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Photograph by Timothy P. Riethmiller[/caption]
Though James Dean is no longer living, his spirit lives on in the lives of his admirers.
By Kyla Martin, L&T/Features Co-Editor
Curt Whirl, 34, hasn't missed the James Dean Festival in 24 years, making the trip from Florida since he was 18.
Whirl is a Marion native, born and raised. He moved to Florida straight out of high school, landing himself a life in entertainment like his childhood hero.
Unlike his hero, Whirl works as a character actor for Disney, now working more on the operational side of Disney. He kept the specifics quiet because Disney is hush-hush about who plays their famous characters.
"I got into acting because of James Dean," Whirl said. "Ultimately, be yourself in terms of whatever - whatever it is. Listen to your first instinct of what you really want to do. Don't waste any time and just do it."
James Dean taught him to be brave. To go after what he wants. To be comfortable with who he is.
"He was my hero growing up," Whirl said. "When you're so young, people look up to different things - James Dean was mine."
As a kid, Whirl used his summers to bike from Marion to Fairmount, about 11 miles, almost daily.
"Used to ride my bike past the Winslow farm, stop at James Dean's grave, have a moment, keep on going, spend the day at the gallery, downtown Fairmount, and then be back in time for dinner," Whirl said. "I was very infatuated."
Whirl could barely play favorites with Dean's movies. He loves "East of Eden" for its technical aspects, but "Rebel Without a Cause" speaks to him on another level.
"I will always have a special place in my heart with 'Rebel Without a Cause,'" Whirl said, because he relates to Jim Stark, Dean's character in the film, who, starved of love from his parents, turns to rebellion and leaves home.
Whirl suggested the two movies. Chris Matthews, 44, recomended catching "Giant," Dean's final on-screen appearance, an appearance no one viewed until after his death.
Matthews wears his hero's persona every day, a tattooed outline of Dean's classic pose - standing, ankles crossed, fingers wrapped around a lit cigarette - covering the length of Matthew's back.
Matthews hosted a couple talk shows, owned a few motorcycle shops, both featuring Dean's character's name in "Giant": Jett Rink. Matthews made it big. But the day after his second marriage ended, he came here.
"It feels very much like a family down here," Whirl said. "Almost like a homecoming."
They all feel it. It's this unexplainable honor and dedication to a man they never met. "There's a common ground that brings everyone together - James Dean," Matthews said.
"You get it or you don't," said Adam Brethertr, 28. This fan has made the trip four times now, last year spending three months in Fairmount. He's got to get on a plane, though, because he lives in Manchester, U.K.
The feel this place gives him is worth the trip - he wrote 12 chapters of his book during the summer he stayed there on "career break."
"I don't think you guys have that here," Brethertr said.
Brethertr sees Dean's sensitivity, something he views as important for men, his self-awareness, not taking himself too seriously, his creativity in addition to being an actor as a sculptor, a painter, a musician, a photographer.
"Everyone says the 'live fast, die young,'" Brethertr said. "But I don't think that's one of (Dean's) better quotes because he certainly didn't want to die. He was just constantly moving."
With Dean as a model, Brethertr dabbles in writing books and screenplays in the U.K., but he loves the town and considers making a final trip here.
"You've got to live here to be a true Deaner," Brethertr said.
Dave Loehr moved to out here from the East Coast and opened the gallery with Lenny Prusack who moved from Brooklyn 24 years ago.
Prusack remembers a couple visiting, the man claiming to be an actor from L.A. Not recognizing them, he looked outside and saw their transportation - a stretch limo. The limo driver said the visitor was famous, so Prusack got his picture taken with the man.
"(I thought), man, this guy is popular," Prusack said.
Matthew Morrison, who plays the teacher Matthew Morrison from GLEE, was the visitor.
"James Dean attracts very cool people," Prusack said. "They're sensitive, creative, artistic, caring. It's just a very odd group, and we've got this one thing in common."
Dean's life was short but full, impacting the fans he left behind.
"He didn't have a chance to make a flop, or do something corny or out-of-character," Prusack said.
"He never got a chance to disappoint us," Matthews said.
If only he could see himself now.
