On the Industry
The Barbara Payton Story
By Tommy Garrett
Nov 4, 2007 - 12:59:23 PM

A classic movie star story is always one that I find interesting.  Especially when it's one about a gorgeous, talented blond who had such potential to become an amazing leading lady, but everything was derailed by scandal, torment and destruction.   All brought on by self inflicted wounds.  I was on the lookout for such a story and a book cover, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: the Barbara Payton Story, just jumped out at me.  The  author's name, John O'Dowd was not immediately a name that I recognized, but soon that name will become a household name.   Mr. O'Dowd is talented, an amazing writer and story teller.  Once I picked the book up, I had to read it all and did so over the past weekend.  The cover was designed by a friend of mine, Lynn Dougherty of LynnPDesign.com.  I had no idea at the time she had done this cover.  So I quickly called her to congratulate her on yet again a classy project.  She raved about the book and even more so about the author.  So when I started reading it, I had a lot of hope and anticipation for the tome.

Being an historian of Hollywood, I knew who Barbara Payton was.  At least I thought so.  Once I began reading the book I realized I knew nothing.  Sure I remembered many of the scandals but there was a real person behind the tabloid headlines.  A mother, a wonderful person who failed at life miserably.  But a mother just the same.  The foreword is written by her son, John Lee Payton.  His first words in the book describe it all: "It has been fifty years since I have seen my mother, Barbara Payton.  For a few minutes one afternoon when I was nine years old, she swept me into her arms and we held onto one another as if for life itself.  Then she was gone."

So I read the book and said, in actuality Miss Payton's life ended on that day.  It would go on physically for decades, but spiritually and emotionally she probably died at that moment.  People who know nothing of what it takes to have a successful career in entertainment don't know the sacrifices one has to make for success, for the career, for the stardom.  The tabloids rip at you and try to walk that line of printing lies without recourse; only a few of us luckily see them cross that line and are able to take action.   Barbara Payton's life was filled with drama, intrigue, disgust and turmoil.  I believe in reading her story that when she walked away from her son, she walked away from her own life and decided to make her career the most important thing in her existence.  She did so at her own peril.  

Like many who face self destruction, she lived life large.  She had any number of lovers, four husbands, including Franchot Tone who was married to the legendary Joan Crawford.  But nothing filled her emptiness.  She craved something that would be illusive for her time on this earth — happiness.  John recounts memories of orgies and what we know as shocking behavior by a mother of a small child in her care.  But at no point do you feel that she didn't feel love for her child.  You learn through reading the book that she lacked love for herself or any simple human dignity that would have guided her to take better care of herself.

John O'Dowd's writing style is one that you would not expect from a first time biographer.  O'Dowd's style and taste seem very sophisticated and extremely genuine.   Upon finishing the book, I met the man and found him the same.   Each chapter is filled with plenty of anecdotes and details to make you want to continue reading.  But he writes about this tragedy and the tragic life of Payton's with respect and full knowledge of his subject.   Many biographers write about events and not about the person.  This man does both with a degree of talent that I haven't seen in any biographer to date.  

This 480 page tome was so easily read and understood that it was able to be finished in 48 hours.   As one reader told me, "I read it once and now I'm reading it again because I enjoyed it so much."  I agree.   John O'Dowd's superbly written book can be ordered on Amazon.com.  For those who may not know Barbara Payton or her work in classic films, don't despair.  You will feel like you've known this woman personally by the time you finish the book.  And let it be required reading for any starlet who comes to Hollywood with visions of fame and success in her eyes.   As Norma Desmond said, "They had faces then!"  Dowd has an innate talent as a writer and here's to the wish that he continues on this path.  

This book is a Five Star Production.

Coming soon:  Ed Skiov's Dark Victory:  The Life of Bette Davis.  And next week is guest columnist Roger Hitts, who reviews my next tome:  The Making of Hollywood Stars.  Due out in three weeks, by Wasteland Press.