At 91, Laguna Writer Tries to Outdo a Master--Himself

Not many will boast about falling in love with someone else’s wife. But John Weld of Laguna Beach talks about it with such flourish, he makes it sound romantic.

“What could I do?” he says. “She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I didn’t want anything else in the world but her.”

Gigi Parrish, one of the Goldwyn Girls who had sizable roles with John Barrymore, Franchot Tone and later Lucille Ball, at first told him to go away. But when she divorced, he was waiting for her.

They’ve now been married 59 years. Meeting them at their bright, lovely apartment overlooking the Laguna coastline was a delightful wake-up call for me: From pettiness I’d almost passed up the chance.

When a friend offered me a new paperback, “Laguna, I Love You,” by John Weld, I first set it aside. Its pieces were mostly written 40 years ago for the old weekly Laguna Post, which Weld owned. All small-town weekly columnists think their old stuff can be turned into a bestseller. Besides, Weld is 91. Somehow I let his age shove it lower on my reading list.

My mistake, of course. It didn’t take me too many pages to realize that Weld can write the blazes around just about anybody I’ve ever met. And I was red-faced when I saw his credits: the author of 12 books, former reporter for the Herald Tribune in Paris and the old New York American.

And when I met him, I knew he was sharper at 91 than I’ll be at any age.

“Louella Parsons had offered to get me a movie contract,” he says. “I told her I’d rather she get me a job on a newspaper, which she did.”

He still writes every day, and Katy (Gigi) is a partner, helping him prepare his manuscripts. On the wall above her computer is a 1940 front page of a New York Times Book Review section, devoted entirely to a glowing review of “Don’t You Cry for Me,” Weld’s novel about the tragic 1846 deaths of the snowbound Donner party in Northern California. Not a bad career souvenir.

The Welds have lived in Laguna Beach most of the last 55 years. He says he put some of his old columns into a book at the urging of friends.

“There’s no city like Laguna,” he says. “Where else can you find a town this size with 50 art galleries? Or with this many interesting characters?”

Silent Minority? Pop quiz: Name three important Democrats in Orange County. It must gall local Democrats that political pundits always measure statewide races based on just how big the Republican victory margin here will be.

When Democrats do win, it’s usually in a nonpartisan race. (Three important Democrats: Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido Jr. and Garden Grove Mayor Bruce A. Broadwater--all nonpartisan offices.)

But county Democratic vice chair Jeanne Costales says there’s plenty to celebrate at the organization’s biannual convention today at the Inn at the Park in Anaheim: “We have the third largest voting block of Democrats in California.” It’s also a kickoff campaign for local Democrats to help reelect Bill Clinton. It’s especially needed, Costales says, since the county will be flooded with Republican hopefuls between now and the March 26 primary.

Name Drops: Smokey Bear will be among the guests when the Santa Ana Zoo celebrates its 44th birthday with free ice cream and live music. (They mean “Smokey the Bear.” We former Smokey the Bear Club members have trouble adjusting to his modern name.) . . .

Theodor Geisel is not a name most would recognize. But mention his pen name, Dr. Seuss, and everybody knows him. Judith and Neil Morgan were good friends of the late famous children’s book author. They’ll appear at the Laguna Art Museum Gallery at South Coast Plaza at 2:15 p.m. today to sign copies of their book “Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: a Biography.” Sunday, they will be at the Laguna Art Museum to share Seuss stories. . . .

Reggae-rock’s World Tribe gives a parking lot performance at the Hard Rock Cafe at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island today from noon to 5. No charge, but an American Red Cross van will be on hand, and the party is aimed at blood donors. . . .

The Orange County Crazies comedy players side with county government, for a change, instead of poking fun at its money troubles. The Crazies are among performers today at the Neighborhood Community Center on Park Avenue in Costa Mesa--part of “Operation Kick Ash.” It’s an anti-smoker aimed at teens, put on in part by the county’s Health Care people.

And the Winner Is: Congrats to Brian J. Sinclair, a 16-year-old Fountain Valley High junior. His art was chosen to be the official poster for this year’s Imagination Celebration put on by the county’s arts communities (April 20-May 5). It’s a brain in eyeglasses, with CD headphones, playing the violin while painting and reading a book.

Wrap-Up: John Weld’s book-in-progress is on the late Walter Huston, Academy Award winner for “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Weld lived with the Hustons in his early newspaper days. Gracing the wall of the Welds’ living room is a piece of art by Walter’s son, the late great director John Huston (“The Maltese Falcon,” “The African Queen”). “John was a wonderful friend,” Weld says. “But our lifestyles were so different; John drank too much, chased too many women.”

The Walter Huston book is two-thirds done. I’m betting 91 is not too old to find a publisher.

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling the Times Orange County Edition at (714) 966-7823 or sending a fax to (714) 966-7711.