Blogger Writes about Rona’s Autobiography, “Miss Rona”

BLOG

Books I’ve Read
May 3, 2010

Miss Rona, By Rona Barrett

An Autobiography. Rona Barrett climbed her way to the top of Hollywood and New York’s fan magazines, and later become a prominent TV personality. As a child she could barely lift herself off the floor, or climb stairs. One day, children- from school- followed Rona home, calling her a cripple, and poked her with sticks. Her only ally against the attack, was a freshly tarred tree, until a kind friend came to her rescue. She would remember that day for all eternity; its foul feelings fueled her relentless quest to reach the pinnacle of success. That coupled with her mother’s constant hovering, and whisking Rona away to every doctor in the country who said he could get the bottom of her disease. This combination spurred Rona to fight for her own personal freedom; “she would be a star some day.” The once lonely fat kid in school, became a celebrity among celebrities. At the age of thirteen, Rona- fast talked her way to founding the Eddie Fisher fan club; which made his career. Seven days a week she, a crippled girl, who couldn’t climb stairs easily; took the subway to the production studio. Her mother hated it; but Rona had cut the emotional cord.

Rona struggled to overcome her fat, crippled body. She figured, if she was smart enough, talented enough, valuable enough to enough people- then someone would love and marry the real Rona. Her mother’s words rang in her head, “Who’s going to want to marry her Harry?” She often played a reel in her head of how it would be… first with Eddie Fisher, then with Marc. She rewrote the script when things didn’t work out as planned. Her ability to rewrite her life in her mind, enabled her to maneuver each step of her career; climbing to the top. Like the subway steps that first challenged her, she learned to visualize herself, a determined and successful Rona- standing on the top of the stairs.

Her career brought her to both coasts- Hollywood and New York. She knew practically everyone in the business: where they hung out- she received invitations to parties, red carpet events, etc…. Her inner circle of friends included; the Sinatra family, Frankie Avalon, Bob Marcucci -a prominent Hollywood promoter, Tommy Sands, Jimmy Darren, Bobby Darren, Mickey Callen, and Fabie. She protected these stars like family. Later in her career, some of these stars’ character changed, and Rona told their real story; mainly Tommy Sands, Frankie Avalon, and the Sinatra’s.

At the age of thirty-six, Rona Barrett’s loneliness in her personal life, forced her to seek help from a psychiatrist. She went 2 hours a day, three times a week, for six months. It cost her $1000.00 a month. In the mid seventies, that was a large sum of money. Asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a strength. With the help of her psychotherapist, Rona was able to sort out her own struggle, and eventually surrender control. All her life she’d worked to be in control of how her disease affected her. In her mind she was still crippled and not fully alive; so she attracted men who could never commit and love her the way she desired. She took courage and faced the scared, angry, girl inside herself, “The Monster,” and learned that people generally want to focus on what’s “out there,” verses, “what’s inside themselves.” Rona’s way of escaping reality, was to fantasize about love. By doing this, she hid the Monster and self-hurt. Inevitably her relationships were impersonal, and uncommitted. She and her lovers wore the mask of “impersonator.” In her last session, Rona faced her own helplessness, and learned how she could gain trust in herself.

One month later…Rona met Bill…. a man who could love, “What” she was. She could be real with him; he changed her life… They married on September 22, 1977.

For more on Rona Barret’s current activities, and life…go to /category/ronas-blog/