Fun Monday - First Crush

Jo Beaufoix is the hostess for this Fun Monday excursion. For this trip down memory lane, Jo Beaufoix has asked to tell about our first celebrity crush. To recall my first movie crush, please travel with me down a long and narrow path back to the late 1940's and early 1950's. Before we had a television in our home, my older sisters and I were allowed (encouraged) to go a neighborhood theater to watch the Saturday afternoon. I say encouraged as my parents considered the theater to be a safe haven as well as cheap babysitting. The price of ticket for the matinee was a nickel for children, and the price a child under five like me was free.

At these Saturday afternoon movies, I met my first celebrity hero. I am guessing that most or all of the Fun Monday participants will not recognize the object of my interest. In the 1950's, the movie-going population seemed to be infatuated with Westerns, movies featuring cowboys and occasional cowgirl. My hero was not one of the better known leads like Gene Autry or Roy Rogers. My silver screen love was the less-recognized Lash LaRue.


Lash, who's given name is Alfred, apparently had a number of obstacles breaking into the movie-business. According to one source, Lash's resemblance to Humphrey Bogart kept him from him winning the favor of casting directors. So when the opportunity to win a part in a film, Lash lied about an ability to use a bullwhip. Evidently, Lash did become proficient in using the whip, and the bullwhip became the trademark of my on screen lover. An interesting tidbit of movie trivia is that Lash LaRue taught Harrison Ford how to use a whip for his role as Indiana Jones.

In these B-westerns, Lash would do wondrous acts with his whip. He would use the whip to snap the six-gun out of the hand of the villainous opponent. I remember that Lash would even use his whip skills to catch the girl. In my mind even today, I can see Lash throw out the whip wrapping the tail ever so skillfully around some feisty heroine to pull her closer. Of course, as happened in all movies of that time, eventually the heroine succumbed to the advances and rewarded my Lash with a kiss.

The only recognition of Lash as the object of my affection was in my imagination. In my innocence even in my fantasy, I only remember Lash capturing me with his mighty whip. Well, that is my story, and I am sticking to it. If you would like to read about other celebrity crushes, visit Jo Beaufoix.