Author and pop culture icon Truman Capote is usually associated with his book title claim-to-fames, such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and his true crime novel, “In Cold Blood,” or his 1980s TV talk show guest persona paired with his 1970s outrageous reputation as one of the familiar guests at New York City’s decadent Studio 54 nightclub.
But there’s also another side to the complex and creative person embodied by Capote, who died at age 59 in 1984.
At this time of year, John Cain, executive director of South Shore Arts, reminds others it was Capote who also penned the 1966 book “A Christmas Memory,” which he describes as a touching memoir of Capote’s childhood “as a wistful Southern Christmas tale of a rare friendship across generations.”
Cain is showcasing Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” as the selection for his 25th Anniversary South Shore Arts John Cain Annual Holiday Luncheon Reading at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 in the dining room at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, in Munster. Tickets are $50 by calling 219-836-1839, Ext. 103.
“This is my 25th year as the executive director for South Shore Arts, “ said Cain, who was born and raised in Gary.
“The first time I ever did a holiday reading luncheon as a charity event was also my first year in this position back in 1994. ‘A Christmas Memory’ by Capote was the selection I featured that first year. That first luncheon had a tremendous response of 300-plus guests. I remember I wrote and sent all of these personal notes to all of the ‘ladies who lunch’ crowd from around Northwest Indiana, and the event has been a success ever since.”
Originally published as a feature article in Mademoiselle magazine in December 1956, “A Christmas Memory” captures the folksy atmosphere of Capote’s youth with the aroma of pecan pies and the flickering of candles in the windows of homes back in December of a 1930s Alabama. It follows the dreams of a young boy named Buddy (the name Capote used as a youth) and his friendship with his eccentric relatives, including his much older cousin and best friend, “Sook.”
Capote lived with “a spinster aunt,” according to his description, and one of his favorite traditions was helping his relatives mail fruitcakes to everyone from actress Jean Harlow to President Franklin Roosevelt, as a means to feel a connection to the famous names of the day.
The story also includes references to Capote’s childhood neighbor pal, “Nelle,” the little girl who grew up to be author Nelle Harper Lee who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“I’ve always loved Capote’s Christmas recollection and I remember being 11 years old and reading portions of ‘A Christmas Memory’ to my mother’s DAR luncheon group,” said Cain, who is often told he resembles Capote.
“I grew up watching Truman Capote on TV talk shows, but I never expected to grow up looking like him.”
“A Christmas Memory” also aired in 1966 as an episode of ABC network’s “ABC Stage 67” with the original TV adaptation starring Capote as the narrator. It won a Peabody Award and Emmy Award for Capote, as well as an Emmy for actress Geraldine Page’s leading performance as Capote’s eccentric childlike adult cousin Sook. Hallmark later remade the movie as a TV special in 1997, this time, with Patty Duke playing the role of Sook.
“Even though it was made into an award-winning TV special, ‘A Christmas Memory’ is still not always ranked as a traditional holiday story everyone recalls,” said Cain, who starred as Capote in a one-man play titled “Tru” in 2009 at Towle Theater in Hammond.
“I never met or saw the actual Truman Capote in person. However, one of my prized keepsakes connected to Capote came when I was 30 years old and I purchased a used copy of ‘A Christmas Memory’ from a book store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The book not only turned out be a first edition, it was also signed by Capote, making it extra special.”
Philip Potempa has published three cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. Mail questions to From the Farm, P.O. Box 68, San Pierre, IN 46374.
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