Frankfort’s Supporting Actor Geer’s casting stood. Soon after, Houseman was recruited adding, ‘They may not be liberals, but they are willing to as director of the American Shakespeare Theater in accept variety.” Stratford, Connecticut. Geer followed close behind, stay­ In his later years, Geer continued working for peace and ing with the company for five full seasons and even help­ human rights, helping to support such new causes as solar ing to landscape the theater’s grounds. Settling comfortably energy and rights for senior citizens. In 1977 he was sum­ in Stratford, he was soon running his own Folksay Theater moned to appear before another House of Representatives in New York’s Greenwich Village. Within a few years, he special committee. This time, however, he was being asked had clawed his way back onto Broadway stages. Still, the to testify against mandatory retirement policies. In an ironic Hollywood blacklist held firm. reversal of his circumstances twenty-six years before, Geer That particular barrier fell in 1962 when director Otto enjoyed near-reverential treatment from the assembled Preminger cast Geer in Advise and Consent. In a 1978 inter­ representatives and was hailed by committee chairperson view with journalist Gregory Catsos, Geer quoted Claude Pepper as a “great American.” Sadly, this was to be Preminger as saying, “I have two parts—one is the major­ one of the last in the series of noble causes to which Geer ity leader in the Senate. I cannot give you that—Hedda had dedicated his life. On 22 April 1978 the actor died Hopper would kill me. The other is the minority leader— from a respiratory ailment. you are perfect for that role. Your hair is too long, you “For well over half a century,” Geer once said, “I have have gravy spots on your vest, and you talk all the time.” never gone a day without getting acquainted with some With his acceptance, Geer became one of the first black­ other person, and in all those times I’ve only had my face listed actors to return to the silver screen. slapped once and been called a few names.” It had been writ­ From 1962 on, Geer seldom lacked for work. Though ten in 1939 that the genial actor’s assembled friends could he had become grayer and heavier, audiences recognized fill New York’s Manhattan Center. Forty years later, they him in such films as Seconds, In Cold Blood, Jeremiah Johnson, had no trouble packing Geer’s own theater for a funeral cel­ and many others. He continued to enjoy success on the ebration. Surrounded by the scent of flowers and a lush stage, appearing in salutes to Mark Twain, Robert Frost, growth of Shakespearean herbs, a throng of visitors paid trib­ and Walt Whitman. Television provided Geer with yet ute to their longtime friend. another show business medium to conquer, and he became Crowds have continued to gather each summer at the Will a frequent guest star on The Bold Ones, Mission: Impossible, Geer Theatricum Botanicum, as the Geer family has Bonanza, and other popular programs before settling in as extended Will’s tradition of presenting Shakespeare plays, a cultural icon on CBS’s The Waltons in 1972. “If you live folksinging, acting lessons—even cause benefits. And it is long enough,” he was fond of saying, “everything good on those sunny afternoons, when music and laughter are will happen to you—even a television series.” Indeed, carried through the theater’s gardens on warm, gentle almost everything did seem to have happened for Geer. breezes, that Will Geer’s spirit still presides—alive and well. He had appeared in every major form of twentieth-century American theater. He had supported many of the great­ The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 est actors of both this and the last century. He had been North Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Topanga, CA 90290. For honored with a 1974 Emmy for Best Supporting Actor. further'information, call the Theatricum box office at (310) 455- He had also returned to his beloved Topanga Canyon, 2322. where he, Herta, and their children enjoyed a reconcili­ ation as they improved and expanded their family the­ Evan Finch is an advertising copywriter from Indianapolis. This ater, christening it the Theatricum Botanicum. is his first articlefor Traces. Geer would also enjoy a reunion of sorts with his home­ For Further Reading town, returning for a “Will Geer Days” celebration in June Fariello, Griffin. Red Scare: Memories of the American 1976. He had visited sporadically over the years, present­ Inquisition. New York: Avon Books, 1995. ing a high school convocation in 1965 and attending his Robbin, Edward, Jr. Woody Guthrie and Me: An Intimate class’s fiftieth reunion in 1969. This time, he performed at Reminiscence. Berkeley: Lancaster-Miller Publishers, Frankfort’s Red Barn Theatre, visited with friends at Wesley 1979. Manor retirement home, recited Shakespeare, read poetry, Strait, Raymond. Star Babies. New York: St. Martin’s Press, and reminisced publicly about his younger days. 1979. Judging from an interview shortly afterward, Geer may On the Internet have been surprised at the warmth of his hometown recep­ The Waltons Official Home Page— tion. Hoosiers “allow people to be different,” he mused, http://www.the-waltons.com/

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