James Dean: 94th Birthday Tribute

Today would have been the 94th birthday of 1950’s icon, actor James Dean. Still relevant, still studied, and still written about. At the age of nine, Dean’s mother died and his father decided to let him be raised back on the family farm in Fairmount, Indiana, shown below:



Fairmount is an interesting little community, seemingly untouched by the passage of time. This video does a great job of capturing the town (and Dean) through interviews with the locals who still memorialize the actor.



The town has two museums that are Dean-centric; there’s the James Dean Gallery, run by David Loehr:



A picture of Loehr that I shot back in 1995 at a Rockabilly show in nearby Marion, Indiana. He is surrounded by Christy (whose father went to school with Dean) and fan Diane.



The other museum WAS the Fairmount Historical Museum, which was once located in this historic home:



It has since moved closer to downtown in a brand-spanking new building and been rechristened as the James Dean Museum. What’s the difference between the two? If you want to see vintage souvenirs and get to know Dean from a fan perspective, the Gallery is the place for you. If you want to see Dean’s personal effects and have a better understanding of him as an actor and a human, the Museum is the far better choice.

In downtown, there is a little park with a bronze bust of Dean, sculpted by the late Kenneth Kendall.



It is a copy of the same bust Kendall sculpted that is at the Griffith Observatory in Hollywood.



I met Stephen Payne (at right) when he first came to the U.S. and journeyed to Fairmount; you’ll get to hear his story in the video. On the left is Luke Williams, an Australian who traveled to Fairmount as well, seeking to find out more about Dean.



More than just a “rebel,” James Dean was a gifted human being who tragically died too young before getting to explore his many talents. We are fortunate to have the celluloid reminders that will forever enshrined his youth.

See more James Dean and Fairmount photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Fairmount & James Dean

In belated honor of what would have been James Dean's 81st birthday on February 8th, today's TT post shows photos of the town that James Dean grew up in. Dean was living in Santa Monica when his mother died of cancer; unable to support and care for his son, Dean's father sent him back to Fairmount, Indiana, to be raised by his grandparents. Here is the Winslow Farm, where Dean grew up with his grandparents and cousins:



Marcus Winslow Jr., James Dean's cousin, still lives here:



This painting I did many years ago shows Marcus as a boy with Dean, during his last visit to Fairmount before his tragic death in 1955:



And one of me at Marcus' home, holding up the painting I did before he hung it on the wall.



Fairmount still resembles a quaint Main Street, and many of the places that Dean spent his formative years in are still standing. The first time I visited Fairmount was in September 1993, during the annual "James Dean Days" Festival. Even the rain couldn't keep the thousands of people away from the car show and James Dean Look-A-Like Contest.



The High School has been closed for many years, and is in a sad state of disrepair.









Here is the stage that Dean first performed on:



When Dean returned to Fairmount in 1955, he brought photographer Dennis Stock with him. The two attended the "Sweetheart's Dance" that was held here. Of course, it looked a lot better in 1955.



Tributes abound here, including this bust sculpted by Kenneth Kendall (which can also be seen at Griffith Observatory in Hollywood):



Need I mention that the cigarette was not original to the statue?



At one time, there were two museums with exhibits celebrating Dean's life and legacy; one was the James Dean Gallery, run by David Loehr:



Dean's High School Drama Coach, Adeline Nall, held court here:



The other museum is the Fairmount Historical Museum:



Can you guess which one of these won the look-a-like contest in 1993?



At the car show, you can typically see this replica of the Porsche Dean died in:



Often you'll find some interesting people at the festival, including actor Casper van Dien (who had recently filmed a quickie Dean biopic) and custom car designer George Barris (known best for the Batmobile), posing with Sally the Mail Lady:





Dean is buried here; I believe this is about the third tombstone. As you can see, zealous fans not only leave tributes, but have chipped away souvenirs for themselves from the granite marker:



One of the few buildings not around anymore is Dean's birthplace in nearby Marion, Indiana. This marker designates the spot where it used to be:



See more vintage & current Fairmount, Indiana photos on my Fairmount web page.