Back in July of 2016, Olivia de Havilland gave a interview with People Magazine on turning 100.
During the course of that interview came an inevitable question:
Asked if there’s any advice she’d give to her younger self, she replies, “Take a long leave of absence from the Warner contract and go to Mills College, where the scholarship I had won in 1934 is still waiting for me!”
Now, I have a connection with this small women’s (undergraduate) and coed (graduate) college located in Oakland, California. And needless to say they were both DELIGHTED AND SURPRISED to have received this ultimate of complements.
I have since been informed that this complement is to be returned and the missed opportunity corrected of a sort:
“We are so thrilled to honor Olivia de Havilland at commencement this year on May 12th. Her daughter will be here to receive the honorary degree on her behalf. Such exciting times!”
So congratulations, in advance, to the soon to be GRADUATE!
— Karl
Brava for Olivia! While there at it, she should be honored with a J.D. at USC for her recent legal heroics there, as well as all she did in the 40s in taking on all the greedy moguls of Hollywood.
www.google.com…
www.latimes.com…
If anyone deserves it, this grand lady does many times over!
As our world continues to change, I will miss Livvie and so many others like her that gave us all so much. Better late than never!
Isn’t this WONDERFUL? Thanks Karl!
Wow, this is so cool. Are you on Twitter, Karl? If so, you should post a screenshot and tag it #TCMParty. I know a lot of people in that community would be interested to see it :)
Very nice, thanks
Aren’t we lucky to still have Maid Marian among us!
Long live Lady Livvie!
www.youtube.com…
Some more particulars from OdH’s honorary degree event:
Mills College
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
510.430.2255
Commencement 2018
“During the ceremony, Mills will award an honorary degree to the renowned film actress and actors’ rights advocate Olivia de Havilland—now approaching age 102—who was accepted to the College in 1934, but who was lured to Hollywood on a studio contract. She harbors some regret for her missed Mills opportunity: she recently remarked to People magazine that her advice to her younger self would have been, “Take a long leave of absence from the Warner contract and go to Mills College where the scholarship I had won in 1934 is still waiting for me!”
Schedule of Activities
Commencement Ceremony, Saturday, May 12
9:45 am, Holmgren Meadow
Join President Elizabeth L. Hillman and the Class of 2018 for the presentation of an honorary degree to Olivia de Havilland, a 102-year-old Hollywood actress …”
So, if you are curious and in the neighborhood…
The celebration of the 130th Commencement took place this past Saturday. Olivia’s daughter and son-in-law were present to receive her honorary degree. Attached is a photo of the handwritten/drawn degree.
www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
PS Other news… Olivia is supposedly taking her legal fight to the California Supreme Court!
Awesome, Karl! Thanks.
One or more of the big Cali law schools should follow suit with an honorary law degree. Berkeley, or example.
Here is one of her landmark Iegal achievements, California Labor Code, Section 2855, aja “the Dehavilland Law”.
law.justia.com…
Keep rockin’ the boat, Olivia!
[img]https://media.giphy.com/media/7kN1XNNSGPBPa/giphy.webp[/img]
Next, one or more of the big Cali law schools should give her an honorary J.D. for her heroic legal achievements, resulting in the following landmark court decision and labor code.
scholar.google.com…
law.justia.com…