It was medium brown naturally with reddish-gold tints. If at times it looked lighter, it was because he had been out in the sun by his pool. His eyes were definitely not blue, as often shown in colored photos. They were brown with gold flecks in them. One of the tragedies for me, who knew him well and once was his house guest for two months, was the leaden quality that his eyes eventually took on after the increased drug problems. It seemed as if all the life and sparkling impudence left them.
Steve Hayes
— ivan6gold
Gentleman Tim
February 12, 2015 at 9:27 pm
Thanks so much for that, Steve. Really rare and valuable eye-witness information! I wonder if any of these three photos below accurately capture how he may have looked during various stages of his peak years?
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqjDhxc8e3Q/U0PiqNlxJZI/AAAAAAAAja4/7lN0DCfLfOM/s1600/Port08c.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/flynn2.jpg[/img]
[imghttp://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r180/Samwanda/BLOG%20Errol%20Flynn/Errol06LG.jpg[/img]
ivan6gold
February 13, 2015 at 12:38 am
That’s easy. The pic in the middle. But if you look closely, you can see his hair is darker under the blond highlights obviously caused by the sun. I had dishwater blond hair when I knew Flynn that, like his, turned almost white blond after sunbathing. In those days we didn’t understand the harmful results of sunbathing. Steve (Ivan)
Gentleman Tim
February 13, 2015 at 4:01 am
Thanks, Steve! So cool to hear such inside knowledge!!
Wives excluded, who would you say were some Errol’s his best female friends? Best-looking girlfriends?
How about this guy’s??
[img]http://www.stevehayes.org/covers/youngsteve.jpg[/img]
shangheinz
February 13, 2015 at 12:55 pm
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/aaflynn4.jpg[/img]
Dear T´n`Tim,
concerning Errol and the ladies. There were pets, pals and pearls. He bedded the pets, kidded the pals (Lady Hedy) and worshipped the pearls (Lady Livvie). I think we should start a thread about all girls that Errol proposed to without getting married afterwards.
Gentleman Tim
February 14, 2015 at 1:36 am
An excellent proposal and occasion to engage ourselves in a new pet project, zenithheinz. (zenith being heinz plus a ‘t’, anagramically speaking that is.))
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Be sure to make it a long long long long piece of thread!
wagram
February 14, 2015 at 12:42 am
Steve, a life of adventure and good looks, too! Much like Errol!
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Yeah. Life’s been good to me and for that I’m truly grateful.
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 12:59 am
His favorite girlfriends were Anne Sheridan and Ida Lupino, definitely. As I’ve often said, it never would have surprised me if either one of those gals married EF. Also, though Ava wasn’t high on his list, she was his kind of woman. Probably could have kept up with his boozing too. God, that woman could knock ’em back! hugs
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Though no one has asked, the girl (you can barely see) in the photo beside me was the daughter of a Texas shoe magnate. As I mentioned in the first Googies book, she and her folks came into Clifton’s Cafeteria in LA while I was a busboy there. She asked her dad to ask me to join them for dinner. He did, I did, and the rest is history as they say. That picture was taken at the famous Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. Her dad asked me to move to Texas and become manager of all his stores. Fat chance. I was going to be a gorgeous movie star, wasn’t I?
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 10:42 pm
Then, of course, there was his girlfriend The Geek, as EF called the Princess Irene that he squired around ahead of when he went to Gallup, NM, to film Rocky Mountain. He took her there, cuz that’s where I met her. In fact, he tried to palm her off on me so he’d have free time to woo Pat Wymore, his co-star. But she was only interested in EF.
ivan6gold
February 13, 2015 at 12:41 am
BTW: I’m happy to answer any questions about EF that I can. Just be patient as I’m always deep into one book or another. But those of us who actually were there, owe fans who came later their time and patience and knowledge about any star they knew. hugs to you all, Steve
shangheinz
February 13, 2015 at 12:19 pm
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/aquapulco.jpg[/img]
Dear Steve,
did you ever meet Errol`s shadow, Freddie McEvoy?
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 1:02 am
Yes, but not with Errol. Before coming to the States I was once a lifeguard at the Hotel du Paris in Monte Carlo (Monaco) where he was a frequent visitor. And, like EF, always with knockout women on his arm. Other than suspicious husbands, Freddie didn’t have an enemy in the world!
shangheinz
February 14, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Yes, I know, Steve-O, Errol and Freddie were like two heads on the same neck. Do you maybe know how and where they met for the first time?
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 10:31 pm
Not the first time, no. But remember they knew each other in Australia and then met again when EF was a star and had bought Mulholland House or Farm. F stayed with him in those early years. They were much alike. Both could charm birds from the trees. F sold encyclopedias door-to-door in the States. Women adored him and he married into wealth twice before he married an Algerian or Moroccan gal, Claudine, I think. He kept a flat in Paris near some racetrack. EF really liked Freddie.
Gentleman Tim
February 14, 2015 at 1:38 am
Where might this terrific photo have been taken, fischenheinz?? – Catalina? Santa Cruz Island?
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 8:53 pm
I don’t know. But EF did sail to Catalina when time permitted. Once we went to to hunt wild boars (actually pigs with small tusks that escaped centuries ago when Spanish owned the Island) and another time to spear fish and hunt sharks. Both times we used bows and arrows. H.Hill taught EF to shoot and I polished his technique and bad habits. EF also sailed to Acapulco in the 40s, but not with me.
shangheinz
February 14, 2015 at 9:16 pm
It was taken, if I am not mistaken, in Acapulco. If so, Tailfish Tim, my strong guess is that the man behind the camera was Teddy Stauffer.
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 9:53 pm
It easily could have been. Teddy was the “face” of Acapulco in those days, along with actress Merle Obron. Over the years, with one of my many different wives, we used to stay at the Las Brisas, a series of little casitas on a hillside overlooking the bay. Each had its own private pool and every morning hot rolls, butter, jam and OJ was delivered to our door. Flowers scattered in the pool. And a pink-and-white striped jeep put at our disposal which we drove around town. Pretty heady stuff! Once or twice Merle Obron invited us, and others, to her bayside home (she was married to a Mexican industrialist, I think) to have lunch. Oddly, she used to pump me for anecdotes about Flynn, whom she knew but was reticent about asking. Hmm-mmm. She also had a home in Malibu and Janet and I occasionally sunbathed there. hugs everyone
Gentleman Tim
February 15, 2015 at 1:09 am
Sunbathing in Acapulco up at Merle’s place! Muy cool, Esteban! Must have been quite a home. Featured in Of Love and Desire, I’ve just read (and will have to now look for.)
So funny that Merle pumped you for stories of Errol. Did she ever discuss with you that she sailed with Errol (and Lili) on his maiden voyage to the U.S. on the SS Paris? Do you think she ever had anything going on with Errol? Did she ever claim to you that she was Tasmanian, or Indian??
thepeakofchic.blogspot.com…
[img]http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xt/74155589.jpg?vm1&g=fs2|0|editorial2|55|589&s=1[/img]
David DeWitt
February 15, 2015 at 1:14 am
It’s also well known that Merle had a serious relationship with close Errol chum David Niven and they even lived together at one time. Small world, Hollywood …
Gentleman Tim
February 15, 2015 at 1:17 am
[img]http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7003/6526783223_213e39b8b9.jpg[/img]
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Not sure if my answer ever got logged in. So here it is again. I met Freddie but not with EF. Before coming to the States I was once a lifeguard at the Hotel du Paris in Monte Carlo (monaco) where he was a frequent visitor. And, like EF, he also always had a beautiful gal on his arm. Other than suspicious husbands, Freddie didn’t have any enemies.
shangheinz
February 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm
I know that Freddie Mac was big in Cap d`Ántibes too. He probably learned underwater diving and harpooning there from a guy caled Guy Gilpatrick, just like my fellow Austrian marine biologist, the late Dr. Hans Hass. See: www.julz.com…
wagram
February 14, 2015 at 12:32 am
Hi Steve, I am enjoying, for the second time, your two books about you and Googies. I grew up in the same era and just love Hollywood history. I remember so much from those days. I love the Errol Flynn blog and am glad to let you know I remember you. Thanks for your Errol info in your books and blog.
David DeWitt
February 14, 2015 at 2:50 am
This is a two book volume of Steve’s memoirs. A great read with a wonderful section about his friendship wth Errol!
wagram
February 14, 2015 at 7:26 pm
David, There is more about Steve Hayes, including his picture, in “Errol Flynn Slept Here,” by Robert Matzen and Michael Mazzone. He writes about his meeting with Bruce Cabot in both books. Great reading!
David DeWitt
February 14, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Indeed! Steve is an amazing writer and knew so many of the stars who frequented the area where Googies located. He knew them not just from Googies but from the studios, and the parties, and friendships he developed with them over the years. You can tell from his comments that he has much more to tell if only we could get him to sit down and tell so much more about his amazing life!
ivan6gold
February 14, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Dear wagram: I hope your memories of me are good ones. When you’re 19 and have your head in the tinseltown clouds, and immersed in the center of Googies’ glorious and ego-boosting lifestyle, it wasn’t always easy to realize I was just another lucky guy at the right place at the right time. But thanks to Janet and my circle of pals, male and female, they did their best to keep my feet on the ground. hugs, Steve
wagram
February 15, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Steve, I admire your writing about yourself with such honesty. I especially liked your standing up to Bruce Cabot. I have heard he, at the end of his life, was asking John Wayne to help him find work. After taking Errol for broke, it’s hard to believe he would be asking for a job. Did you ever see him again after that notable meeting?
timerider
February 14, 2015 at 3:56 pm
It’s hard to capture the true image of any actor due to the glamour shots, lighting, time of season etc etc etc. I was called a California blond on the east coast as my hair went light in summer and dark in winter with red tints. I had waves like Errol and at my age now I miss them, LOL. My dad had the same hair color more as Errol and his eyes were hazel,brown, whatever, in different light and clothes.
All these wonderful photos are making Rory very happy. I’m sure she enjoys this blog more than any! I must get Steve’s book!
Tony
January 13, 2017 at 5:21 am
Damn, he was a good looking man. I always look at the upper half of his face because it reminds me of his pictures as a child. I find him easier to understand if I see him as the 16 year old boy he was when he ran away from home.