Gypsy Rose Lee

Gypsy (1962)
Rose: "As grandpa always said, you can tell the size of a man’s heart by the button in his lapel." Individual pins cannot be identified in the collection but one below a Buffalo pin may be a masonic pin. [00:08:53]

Based on Gypsy Rose Lee’s autobiography, the first half hour of this movie emphasizes the reliance her mother, Rose Havoc, placed on her claimed fraternal associations. Centre place is given to the Elks and Buffalo, but the Shriners are mentioned in the song, "Some People".

When Rose first meets Herbie, she asks:

Rose: "Didn't I see your sensitive face at the Odd Fellows' Hall? My first husband was an Odd Fellow."

Herbie: "No, no. I don't think so."

Rose: "I mean Knights of Pythias. My second husband...."

Herbie: "I'm not a Knights of Pythias."

Rose: "Aren't you anything?"

Herbie: "I'm an Elk."

Rose: "Ah, I should have known by your good manners. My father’s an Elk too. 1853 Seattle Washington. I've got his tooth here someplace. Because I'm an Honourable Elk."

Herbie: "Hi, Bill."

Rose: "Hi, Bill." [00:04:57]

The next time she sees Herbie, she is introducing herself to a theatre owner:

Theatre owner: "Are you the woman Buffalo Mr. Bitman called me about?" [00:09:51]

Later, Rose sings:

Rose: "Goodby to blueberry pie, good riddence to all the socials I had to go to, all the lodges I had to play, All the Shriners I said hello to." [00:23:00]

Gypsy (1962). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, written by Arthur Laurents (play) Gypsy Rose Lee (book). Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Paul Wallace, Betty Bruce, Parley Baer, Harry Shannon, Morgan Brittany, Ann Jillian, Diane Pace, Faith Dane, Roxanne Arlen, Jean Willes, George Petrie, Ben Lessy. 143 min. USA, English. Technicolor, Stereo. "Some People", music: Jule Styne, lyrics: Stephen Sondheim.

OTHER FRATERNITIES | MASONIC REFERENCES IN FILM| SHRINER REFERENCES IN FILM

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