Nonetheless, loyal fans
continue to make the annual
pilgrimage to Dean’s adopted
hometown of Fairmount,

Indiana on the anniversary of

his death. Christy Pulley Berry is
the president of the Fairmount
Historical Museum. Interestingly,

CC

James Dean portrayed all the

emotional turmoil, confusion and angst
that many teenagers felt but could not
openly express.

Photo of James Dean Gravestone by User N4451 via Wikimedia Commons

offered a way out—a cool, yet

2 vulnerable persona they assumed
in imitation—the sincerest form
of worship. Then he died and that
certified him with those with teen
angst. He was now either a god or
a ghost. Because he really didn’t die
but just changed shape, and became

 

her late father, Bob Pulley, was a
classmate and friend of James Dean. Pulley was also a pallbearer
at Dean’s funeral. The museum contains the world’s largest
collection of Dean's personal belongings. “Most of them are on
loan from the Marcus Winslow family; Berry said in an email
interview with the Other Press. “We have two motorcycles,

his artwork [from grade school to adulthood], scripts, the
switchblades from Rebel Without A Cause, his racing suit and
trophies and his conga and bongo drums. We also have some of
his [favourite] clothing including a motorcycle jacket, boots, shirts
and watches—plus a shirt he wore in East of Eden. And so much
more! People are drawn to his motorcycles and his clothing but
love his baby clothes and art.”

Berry said Dean’s image continues to be popular with each
new generation. “In my opinion he is timeless! His looks, hair,
clothes...” she said. “[He] has never gone out of style. Also, there
are [so] many photographs of him. They are everywhere and he
had so many different looks, moods, etc. Everyone can relate.

I think it only takes a few pictures for people to want to know
more. Then they discover his movies and see his performances.
They are hooked! His acting has stood the test of time as well!”

Noted James Dean author, Warren Beath, has been a lifelong
Dean fan. Beath has written three novels and two non-fiction
books—including his 1986 book, The Death of James Dean. He
lives in Bakersfield, California close to the crash site. “James Dean
was the star who was born when he died,’ Beath said in an email
interview with the Other Press. “His films are his gospel and his
death was his assumption into godhood, complete with devout
followers, pilgrims, and holy relics. He lives on forever young, our
slightly tarnished hero. His death in the middle of the century was
a major cultural event, the birth of an icon. Not even licensing and
pasteurizing by the family and CMG can dim his light.”

Beath says Dean’s sensitivity and willingness to show his
feelings appealed to him. “He navigated in his three testaments
the confusion and sexual ambiguity, the search for an identity, of
those coming of age? he said. “Fans believed he was of them and

arisen symbol and way shower.’

Beath also concurs that Dean’s massive popularity worldwide
is a phenomenon; equating it to a mid-century cultural
earthquake. “It’s a faith, a religion; he said. “He has disciples.
Pilgrimages. High priests. All the earmarks of a religion, and he’s
not a bad saviour to follow, give the limited and unsatisfactory
choices teens had—examples like their parents and authority
figures. He offered emotional freedom. And he knew so much
about them, their feelings and insecurities and bewilderments
and secret hurts. The part of us James Dean speaks to is the
yearning romantic, the confused kid in all of us. And that’s
endemic, Eternal.”

American film critic, Leonard Maltin, said James Dean’s
legacy and impact on films and popular culture is unparalleled.
“T can't think of another actor who achieved stardom so quickly;
who held it for such a short time and then kept it for such a long
time; he said in the 1996 documentary, James Dean and Me.
“James Dean became a star in one calendar year—and then left
us. But he’s still being talked about. He’s still being revered. He’s
still being iconized [66 years later]. I don’t think there’s another
example like it in the entire history of movies”

Dean has legions of fans that were not even born when he
was alive. There are numerous YouTube videos showing fans
visiting Dean’s hometown and gravesite—as well as the crash
site near Cholame, California. Dean’s enduring image and
popularity have transcended generations. He will forever be 24;
preserved and intact—a timeless symbol of teenage rebellion.

The late actress, Julie Harris, who co-starred with Dean in
East of Eden, compared his short Hollywood career to a shooting
star. “I liken it to a kind of star or comet that fell through the sky,’
Harris said in the 1988 documentary, Forever James Dean. “And
everybody still talks about it. They say, ‘Ah, remember that night
when you saw that shooting star’ That was it. I mean, he had that
enormous appeal and magic.”