Even if you scoff at the mere notion of having your own magical genie to grant your wishes, those who remember the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie know that a beautiful blonde actress named Barbara Eden made it tempting to consider the possibilities. Eden's delightful performance as the magical "Jeannie the Genie" was a fairy tale come true for an audience that enjoyed the madcap antics of this very human-acting creature with an angelic persona.
Eden had been destined for stardom since she decided to enter the business. This blond bombshell of the 50s and 60s was born in Tucson, Arizona, and soon after entering professional acting, found herself appearing in the defining programs of TV in its infancy, including I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason, Bachelor Father, and Gunsmoke.
Making her film debut in Back from Eternity in 1956, Eden went on to star in many movies, including Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (57), A Private Affair (59), Flaming Star, Twelve Hours to Kill (60), the epic Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (61), and 60s cult favorites The Brass Bottle and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.
A hint of future successes was evident in Eden's casting in the 1957 television series How To Marry a Millionaire, in which Barbara deftly reprised the role Marilyn Monroe had played in the legendary film version. Both critics and the viewing public agreed that Eden had star quality, and the offers continued to come her way.
A successful singer, Eden released a best-selling album for Dot Records in 1967, Miss Barbara Eden. She was a musical guest star on over 50 variety shows, including 21 Bob Hope specials. She published her memoirs in the best-selling Barbara Eden, My Story in 1989.
Eden received her Doctor of Law Degree in 1990 from The University of West Los Angeles, and also has earned a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It was my pleasure to talk to this legendary entertainer as the third season of her classic series, I Dream of Jeannie, is released on DVD. She is as delightful in person as she comes across on screen.
David Guarino: You actually started out your career as a singer, didn't you?
Barbara Eden: Yes, I started out as a singer in SF. That's how I put myself through school, singing with bands. I started by studying opera, then transitioned to what you would call "pop." But when I got to LA, the acting took over, until I got I Dream of Jeannie . Then they wanted me in Las Vegas, and I worked there while I was doing Jeannie and afterwards.
Would you say that your portrayal of Jeannie is the role that comes to mind for most people when they hear your name?
Oh, sure. It's the role that defined me. Before that, I'd done many feature films. I was always kissed, rescued or sung to, and my hair color changed, so people really didn't know who I was.
Did you ever receive any criticism from women's groups or feminist leaders that Jeannie portrayed women as somewhat subservient to men?
I always put them on the path of truth by saying that Jeannie wasn't human. This was not a little housewife saying, "Yes, master."
Do you think the show would work today?
Yes, I do. Because fantasy always works if it's done well.
What was it like working with Larry Hagman, who went from Jeannie to playing one of the most evil TV characters ever, the malevolent J.R. Ewing of Dallas?
It's been a delight, David. With certain actors there's a rhythm, a give and take. Larry and I seem to have that.
I really enjoy the fact that you eventually guest-starred on Dallas. You faced off with J.R. Ewing himself!
Ah, yes! I killed him. I ruined him! That was really fun to do.
You were a guest star on perhaps the most famous comedy sitcom of all time, I Love Lucy, in the "Country Club Dance" episode of the sixth season. What was it like, working with this legendary foursome of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley?
Realize who I was then. This was my third job in Hollywood. I was very much in awe; kept my mouth shut; kept out of everyone's way and did my job! Consequently, Lucy was just the nicest person in the whole wide world to me.
You have a very large following in the gay/lesbian community. To what do you attribute this popularity, and how do you feel about the way gays and lesbians are currently portrayed?
Answering the first question, the GLBT community has very good taste! And the answer to the second question is that I think it's about time. Our culture is made up of many different kinds of people, and they all should be represented.
Can you share one of your most embarrassing moments in film or on stage?
Well, I was appearing in Woman of the Year, and after the first act, there's a very quick change. The heroine changes from a housedress into a very sexy, sparkly gown. I was playing in the round, and I had to run up a ramp to the stage manager's booth, change my dress, then run down the ramp. And my heel got caught, I have no idea on what, I was going so fast, and I hit the floor! I broke three ribs; and I hurt so much that I wanted to pass out. Finally I got up in the pitch-black darkness, got into the dress, went back down and sang the song. At the end of the show, I went to the hospital.
If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
She did her job well.
The Complete Third Season of I Dream of Jeannie is now available in a deluxe 4-disc DVD boxed set from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.