When I was in New York this past week, I told Prudence Bury-Fuchs and her friends Mike and Christine O’Neal the story of my late mother’s friendship with a man named Ted Montague. My mother, Joanne Waffle, met Ted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where they graduated in 1946. As seen below, Ted went by the name Peter Montague. Another graduate was David Andrews, later known as ‘Tige’ Andrews. Vince Beck was a well-known character actor who appeared in many TV shows, especially during the Sixties.
How I learned of Ted Montague was typical of a lot of things my mother told me later in her life, because it was something my sisters knew, and she was sure I did too, but I didn’t. It was 1996, and my parents had retired. My mother’s lungs weren’t doing well, the result of decades of cigarettes, and she was looking for a place to move in the southwest. She had made several trips to Arizona to look at properties, and before one of those trips she called and said that of course I knew that she had to postpone it. I said I did not know that, and I asked her what happened. She made reference to George dying, and my father’s name is George, so that really threw me for a moment. But then I realized she was talking about George Burns, and I said of course I knew Burns had died a few days before, but what did that have to do with anything?
It turned out that my mother had been looking at houses with the help of Ted Montague, who was retired himself, and living in Tucson. At some point in the 1940’s, Ted became friends with George Burns and Gracie Allen, and he worked as their personal secretary for many years. When Burns died, Montague attended the funeral, and from what my mother said he also had some related business matters to attend to. Here is a picture of Ted with Gracie, and some other friends.
After Gracie’s death in 1964, George helped set up Montague with an interior decorating shop in Beverly Hills. When my mother told me about it I said, “Mom, I, uh, think your friend Ted is probably gay.” To which she replied, with great effect, “Well, DUH, son!” This is Ted with a boyfriend. I suppose it’s the sort of snapshot that gay men kept in a locked drawer, back in those days.
With Ted’s help, my mother found a house near Phoenix, and my father lives there to this day. A few years after my parents moved there, Ted Montague passed away. I think it’s great my mother had a lifelong friendship with Ted, and it’s to my father’s credit that he saw it for what it was, and let it be.
Fri., Feb. 12, 1999
Rodney Theodore Montague
By VARIETY STAFFRodney Theodore “Ted” Montague, who spent 18 years as personal secretary to George Burns and Gracie Allen, died Jan. 16 of complications from emphysema in Tucson. He was 77.
Following his many years with Burns and Allen, he moved over to the MGM music department for a short stint before opening a decorating and refinishing shop on Melrose Ave.
Well known in Beverly Hills social circles, Montague retired to Tucson to be near his family.
He is survived by a sister and numerous nieces and nephews.
John — Thanks very much for writing. I’m very glad this post has been getting attention. There are numerous letters and Christmas cards from Ted my mother saved that I have not seen yet.
Just this minute a relative of Mr. Montague knocked on my door here on Rugby and introduced me to Ted and his history. And through the magic of google i came to find this story. What a pleasure to meet and know Ted thru this post. Thank you.
That’s an interesting bit of information. Benny of course had impeccable timing.
Ted worked as a dialogue coach for Jack Benny.
Jack — Thanks very much for your comment. I have been hoping that somebody who knew Ted would spot this post. I’m sorry you were not able to connect with him before his passing.
I knew Ted Montague….met him when I worked for Mike Hamilton refinishing furniture in the mid 60’s. He later worked for me at Putman-Erwin doing the same kind of work. He had so many stories to tell. I also lived around the corner from him on Westmount Dr…he lived on Rugby. I’ve often thought of him and tried to locate him through-out the years. I ‘ve been living in Houston for many years. Thanks for your stories!!
Screw my therapist! I’m going to namedrop, anyway! What does he know, he’s barely over 30! 😉 And yes, it was me who first found that photo of Ted and Agnes. I was snooping in the attic. “Bewitched” was in its second season, and what a find, but boy, did I ever get in trouble with Mom for going through her personal stuff.
Since it’s well-known that George Burns was great friends with Jack Benny, I assumed that “Teddy” must have met Jack more than once during his time as George & Gracie’s secretary. Why am I telling you this? Because Jack played “Babbs Babberly” in “Charley’s Aunt” in 1941. I just got done playing Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez (played by the lovely Kay Francis in the movie) in “Charley’s Aunt.” I told of my “connection” to Jack Benny via Teddy to only a few of the cast members, but I was dubbed the “good luck” piece for the play, which seemed doomed from the start (bad director).
Not only did we sell out nearly every performance, some people came back to see it two and three times! When I signed the back of the set on the last night, I dedicated my performance to Ted Montague, and George and Gracie Allen, of course.
Thanks, Paul. I’ve been waiting a long time for the right occasion to tell that story. But I bet you’ll find this one even more interesting:
http://www.dograt.com/2007/01/01/vince-beck/
My mother’s friend Vince Beck would visit our house in the 60’s. He was in three episodes of ‘The Monkees’ and two episodes of ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’
Doug,
This was a great post! What a nice story…thanks for sharing it…
The ages of graduates seemed to be all over the place.
Teddy’s Christmas cards always stood out from the others–usually some gorgeous museum reproduction of a Renaissance painting. And he had AMAZING handwriting.
I am slightly surprised to see that he was that much older than Mom, who died at age 77 in 2005. I suppose Ted did something else before attending the Academy–perhaps worked to save money for it. (Of course, Mom was young for her grade, which would account for one year of the difference.)