Olivia de Havilland’s 100th Birthday–Yes, She’s Still Alive and Looks Great–Reminds Me of a Funny Story

I happened to see a picture of legendary actress Olivia de Havilland online and learned it was because she's celebrating her 100th birthday this weekend. And she looks SENSATIONAL!

Yes, the Golden Age of Hollywood icon--star of Gone with the Wind, the creepy Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and countless others--is still alive (although you couldn't be blamed if you thought she wasn't) and has lived quietly in Paris for many years now, and the press she's receiving for this milestone birthday reminded me of a funny story.

I've said many times that when I was a kid, I only ever saw two animated Disney movies at the theatre.

I mostly went to see live-action movies--and yes, THEY were from Disney.

But one time, Mom took me and my sister to the Plaza Twin to see Gone with the Wind. It was 1972 and a few years before they started airing it on network television. And maybe this was before it became a twin cinema. I believe it was.

(Remember the Plaza Twin Theatre in Wesleyan Park Plaza?)

When we got there, Gone with the Wind was...well...gone. And in its place was the future HUGE box-office smash, The Poseidon Adventure.

So...we stayed and watched The Poseidon Adventure, PG-rated language and all.

Don't think for one second that didn't make a 6-year-old very uncomfortable sitting there next to his mother.

Anyway, that was the beginning of the 1970s disaster-movie craze and I saw them all.

And that might never have happened if Gone with the Wind had still been playing in that theatre near me.

Fun memory.

Thanks, Olivia de Havilland...and happy birthday!

(EDITOR'S NOTE: In the interest of full disclosure, I HATE Gone with the Wind, but when your mom thinks you need to see a movie, you go.)