Walking Out There Naked – By Jack Neworth

Written by: on 9th September 2012
Walking Out There Naked - By Jack Neworth  |

By: Jack Neworth

Saturday, September 8th, is the birthday of one of tennis’ most legendary and beloved former stars, Gertrude “Gussy” Moran. As for how many candles will adorn the cake, it’s not gentlemanly to ask a woman. So let’s just say Gussy was born during the “Roaring 20’s.” The glamorous era was marked by jazz, “flappers” (women flamboyantly flouting convention), art deco, idolized sports heroes and movie stars. (In a way, Gussy was both.)

The roaring 20’s is perfect term for the beautiful and adventuresome Gussy. Among the things she did well in her rambunctious youth, was roar. Without question Gussy’s most outlandish took place in 1949 at Wimbledon. A fan of fashion, Gussy wanted to make a bold statement. Instead, she shocked the world. Well, at least the tennis world. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

Gussy’s Santa Monica, California childhood was idyllic. The picturesque seaside city was undeveloped and even more of a paradise then than now. Free-spirited, Gussy was tall with long legs and a natural athlete in tennis, then considered a glamorous and high society sport.

Gussy’s father was a sound technician and electrician at Universal Studios. Gussy even worked as an extra in movies and her tennis group enjoyed Sunday soirees at Charlie Chaplin’s Hollywood Hills mansion. (Gussy once even had lunch alone with Mr. Chaplin, an avid and highly skilled tennis player. Not surprisingly, he had excellent footwork.)

The Morans lived in a palatial Queen Anne style Victorian home at 1323 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica which was built around 1890. Today it’s used as elegant office space just south of the art deco Shangri-la Hotel.

On a bluff across the street from the beach, Ocean Avenue was a parade of artistic Victorian homes and Gussy’s, built by her grandfather, was among the most beautiful. (Years ago there used to be a gold plaque on the wall acknowledging Gussy’s contribution to Santa Monica but, as with so many precious landmarks in today’s world, it’s gone.)

But paradise changed with WW2. When Gussy was 17 her older brother was declared missing in action. Devastated, she went to work at Douglas Aircraft in Ocean Park. (Like the cultural icon, “Rosie the Riveter”, who represented women working in factories to support the war effort.) Gussy also joined USO tours to California hospitals and military bases.

After the war, Gussy was one of the best (and most attractive) female tennis players in the country. She was the epitome of a fun-loving and adventure-seeking Southern California beauty, a liberated woman before her time. And 1949 was a great year. Coached by the legendary Bill Tilden, she won the Triple Crown at the U.S. indoors: Singles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles with tennis great, Pancho Gonzalez. Which brings us to Wimbledon.

In anticipation of her very first appearance at the All England Club, Gussy exchanged numerous letters about her outfit with Wimbledon host and innovative fashion designer, Teddy Tinling. (Birth name Cuthbert Collingwood Tinling. English enough for you?) A fascinating character, the 6 foot 6 inch Tinling was also a spy and an author, and was a fixture on the tennis scene for 60 years.

But back to Gussy’s infamous outfit. She wanted each sleeve to be a different color and the skirt to be a third. But Wimbledon insisted on white clothes only, so the daring Tinling designed an ensemble that complied with the rule but would knock the tennis world on its collective fanny.

In fact, Gussy’s tennis dress was so short that her ruffled lace knickers might be visible during a match. Advance word sent shockwaves through the tennis community. And sure enough, on June 20th, when Gussy strolled onto the hallowed Centre Court, her knickers peeked out below the dress’ hem.

The stuffy All-England Club was mortified. Chaos reigned as photographers fought for the best space from which to lay flat on the ground to catch the most risque; shots of Gussy’s powerhouse serve (and knickers.) The story “went viral” around the globe but not without a price for Gussy.

High society newspapers labeled the outfit “vulgar” and “sinful”. As Gussy lamented, “I couldn’t have caused more of a stir if I was walking out there naked.” (The title of a proposed book about Gussy’s flamboyant life.)

Such was the outrage, Ted Tinling was asked to “take a leave”; from his Wimbledon position that would last for thirty years! But the event left Gussy forever known as “Gorgeous” Gussy. A ship was named after her. So was a play. And a racehorse. Gussy would turn pro, travel the world, host a TV sports and interview show on KNBC in Los Angeles, become a sports newscaster at WMGM in New York City and even appear in the hit Hepburn/Tracy movie Pat and Mike.

In every life a little rain must fall, and Gussy had her share of storms, including three failed marriages. In 1970 she was on a USO tour to Vietnam when her helicopter was shot down. She suffered broken and dislocated bones. But the worst came with her mother’s death in 1977 and, much like Tara in Gone with the Wind or Belle Reve in A Streetcar Named Desire, Gussy lost the beloved family home. Only this tragedy was real.

And yet, in looking back on it all, philosophic Gussy is still high spirited as she reflects on the ups and downs of her rich life. Today she lives in a Hollywood apartment with 3 cats. And she also has another great love, tennis. From all of us to you, happy birthday Gussy!

(An avid tennis fan, Jack Neworth writes a humor column every Friday in the Santa Monica Daily Press at www.smdp.com. He is also the co-author of “Men in White”, a screenplay about tennis legend Pancho Gonzalez and his rollercoaster forty-five-year friendship with fellow HOF player Pancho Segura. Jack can be reached at jnsmdp@aol.com)

 

 

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