Legendary actress, Katharine Hepburn, born in Hartford, Connecticut and who called Old Saybrook, Connecticut her paradise, will be honored this year with a U.S. postal stamp. It will be unveiled on the 4-time Academy Award winning actress’s birthday which is May 12th.

Hepburn made more than 40 films. Hepburn was known for doing it “her” way and paved the way for women to be independent and free thinkers.

It is the hope of those of us on the Board of Trustees of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, that the stamp may be presented at her namesake theater in Old Saybrook.

The Washington Post has a look at all the recipients of stamps this year. Those being honored include Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa cowboy, Roy Rogers, Kate Smith of “God Bless America” song fame, and Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge.

Board of Trustee, Member, Elaine Staplins, a native Old Saybrookian, was among the initial select group of folks to help open the theater. Elaine has been keeping a close watch on the Hepburn stamp, she has known it was going to happen for several years. We thank Elaine for all she has done and continues to do, she is amazing.

So keep your fingers crossed that the theater will get national media coverage when the stamp is unveiled this spring.

For more on the Hepburn stamp you can go to Playbill’s blog written by Judy Samelson who is an authority on Miss Hepburn. Thank you so much, Judy!

See you at “The Kate!”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

I’ve read every New York newspaper backward and forward for the past 15 years. I don’t smoke. I only drink champagne when I’m lucky enough to get it. My hair is naturally natural. –Katharine Hepburn, “Desk Set” (1957)

Want to know about what’s abuzz at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center? Read for yourself in an article written by Jean Cherni in Sunday’s New Haven Register.

Jean writes:
“Is there any reader unfamiliar with the name, Katharine Hepburn? An icon, even by Hollywood’s flamboyant standards, Miss Hepburn earned twelve Oscar nominations, a record four Oscars, and the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

Katharine Hepburn brought, and continues to bring, so much pleasure as well as insight into the human character, it is altogether fitting that Connecticut, where she was born (Hartford, 1907), and the town of Old Saybrook in which she lived, now creates a theater and cultural arts center in her memory.”As accomplished on the stage as she was on the screen, Kate starred in theatrical productions as diverse as, “The Philadelphia Story” (later made into a movie, as well), “The Madwoman of Chaillot,” and “Coco,” based on the life of Coco Chanel.

Movies featuring the perfectly pitched pairing of Hepburn with Spencer Tracy like “Adams Rib” and “The Desk Set” are still favorites on late-night movie channels. And I still get teary-eyed anytime I re-watch her poignant performances in “Summertime” and “The Rainmaker.”

See you at “The Kate.”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

This biography on Marion Hepburn Grant, sister of Katharine Hepburn, is fabulous. It was written by Grant’s daughter, actress Katharine Houghton Grant (”Guess who’s Coming to Dinner?”) and published in 1989, three years after the death of Marion.

The book is out of print, but I found a copy on ebay. You will be able to find this book in some Connecticut libraries in Old Saybrook and perhaps at the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford. It is a sweet tale about the sister of Katharine Hepburn as told by Hepburn’s niece, Katharine.

Among the pictures included, is one of big sister Katharine with Marion, and another of Marion and sister, Margaret (Peg). Peg was often mistaken for Katharine, you can see why.

The book entails what it was like growing up in the Hepburn household and the causes for which they all stood.

It is truly an enjoyable read, it will give you an in depth look at the real lives of the Hepburns.

See you at “The Kate.”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

Lady Katharine Cruises are named after, yes, you guessed it, Katharine Hepburn, a native of Hartford, Connecticut.

Five years ago the cruises began winding their way up down the Connecticut River. On board there is food and music and amazing scenery from the ship, including The Goodspeed Opera House which is right on the water. Hepburn spent a lot of time seeing shows there and visiting its long time Executive Director, Michael Price.

Hepburn’s former mansion in Fenwick, is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River.

So when you travel to The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center next year to see a show, you may want to continue to immerse yourself in all things Hepburn by jumping on the “Lady Kate.”

See you at “The Kate.”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC

What a fun book this is! It includes two Connecticut fast-talking dames, Katharine Hepburn and Rosalind Russell. Hepburn was of course from Hartford and Russell was from Waterbury.

The book, “Fast-Talking Dames,” was written by Princeton University English Professor, Maria DiBattista.

Dibattista says as a kid she was fascinated by the women in Hollywood who could hold their own with any leading man. She found them to be confident and smart and witty. This was saying something about some of the movies in the 1930’s and ’40’s, it was at a time when women weren’t usually portrayed that way.

Thinking it was worth writing about, DiBattista did just that holding in high esteem those women who were brash, and bold, and bright.

Ms. DiBattista, come see us at “The Kate,” we’ll be showing some of those old movies that spurred you on.

See you at “The Kate.”
Ann Nyberg, Trustee, KHCAC