Gloria Stuart was two years old when the Titanic sank, eighty-seven when she starred as “Old Rose” in the movie Titanic, and fifty when she fell in love with the art of bonsai.
Over the next several weeks, I'll be sharing the picture book I wrote to accompany a bonsai demonstration I presented in memory of Gloria.
Just added: Part Two: Gloria's Bonsai Beginnings
Part One: Gloria's Hollywood Years
Gloria Stuart is known around the world as an actress. In the 1930s, she appeared in over 42 films, including The Invisible Man, Gold Diggers of 1935, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. In 1997, at the age of 87, she landed the role of a lifetime: the 100-year-old Rose in the movie Titanic.
Gloria and Claude Rains starred in The Invisible Man, 1933.
Dick Powell crooned to Gloria in Gold Diggers of 1935.
Gloria and Shirley Temple in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, 1938.
Gloria as “Old Rose” with Bill Paxton and Suzy Amis in Titanic, 1997.
Gloria at the 1998 Academy Awards. She was the oldest person to be Oscar-nominated (for Supporting Actress as “Old Rose”).
Credit: Chris Pizzello/Associated Press
Gloria with James Cameron when she was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
Credit: Getty Images
Part Two: Gloria's Bonsai Beginnings
In southern California, Gloria is also known as a talented bonsai artist who spent half a lifetime styling and nurturing her precious trees. Her first encounter with bonsai was at a Hollywood party hosted by J.J. Cohen, then Vice-President of Paramount Pictures.
Shortly thereafter, in 1960, she began a fifty-year commitment to the art. Frank Nagata, co-founder of California Bonsai Society and Gloria's first teacher, sponsored her to become a member of CBS in the mid 1960's.
Founders photos were featured in the first Bonsai in California magazine, 1967.
One of her shohin trees was photographed for the first Bonsai In California magazine under her married name Gloria Sheekman.
Gloria was one of five members who contributed shohin to this collection for the first Bonsai in California magazine.
Gloria's Hinoki cypress (which she called a “Sawara cypress”) in Bonsai in California, Volume 11, 1978.
Gloria's Prostrata root-over-rock in Bonsai in California, Volume 18, 1985.
When Frank retired from teaching, Gloria studied with John Naka, another co-founder of the club. She worked on her trees and participated in exhibitions.
Gloria purchased bonsai material from nurseries, but also gathered elm seedlings below the large tree in her front yard to create two elm root-over-rock bonsai.
Gloria always loved forests, so she arranged the remaining seedlings in one group planting. Over the years, she also created forests with ginkgo and olive.
Three beautiful bonsai got their start in Gloria's front yard.