Spillane's wife to make museum for Mikey.....

by orbison11 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  orbison11

  Posted on Sat, Jul. 29, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license this
  Detective novelist remembered with laughter and tears BRUCE SMITH
  Associated Press SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. - Mickey Spillane, who created the hard-nosed detective Mike Hammer of novels, movies and TV, was remembered Saturday as a writer, actor and TV pitchman who, loved kittens, fishing, Frosted Flakes and, above all, his fellow man. "He was probably the most humble celebrity that ever lived," said his widow, Jane, following a 45-minute memorial service for the writer at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Amid laughter and tears, about 150 people attended the memorial to remember the writer who died July 17 at the age of 88. He had lived in the Myrtle Beach area for a half century. Rand Frink, the presiding overseer of the congregation, recalled how Spillane helped build the Kingdom Hall in the 1980s and always volunteered for the trash detail because, Spillane said, it kept him humble. The congregation chuckled when Frink recalled Spillane liked to say he sold more Miller Lite beer than anyone in history. Spillane used to appear in commercials for the brewing company. A simple wooden box containing Spillane's ashes rested on a small table along with several pictures, including one of Spillane in a trench coat and hat in the movie role of Mike Hammer. The gray fedora with a black band that Spillane wore in the picture was also on the table. There were no Hollywood celebrities in attendance. Jane Spillane said they will be invited to her home later. "Just the sort of thing where everybody gets out there and talks about the funny stories and laughs about Mickey," she said. "We will all remember the kind, generous, humble and giving spirit" of Mickey Spillane, Frink said. "Although famous in the eyes of men, Mickey never acted like a famous person. He was always just plain Mickey." Spillane was always the first to help other members of the congregation, spent hundreds of dollars to save stray cats and loved Frosted Flakes, fishing and cars, Frink said. But Spillane was also deeply religious, Frink added, sharing some of Spillane's favorite passages from the writer's well-worn Bible, which had verses throughout highlighted with yellow marker. Spillane's stepdaughter, Britt Ellinger, said it was Spillane who fought back tears when he gave her away in marriage nine years ago. When Spillane started dating her mother, Ellinger was a schoolgirl and didn't really know Spillane was a celebrity, she said. "He came to pick her up in the pickup truck and said 'Do you need anything from the A&P?' " she said. "Mom would go running out. That was how they dated." Jane Spillane said her husband's wish was to have his ashes spread on the waters of Murrells Inlet off the fishing village of the same name where the couple lived. She arrived at the service driving Spillane's white Ford F-150 pickup truck with a camper top and 118,000 miles - a truck Spillane always referred to as his Carolina Cadillac. Jane Spillane said her late husband was a pack rat with all sorts of items stashed away in his study, including the manuscripts for at least six unpublished books and several screenplays. "He saved so much stuff, you don't know. He saved it all," she said. "My mission in life is to keep Mickey Spillane alive and I hope we can do a museum or something." Spillane also saved a Jaguar that the late actor John Wayne gave him, Jane Spillane said. "People loved him from all over this land and I thought it would be a wonderful thing to do a museum," she said.
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  anewme

  Thanks for the additional info on Spillane. I heard him interviewed on NPR and the interviewer Terri Gross was candid in her questioning him on his religion.
  
  Terri: "I know that you are also one of Jehovahs Witnesses"
  Spillane: "Yes, since 1953."
  Terri: "Tell us, how does all the violence and bloodshed in your novels sit with the Jehovahs Witnesses?"
  Spillane: "Ha! Well for one thing I dont think they read them! I dont blame them! But really, the persona of Mike Hammer is just a character in a novel. Its not me! I think everyone knows that. Its just a job I do. I write stories. Its fiction thats all Terri. I think everyone knows that."
  Terri: "But the murder and the violence. Where does that come from if not from you?"
  Spillane: "Terri, there is murder and violence in the world. The world is full of it. Im not creating more of it. Im just writing about it. You want to read about violence and murder and all sorts of filth read your newspapers!"
  Terri: "But isnt it true that you introduced violence against women in your novels? Previously to kill a woman was sort of taboo in literature and in your novels women were gunned down and shot point blank. I think it set a precedence"
  Spillane: "Women are just as evil as men Terri. Always have been. And men have killed them. Im not creating this stuff. The world is full of it. Read your newspapers if you want to read more of it. Hey if a dame is a killer she deserves what she gets. Right? Mike Hammer wasnt a dame hater. But he didnt trust dames either. He was interested in justice. Swift justice sometimes."
  Terri: "You have been a successful writer for many years yet Ive heard you and your wife lead a pretty quiet home life, is that true?"
  Spillane: "Oh yeah. My wife and I are best friends and like to be together. My wife and I are collectors of sorts and she likes to collect blue willow china. We both like it. Lost it all in the earthquake. But we are starting to collect again. Material things are easily lost. But you can replace them. Thats what we like to do"
  
  (This was all from memory and just only just a recall of the conversation. But I must tell you I really liked this guy from the start! And so did Terri Gross and everyone else commenting on this man. He was a solid man carving out his own writing style and setting a new style for other writers to follow. And he created his own life in the JWs. He was allowed to freely write his murder mysteries and remain a JW. He was accepted and respected by the world as a man who held his own views and stayed true to his own principles. Mickey Spillane was a very interesting man.)
  
  
  Anewme
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  Confucious

  I was personal friends with Mickey.

  I know everytime someone mentions a prominent witness like Prince or Mickey that I jump in and say I know him.

  But Mickey is really a good guy.

  Jane on the other hand is a beautiful woman but got a lot of grief a few years ago from this murder case she was involved with (she was defending the convicted murder).

  But I tell you the Spillane's are top notch people.

  Confucious
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  serendipity

  If his wife is a JW, I would be surprised if she could proceed with a museum. Wouldn't it be considered giving undue honor to a man?
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  blondie

  I wonder if his first wife was a JW the one he was married to in the 50's when he was first baptized?
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  anewme

  What would make you bring up something like that?
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  blondie

  What anewme, if his first wife was a JW? Because I remember pictures of him and his wife and small children in a professional magazine (like Life or Look) back then. I figure if some of the posters knew him personally, they would know that his wife in the 50's was a JW.

  Did my question offend you? I'm sorry if it did.

  Blondie