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Here's a fun little thread for your Tuesday afternoon. Back in August 1967, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco headed to California to hang out with her old Hollywood pals. At a party, they were introduced to their friends' favorite new game: Newton, USA.
The premise was simple: what if we were just regular people instead of movie stars? One night, while a bunch of them were bored, they began inventing the names and lives they'd have if they all lived in a little town in the midwest. They named it "Newton, USA."
Paul Newman was Roger Henderson, the local movie projectionist. Joanne Woodward was his wife, Leona, who always reminded everyone that she went to Bennington.
Natalie Wood was Mary Frances Peterman, "usherette" at the movie theater. Roddy McDowall was Homer Box, the local accountant who pined after Mary Frances.
Natalie's once and future husband, Bob Wagner, and his second wife, Marion Marshall, were Dwayne and Ada Clark. Dwayne had no discernible occupation, but everybody knew his family had money.
Linda Lawson and her husband, producer John Foreman, were Vi and Art "Skeets" Wilkins. Skeets sold ladies' shoes.
Henry and Shirlee Fonda were Lloyd and Wilma Potts. Lloyd was the town's "trusted mailman." (*cough #SaveUSPS *cough*)
Steve and Neile McQueen were Leon Brown, Jr., and his wife, Rosita. Leon was -- very appropriately -- Newton's local mechanic.
Jason Robards and Lauren Bacall were Sven and Gretchen Heeholder. Sven worked at the airport, Gretchen ran a women's clothing store.
Rosalind Russell and her husband, producer Frederick Brisson, were Elspeth and Carl Dugan. Elspeth was a stenographer, Carl was the Roto-Rooter man.
Costume designer Donfeld was Roy-Earl Rickenbacker, who ran the local record shop. Cloris Leachman was Rita Bascomb, the town's "lady roofer."
Lee Remick and her husband, director Bill Colleran, were Rayjean and F. Donald Hooper, Newton's manicurist and moritician.
Joan Collins and her husband, Anthony Newley, were Harriet and Dwayne Smythe. He sold hair products at the local A&P, and she bought them.
Peter Sellers was Lambert Cox, Newton's optometrist. Julie Andrews was Laverne Karnes, who sold hosiery.
Polly Bergen and her husband, the agent/producer Freddie Fields, were Bootsie and Arnold Johnson. He sold used cars.
Faye Dunaway was the local beautician, Helen Smeader. Rock Hudson was farmer Russell "Moose" Burgess.
Tony Franciosa was Manuel "Bud" Fragazzi, who ran the local saloon. His wife, Judy Balaban -- one of Princess Grace's bridesmaids -- was Bernadine Rasmussen, who wrote the society column and ran the lunch counter at the bus depot.
As you can imagine, Grace and Rainier immediately wanted to become Newtonites. They were dubbed Edgar and Olga Brooker. He sold "coal, lumber and charcoal briquets," while she taught dance lessons to the local kids "for practically nothing."
Delightfully, Rainier and Grace continued to be known as Edgar and Olga by their friends for decades. Also delightful is Judith Balaban Quine's book, THE BRIDESMAIDS, where you can read this full story! https://amzn.to/2z2iJGv
