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745 R. Meir Morton “Interview with an Aging Idol” Victor Mature, the original Hollywood “hunk,” was from Louisville. R. Meir Morton of Louisville decided to do an imaginary interview with the actor. First, she did some research, and then she cast the results as a monologue; and so we have her poem. It’s amazing how much a good poet can get into a short poem. h The producer called me up, said: Would you consider playing the father in a remake of your old film? I said I’d play the mother if the price were right. I looked at the script, my role was meaningless, unnecessary. All I do is run around in a robe with a towel wrapped around my head. Hey, I could have phoned the part in. I’ll tell you how it started. I went out to Hollywood, just looking. Ran into this guy who asked me to read for the Pasadena Playhouse. Next thing I knew I was on stage. Then the movie magazines dubbed me The Hunk. Hunk of Junk, I called it. I never said I was a great actor, got trunkloads of reviews to prove it. If it hadn’t been for one hometown girl I never would have left. I went to this debutante thing, asked her for a dance. She said she wasn’t dancing with the son of an immigrant. 746 The Kentucky Anthology I promised myself I would leave town, make it big. And I did. Those were the days, I really miss them. Back then you could jump in a convertible, wheel around to see the old gang. Memories, I have lots of good ones. I’d love to do it all over again, even the mistakes. A magazine called, wanted to know if I was dead. I told them, No. If you are going to write about me get some pictures from the old days. That’s how I’d like to be remembered. ...

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