American actress Ava Gardner (1922-1990) was a big Corgi lover. Ms. Gardner owned was owned by several Corgis, the first of whom was given to her as a gift by her then husband, Frank Sinatra, in the 1950’s.
Ava with the man who gave her a Corgi. No wonder she’s smiling! (Oh, and he was Frank Sinatra. There’s that too).
Ava on the set of Lone Star, 1952
With Rags, 1952
Ava and Rags, 1956
Ava and Rags, 1956
Ava and Morgan
1959
With Cara in London, 1969
Ava with Roddy McDowall and her Corgi, 1969
Ava and Cara
Ava with Morgan in puppy days
1975
Ava and Morgan, 1984
Ava and Morgan, 1984
Ava and Morgan
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The Thursday Adoptables feature will return next week.
Real Men Love Corgis is back tomorrow!
Those corgis had LONG legs back then….relatively speaking of course!
Loved this post today. My uncle wintered in Acapulco during the winter months and hobb-nobbed with Ava G. believe it or not~ He never mentioned her corgis…he had great danes~
I've noticed that Pembrokes from the 1940s-70s look quite different from contemporary ones – different shaped heads, less fluffy coat, leaner all around. I've seen pictures of the Queen's corgis from his earlier era that look like this, and now these of Eva Gardner's. Anyone know why the differences? My Beau, a rescue, looks more that these earlier corgis and I've always wondered why. We thought he might have a little something else in him (we call him a "Morgi" sometimes – corgi and more!) but he looks JUST like these older ones. Would love some wisdom on this!
Emily, wow — you were one step removed from a famous actress! Small world. I wonder whether she wasn't permitted to take her dogs to Mexico? Quarantine issues or ???
I just got an image in my head of a Great Dane and a Corgi, and guess who's in charge …
Oops, that last comment was a reply to Corgidogmama. My apologies!
Here's a reply to Emily Raine: the fancy has absolutely changed the preference for Pembroke breed standards in the last 50 years. I have never researched it, but it's worth looking into.
The last specialty show I went to, the Corgis all had what I call the teddy bear look. Super short (but well formed) legs, light (even nearly fawn) coats, puppyish faces … all beautiful, but not a lot of variety. There may have been one tricolor.
I'm going to look into how the breed standard has changed over the years, and why. That would make a good post for the blog!
I believe Morgan went to live with Ava's good friend, Gregory Peck, after she died. He took care of Morgan for the rest of his life.