Take a day trip to Denison
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008
Kenny Kahl, festival coordinator for the Donna Reed Performing Arts Festival shows off a Hollywood Walk of Fame replica that honors Reed at the Donna Reed Museum in downtown Denison, Iowa. (Photos by Tim Gallagher)
DENISON, Iowa -- Looking for a quick trip that saves on the credit card account?
Try the Donna Reed Museum at the intersection of Broadway and Main in downtown Denison, just 75 miles from Sioux City.
A tour, which can range from five minutes to two hours, is free, although a freewill donation will gladly be accepted.
It's certainly worth the picturesque drive through Northwest Iowa.
Examine photos of Denison native Donna Reed holding her 1953 Oscar alongside fellow Oscar winner Frank Sinatra, who starred opposite Reed in "From Here to Eternity." Look at the Golden Globe she won, a replica of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or six of the TV Guide covers she graced during her spectacular Hollywood career.
Best of all? The original letters she wrote for years to pen pal Violet (Coughenour) Lindsay, all preserved in albums lining a shelf here. The text of a 1942 letter by Reed is reprinted here.
A 1935 letter shows the interests of 14-year-old Donnabelle Mullenger. The Denison youth sketched a map of her farm this letter as well as a dress. She signed off by writing "Toodle-dee-oo...A pen pal, Donnabelle."
"Her personality comes though in these letters," says Kenny Kahl, a museum staff member who is organizing the 22nd Annual Donna Reed Performing Arts Festival June 16-21.
Kahl's favorite items give visitors a glimpse into Reed's childhood in the Crawford County seat. He loves sharing the fact that Reed once ushered here at the theater, a restored gem that's kind of a mini Sioux City Orpheum. The theater, built as an opera house by German immigrants in 1914 at a cost of $80,000, had fallen into disrepair before a local effort in the 1990s breathed new life into the structure; and with it, some energy into downtown Denison.
The theater that gave a taste of Hollywood to young Donna Reed now bears her name. Upon finishing her duties at the theater, young Donnabelle, Kahl explains, would step next door to Reiney's for an old-fashioned phosphate soda.
On Monday, you can do the same as Reiney's, now called Reiney's Broadway Cafe, reopens under new ownership. The idyllic corner cafe/soda fountain will feature soups, sandwiches, wraps, soda and ice cream treats.
A letter from Donna
Here is the text of a letter young Donna Reed sent to her pen pal Violet (Coughenour) Lindsay on Sept. 16, 1942.
"Dearest Violet,
Really, I think you must be sensitive to my vibrations or thoughts! Twas about a month ago that I started thinking about you, and you persisted staying in my thoughts for nearly a whole afternoon. What do I find upon my return from Iowa? A letter from one Violet Coughenour!
"I had a wonderful, but hectic, vacation with my family in Iowa during August; I left L.A. Aug. 8, and returned Aug. 31, and wouldn't trade those three weeks for anything in the world. I visited three million relatives, did two broadcasts, sold bonds for one week, (signing bonds and stamp books), posed for photographers from the 3 leading papers, answered the telephone 7 million times, ate homemade meals that were incomparable, had my tonsils out, recuperated all of 3 1/2 days, and trekked back to L.A. Oh yes, drove to Des Moines with sister, Lavone, stayed there 3 days, went out with an old college friend and hit all the "spots", shot 150 feet of kodachrome 8mm motion pic., drove to Ames, picked up my brother, Keith, who is attending Iowa State, and I guess that sums up everything, except that I was asked by the studio to return much sooner than I expected. Reason? I'm working with Mickey Rooney in 'The Human Comedy,' by Saroyan. It's a nice part, not the best I've had, but I'm happy being connected with such a magnificent production.
"I'm happy to hear you're doing so well, Violet; you seem to be very happy, and that, of course, is the main thing."
Try the Donna Reed Museum at the intersection of Broadway and Main in downtown Denison, just 75 miles from Sioux City.
A tour, which can range from five minutes to two hours, is free, although a freewill donation will gladly be accepted.
It's certainly worth the picturesque drive through Northwest Iowa.
Examine photos of Denison native Donna Reed holding her 1953 Oscar alongside fellow Oscar winner Frank Sinatra, who starred opposite Reed in "From Here to Eternity." Look at the Golden Globe she won, a replica of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or six of the TV Guide covers she graced during her spectacular Hollywood career.
Best of all? The original letters she wrote for years to pen pal Violet (Coughenour) Lindsay, all preserved in albums lining a shelf here. The text of a 1942 letter by Reed is reprinted here.
A 1935 letter shows the interests of 14-year-old Donnabelle Mullenger. The Denison youth sketched a map of her farm this letter as well as a dress. She signed off by writing "Toodle-dee-oo...A pen pal, Donnabelle."
"Her personality comes though in these letters," says Kenny Kahl, a museum staff member who is organizing the 22nd Annual Donna Reed Performing Arts Festival June 16-21.
Kahl's favorite items give visitors a glimpse into Reed's childhood in the Crawford County seat. He loves sharing the fact that Reed once ushered here at the theater, a restored gem that's kind of a mini Sioux City Orpheum. The theater, built as an opera house by German immigrants in 1914 at a cost of $80,000, had fallen into disrepair before a local effort in the 1990s breathed new life into the structure; and with it, some energy into downtown Denison.
The theater that gave a taste of Hollywood to young Donna Reed now bears her name. Upon finishing her duties at the theater, young Donnabelle, Kahl explains, would step next door to Reiney's for an old-fashioned phosphate soda.
On Monday, you can do the same as Reiney's, now called Reiney's Broadway Cafe, reopens under new ownership. The idyllic corner cafe/soda fountain will feature soups, sandwiches, wraps, soda and ice cream treats.
A letter from Donna
Here is the text of a letter young Donna Reed sent to her pen pal Violet (Coughenour) Lindsay on Sept. 16, 1942.
"Dearest Violet,
Really, I think you must be sensitive to my vibrations or thoughts! Twas about a month ago that I started thinking about you, and you persisted staying in my thoughts for nearly a whole afternoon. What do I find upon my return from Iowa? A letter from one Violet Coughenour!
"I had a wonderful, but hectic, vacation with my family in Iowa during August; I left L.A. Aug. 8, and returned Aug. 31, and wouldn't trade those three weeks for anything in the world. I visited three million relatives, did two broadcasts, sold bonds for one week, (signing bonds and stamp books), posed for photographers from the 3 leading papers, answered the telephone 7 million times, ate homemade meals that were incomparable, had my tonsils out, recuperated all of 3 1/2 days, and trekked back to L.A. Oh yes, drove to Des Moines with sister, Lavone, stayed there 3 days, went out with an old college friend and hit all the "spots", shot 150 feet of kodachrome 8mm motion pic., drove to Ames, picked up my brother, Keith, who is attending Iowa State, and I guess that sums up everything, except that I was asked by the studio to return much sooner than I expected. Reason? I'm working with Mickey Rooney in 'The Human Comedy,' by Saroyan. It's a nice part, not the best I've had, but I'm happy being connected with such a magnificent production.
"I'm happy to hear you're doing so well, Violet; you seem to be very happy, and that, of course, is the main thing."
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