Thanks for bearing with me in being so late with the news!
November 12, 2000:
I just wanted to tell you all to keep a look out for the Rita Hayworth commercial that has been airing recently. It's a commercial for Alzheimer's Disease narrated by Rita's daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan. During the commercial scenes from some of Rita's movie are shown as well as some pictures. I saw the commercial on NBC, I don't know if any other networks have been playing it. I also have another bit of Rita news, the new Gilda DVD is now available.
September 30, 2000:
This past Wednesday, September 27, 2000, the brand new Rita Hayworth as Gilda collector doll was unveiled at FAO Schwarz in New York City at 12:00pm. Rita's daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan was on hand at the unveiling. It's the first of a new line of dolls, inspired by stars of classic Hollywood, which will be available exclusively through FAO Schwarz. The dolls will cost about $150.00 each. Part of the money made from sale of the Rita Hayworth as Gilda doll will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. Princess Yasmin is an honorary vice chairperson for the Alzheimer's Association. The doll is wearing a replica of Rita's famous "Put the Blame on Mame" dress and has an authentic diamond necklace, just like the one Rita wore with that famous dress. The doll will be sold at FAO Schwarz at 757 5th Avenue in New York City and they will open a window display for the doll for the next two weeks. A special edition Gilda DVD will be released by Columbia Tri-Star home Video in November 2000.
September 26, 2000:
As most of you probably know, Rita's death in 1987 was caused by Alzheimer's Disease. Rita Hayworth having this disease helped bring on worldwide awareness about Alzheimer's. Over a decade later, her name continues to help raise funds for Alzheimer's research. On October 11, 2000, New York's annual Rita Hayworth Gala will take place at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom in New York City. Over the years, this event has raised millions of dollars for Alzheimer's research sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. This will be the 16th annual Rita Hayworth Gala and will surely be as successful as it has been in previous years.
May 1, 2000:
I have some very special news this time, Gilda, Rita's most famous movie will be shown on the big screen in Los Angeles soon! It will be showing Wednesday, June 28 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles as part of the 14th annual "Last Remaining Seats" film series brought to you by The Los Angeles Conservancy. At the Gilda screening will be Peter Ford, son of Rita co-star Glenn Ford! For more information about the show and how to order tickets go to Los Angeles Conservancy- Last Remaining Seats- GILDA. Just click around the site for all the information about the show.
June 16, 1999:
Last night, CBS aired AFI, the American Film Institute's "100 years, 100 stars" special. As I said in my January 18th Rita news report, AFI was choosing the 50 greatest screen legends of the century. Last night's special showed who AFI chose as the 25 greatest male and female screen legends. They say 100 stars in the name of the special because there were the 50 screen legends and then they were talked about by 50 of today's stars. Anyway, Rita was chosen as one of the 25 greatest female legends (we all knew she would be)! Rita ranked in at number 19...she should have been number 1! To learn more about this, click here.
March 22, 1999:
For those of you who didn't see the Academy Awards, in the very beginning, they showed tons of clips from classic films and somewhere in there, they showed Rita throw her hair back in her opening scene in Gilda!!!
March 13, 1999:
Well, this is not exactly "real" news but it's internet news so here goes: A new Rita Hayworth mailing list, (not run by me) has recently opened up! It's list where you and other fans can discuss Rita. You'll learn new things and talk with other fans. To join, go to http://www.onelist.com/. Then, in the search, type in: Rita Hayworth.
January 18, 1999:
December 3, 1998:
AFI, the American Film Institute is choosing the 50 greatest screen legends of the century. They recently released the list of nominees which is 250 actress nominees and 250 actor nominees. Rita, of course is a nominee. In June 50 movie stars will be announcing the 25 actresses and 25 actors who were chosen on a TV special for it. I think Rita definitley has a good chance of making the list of top 25 actress "screen legends". To learn more about this, click here.
Recently Playboy ranked the 100 Sexiest Stars of the Century and Rita Hayworth was ranked #11.
