Book SummaryStill Here, by Alexandra Jacobs

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Still Here

Stritch's Beginnings, Ambitions, and Rise on Broadway

Her Detroit Childhood and Introduction to Theater

Childhood Exhibitions and Family Inspiring Love for Entertainment

Alexandra Jacobs highlights how, when Elaine Stritch was still a child, she displayed an inclination toward performance, seeking attention and affection through her natural comedic talents. Jacobs describes Stritch as the youngest sibling in a trio, raised in a bustling, upper-middle-class Detroit household, where she learned early how to capture an audience through her larger-than-life personality. To earn a place amidst the family’s constant stream of witty banter, Stritch would imitate celebrities, sing, and tell jokes, entertaining not only her family but the guests regularly attending events at their home or at the city's Athletic Club.

Her fascination with entertainment blossomed early, solidified by going to watch The Band Wagon at age five with her uncle Howard. Jacobs emphasizes how these experiences instilled in Stritch not only a love for performing but also a fundamental belief in hard work and excellence, mirroring her self-made father's journey from laborer to executive at B.F. Goodrich. Jacobs notes how Stritch would come to deeply associate early performances with family, community, and the warmth of acceptance, a pattern that would persist throughout adulthood, even as the venues grew in scale and her intimate relationships shifted in intensity.

Practical Tips

• Try engaging with friends or family in impromptu skits or charades games to nurture your performance skills in a low-pressure environment. These activities can help you get comfortable with seeking attention and affection in a playful, performance-oriented way, similar to how a young comedian might start.
• Create a visual family tree that includes not only names and relationships but also key personality traits, achievements, and challenges of each member. This can provide insights into patterns and traits that may run in your family, allowing you to see how your upbringing within a certain socioeconomic class has impacted your worldview.
• Start a family or friends talent show tradition. Gather everyone for a casual evening where each person showcases a hidden talent or performs a comedy bit. This not only provides entertainment but also strengthens bonds as you learn more about each other's abilities and sense of humor.
• Volunteer at local theaters or community arts programs to immerse yourself in the entertainment world. By being part of the behind-the-scenes action, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the craft and perhaps discover a love for an aspect of entertainment you hadn't considered before, such as set design, lighting, or costume creation.
• Reflect on your family history to identify work ethic values and create a personal mission statement. Dive into your family's past to understand the values and struggles that shaped their work ethic. Use these insights to craft a mission statement that reflects your commitment to hard work and excellence, guiding your daily actions and long-term goals.
• Volunteer for a cause that promotes family and community warmth, such as a local shelter or a mentoring program. Engaging in activities that support the well-being of others can help you experience and spread the warmth that you associate with family, thus extending this feeling into broader aspects of your life.

How Detroit's Entertainment and Stage Performances Shaped Her Aspirations

Elaine Stritch grew up surrounded by theater's peak era. Jacobs points out how her hometown, Detroit, booming during the 1920s as the "Motor City", also boasted a vibrant theater scene. The glamorous movie palaces and “legitimate” theaters showcasing traveling vaudeville acts and Broadway shows provided ample fodder for Stritch’s budding ambition. Stritch wasn't merely passively watching, though. Jacobs tells a particularly telling anecdote from her childhood, when, left alone outside, Stritch killed flies and arranged them to form her name on the porch screen, envisioning her name illuminated.

According to Jacobs, Stritch's interest in performing grew further after a chance encounter with her father’s childhood friend Bobby Clark, a vaudeville comedian who would become hugely successful on Broadway and in RKO film shorts. Seeing him perform cemented Stritch’s own desire to pursue a career in theater, yet she wasn’t content to be a silent chorus girl. She wanted the spotlight, delivering the punchlines, receiving the recognition. At a Masonic Temple Junior League event, dressed in a light blue chiffon outfit, Stritch truly captivated an audience for the first time with her performance of "Thanks a Million." Having tasted the heady allure of the crowd's clapping, the seed of her ambition to leave Detroit was planted.

Context

• During the 1920s, Detroit was experiencing significant economic growth due to the automotive industry, earning it the nickname "Motor City." This prosperity contributed to the development of cultural and entertainment venues.
• Experiencing live performances can have a profound impact on individuals, offering a unique connection between the audience and performers that is often more immediate and powerful than other forms of entertainment.
• The act of arranging flies to spell her name highlights Stritch's early inclination towards creativity and performance, suggesting a natural flair for dramatic expression even in unconventional ways.
• Bobby Clark's career trajectory from vaudeville to Broadway exemplified a common path for performers of that era, showing Stritch a viable route to achieving fame and success in the performing arts.
• During its peak, vaudeville was a major part of American popular culture, shaping the entertainment industry and providing a training ground for many legendary performers. It was known for its lively and diverse performances, which captivated...

Still Here Summary The Impact of Stritch's Relationships, Alcohol Abuse, and Work

Navigating Romantic Relationships and Societal Expectations

Desire for Affection and Stability With Unavailable Men

Despite her growing confidence as a performer, Stritch's personal life was fraught with uncertainty, and this Jacobs attributes to a deep yearning for a stability and a love she was unable to find for a significant portion of her life. It was a tension she shared with other performers, like Judy Garland, but exacerbated, the author argues, by a strict Catholic upbringing that instilled guilt about sex and a reverence for a traditional marriage that was increasingly in conflict with her pursuit of an exceptional, independent career. While Stritch was happy to share her professional goals publicly, she also presented herself to the press as wanting to settle down and find a fitting suitor.

Jacobs details Stritch’s romances with several men, all attractive and talented though also unavailable, either because they were already married (like the actors Gig Young and Jack Cassidy, or the producer Jed Haris) or because of religious considerations. Stritch's longest relationship in the 1950s, with Ben Gazzara, was foiled by his inability, or possibly...

Still Here Summary Elaine Stritch's Partnerships With Influential Theaters and Evolving Identity

Guidance From Noël Coward and the Quest for Sophistication

"Collaboration on 'Sail Away' Praised In West End"

Elaine Stritch's pursuit of sophistication, both in her acting and in life, intensified under the tutelage of celebrated British playwright, composer, director, and performer Noël Coward. Jacobs details their collaboration on Sail Away, the 1961 musical in which Stritch initially had a supporting role and then, after numerous rewrites by a frustrated Coward, was promoted to the female lead. During the production period, Stritch relied on her mentor's guidance for instruction on both work and interpersonal matters. This relationship, Jacobs emphasizes, would solidify Stritch's reputation as someone capable of anchoring a major Broadway production and fueled her longtime affection for English theater and its performers, as well as London as a place to escape the expectations and hierarchies of New York.

The author suggests that Coward found his young protege's brash American energy both fascinating and somewhat alarming. Yet he had a soft spot for the "Stritch doll", a phrase encapsulating her tendency to throw off unwanted ideas, and indulged, at least for a...

Still Here Summary Stritch's Transition From Musicals to Plays and Industry Challenges

Unhappiness With Film and Unsuccessful Forays Into Media

Limited Roles Disappointment; Prefers Live Theater Over Hollywood

Despite her success with Sondheim, Elaine Stritch's ongoing frustration with Hollywood was a persistent theme in her life, one Jacobs attributes to a fundamental preference for the intimacy and immediacy of the stage over the artifice and remoteness of filming. For many years, Hollywood was a mecca for those seeking reinvention, a place where struggling singers could become dazzling "star maids." But Stritch wasn't interested in shedding her true identity. Her strengths proved more difficult to translate into movies. Her voice, powerful on stage, was too low for the sweet feminine roles that were popular at the time. And her looks, while striking, lacked the Hollywood gloss that those in charge of casting coveted.

The few roles she obtained mostly reinforced Stritch's belief that cinema was superficial. Jacobs describes her struggles during the filming of A Farewell to Arms, originally intended as a vehicle for Jennifer Jones. Noting how Stritch’s flirtations with her fellow actor Rock Hudson were likely tolerated by his studio head because...

Still Here Summary Elaine Stritch's Later Career, Comeback, and Legacy

"At Liberty" Brought Success and Renewed Acclaim

Collaboration With John Lahr for a One-woman Show

Jacobs chronicles Elaine Stritch's remarkable late-career comeback with the development of “At Liberty”, a solo show that cemented her status as a theatrical legend, attracting acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Jacobs details how the show, conceived by John Schreiber, a longtime admirer of Stritch's work whom she'd met in 1968 and who had attended the Follies concert, combined Stritch’s sharp wit, her candid self-assessment, and powerful renditions of classic show tunes to create a uniquely intimate theatrical experience. Jacobs suggests the production's success wasn't just due to Stritch’s legendary personality. It was also a testament to the collaborative genius of playwright and critic John Lahr, the son of Bert Lahr of Wizard of Oz fame, who understood, like Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince had before him, how to use her strengths to create a truly effective, and moving, dramatic arc.

Jacobs writes that the production not only highlighted Stritch’s storied career but also her ongoing struggles with alcoholism, love, and family, offering an unvarnished and...