Postcript to Growing Up Laughing"

I had not quite finished reading Marlo Thomas' biography "Growing Up Laughing" when I wrote my previous post. Now that I have finished the last few chapters I wanted to write about her father's philanthropic project -- "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital." This hospital grew out of Danny's promise to St. Jude at a time when he needed help with his career. He had grown up in an impoverished, immigrant neighborhood where his Lebanese mother gave birth to all ten of her children without a doctor assisting and where children died of flu and rat bites because there was a lack of health care.

Why did Danny choose to build this hospital in Memphis? He had once read a news story about an 8 year old black child in the South who was struck by a car while riding his bicycle and he died after no emergency room in the area would treat him. Marlo says her father carried that newspaper clipping in his wallet for years. After Marlo became known for her role as "That Girl," her father occasionally asked her to stand in for him at fundraisers. When she married Phil Donahue,he acquired another family fundraiser. Although Danny told his children that he didn't expect them to carry on his legacy, they have continued to be involved with supporting the hospital since his death.

The book above is one of several available about St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

pazt

"Growing Up Laughing - My Story and the Story of Funny"

This biography (and interview with comics) by Marlo Thomas has quickly become a favorite of mine. It was just released last fall and isn't available yet in paperback so I picked up a copy from my library. Reading about Marlo's life was like a trip down memory lane because I'd forgotten how much the world has changed for women since she starred in "That Girl" on TV. Here is a quote by Marlo from Chapter 30 that is very telling, I think: "And I was learning that, even for a woman with power, the path was dotted with land mines--she's so ambitious, she's so aggressive, she's ruthless. 'Funny thing,' I used to say, 'a man has to be Joe McCarthy to be called ruthless...all a woman has to do is put you on hold."
While telling her story of growing up as the daughter of Danny Thomas and always having a house full of comedians dropping by, Marlo also intersperses interviews with comics from her dad's era as well as ones from today. There are also lots of jokes so, if you want a good laugh, just pick up her book and leaf through it to read the jokes and brighten your day.
I hadn't a clue about all the things Marlo has done throughout her adult life to enhance the status of women nor her plan to never marry then, despite that, marrying Phil Donahue. (By the way, if you're reading this Marlo, let me squelch any rumors that Phil and I were ever an item. It's just that people used to mistake my husband for Phil Donahue. I always wondered if that started rumors given he was with me and not you! When I saw the picture of Phil with Danny Thomas, I realized my husband did look a lot like Phil at that time -- except I never saw mine with a cigar in his mouth.)
So followers....if you want a quick and fun read, pick up this book by Marlo Thomas and/or give it to someone you want to make happy!

pazt