Biography Gene Markey

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 chicago
1.3 hollywood
1.4 military career
1.5 later life

biography
early life

markey born in michigan in year 1895. father, eugene lawrence markey, colonel in united states army. uncle, daniel p. markey, had been speaker of michigan house of representatives. graduated dartmouth college in 1918.

chicago

he skilled sketch artist, gained him entry, after world war i, art institute of chicago starting in 1919 , finishing in 1920. there, claimed have studied painting , learned nothing . after that, worked journalist in chicago several newspapers , magazines, including photoplay magazine. during 1920s gene markey first became writer, specializing in novels jazz age. among titles anabel; stepping high; women, women, everywhere; , majesty s pyjamas. book literary lights (march 1923, alfred a. knopf, new york) collection of fifty of america s important literary authors of day. sketched each caricature.

hollywood

he went hollywood in 1929 , became screenwriter twentieth century fox. screen credits included king of burlesque (1936) starring alice faye, girls dormitory (1936) featuring herbert marshall, , on avenue (1937), starring dick powell, madeleine carroll, , alice faye. producer of 1937 shirley temple film, wee willie winkie, among others.

although not overly handsome, skilled conversationalist , became popular fixture in hollywood society. among friends in hollywood producer john hay whitney, composer irving berlin, , actors douglas fairbanks jr., ward bond , john wayne. go fishing bond , wayne off catalina island. 1946 article in washington times herald said, other men say: s gene markey got haven t got? article ran photo of rudolph valentino caption, not hot – comparison. though american womanhood swooned on him in day, rudolph valentino no markey. after arrived in hollywood in 1929, reported that, markey became sought after unattached man in cinema firmament, sprinkled far handsomer, richer male stars. markey married 3 times prominent film actresses. first wife joan bennett, 1932 1937 (which produced daughter, melinda, in 1934). married hedy lamarr 1939 1940 , myrna loy 1946 1950. @ first, loy claimed mental cruelty, later retracted it, saying, make scrubwoman think queen , make queen think queen of queens.

military career

after graduation dartmouth, markey became lieutenant in infantry during world war (which united states had entered in 1917) , saw action @ battle of belleau wood. joined u.s. naval reserve in 1920, , during world war ii made greatest mark. in august 1941, reported balboa, panama, rank of lieutenant commander. had yacht, melinda (named after daughter), donated united states navy use submarine chaser. during war, markey rose rank of commodore , served assistant intelligence officer on staff of fleet admiral william bull halsey @ guadalcanal. after war, promoted rear admiral , officially retired navy on february 27, 1956. highly decorated; among awards legion of merit, bronze star combat v (for leading reconnaissance mission in solomon islands in 1942), navy commendation medal, italy s star of solidarity, , france s legion of honor. during world war ii, markey became friends louis mountbatten, 1st earl mountbatten of burma. after war, became special assistant united states secretary of navy james forrestal. markey proud of admiral s commission. insisted on being called admiral markey , never mister markey and, rarely, gene . rest of life, promptly toss mail (including bills) wasn t addressed admiral markey trash.

later life

he returned hollywood after war and, on september 27, 1952, married fourth wife, lucille parker wright, widow of warren wright, owner of calumet farm racing stable. markey left california after marriage.

he developed of knack naming farm s horses. first there filly, named our mims after daughter melinda. named myrtle morgan after 2 streets intersected in front of property in saratoga springs, new york. still named eastern fleet (possibly tribute service in navy) finish fourth in 1971 kentucky derby , second in preakness stakes. markey lover of dogs. owned black labrador retriever named lucky lived 17, unusual. mrs. markey had dog, yorkshire terrier named timmy tammy (after thought have named 1 of calumet farm s champion thoroughbreds, tim tam). mrs. markey carried dog in purse everywhere went.

shortly after marriage, markey become friends ralph wilson later founder , owner of buffalo bills of national football league. 1 of mrs. markey s hobbies collecting statues of eagles. in 18th century kentucky, eagles believed symbol of luck.

dividing time between lexington, kentucky, saratoga springs, new york, , miami beach, florida (with occasional trip europe thrown in), continued write. among works during period were: kentucky pride, adventure–romance set in civil war kentucky, , far paradise, story of 18th-century family making way virginia settle in later became kentucky. background research book, markey recreated journey himself. markey fond of time spent in kentucky, becoming fixture on social scene , becoming friends many members of thoroughbred racing community. once told reporter, cannot restrain ardor place , people...no duck ever took water have taken kentucky.

markey noted party giver. 1 of specialties tropical punch made unknown number of rums. @ parties, old friends hollywood mixed new friends kentucky , mixed well. while lived in kentucky, purchased old 18th-century log cabin , had moved calumet farm property, use writing room. had 2 brands of private reserve bourbon distilled named old commodore (as tribute service in u.s. navy) , old calumet cabin (after writing room).

on july 31, 1958, admiral markey commissioned kentucky colonel (a ceremonial rank) governor albert benjamin happy chandler sr. served model character played burgess meredith in 1965 film in harm s way, starring friend john wayne.

admiral , mrs. markey remained married until death after in 1980, buried in lexington cemetery in lexington, kentucky. wife, lucille parker wright, buried next him upon death shortly thereafter in 1982.