The Girls Part 1 Tanya Longman Hills

 Let's talk about Agnes’ girls. Agnes seems to have collected them like a bouquet that she held on to for her whole life. First, the list:

1. Peg LaCentra

2. Alice MacKenzie

3. Kathy Ellis

4. Tanya Hills

5. Debbie Reynolds

Each of these women had a special place in Aggie’s world, and yet, outside of Debbie Reynolds, they represent only background noise. Things have been said primarily about Debbie and Tanya. Kathy was all hers in the 1950’s. But I choose to begin with the one who was closest to her in the later years of her life.

Tanya Longman Hills

Tanya Longman Hills was born on April 15, 1934, along with her twin sister Sandi. Their parents were John Eldridge Hills and his wife Phoebe Louise Longman. They were a reasonably well-to-do couple, and the girls, along with their brother John, wanted for nothing. John Senior was a contractor from Aggie’s beloved home state of Ohio, and Phoebe was from Florida. John and Phoebe married in Florida on February 18, 1928. The family was highly stable, and the children seemed to thrive.

Tanya and her twin Sandi attended High School in Ohio and subsequently graduated in 1951. From there, the pair went to St. Petersburg Junior College. What Tanya and Sandi excelled at was sports. They were both involved in the Women's Athletic Council. They played basketball and excelled at it. They played tennis and excelled at it. Both of them were on the yearbook staff and members of The Playmakers. The sisters were involved in as many athletic activities as they could be. Tanya and Sandi were both muscular and physically strong. While they looked alike, Sandi was the less feminine of the two. To be honest, the first time I looked at their photographs in the yearbooks of the college, my gaydar went off on an insane level. I know them because I used to be them, and I am bisexual. If the shoe fits, I say wear it.

From Junior College, Tanya went to nursing school in Akron, where she studied at City Hospitals nursing school. Tanya graduated in September of 1957. By 1958, Tanya was living in Palo Alto and working as a nurse. Sandi eventually became a chiropractor in California, but I haven't been able to determine when or where she went to school. Tanya spent her leisure time playing tennis and entered several tournaments. Tanya remained at Palo Alto Medical at least until 1965. Then, at some point in 1965, Tanya moved to Pasadena, a tiny ten miles away from Los Angeles and 22 miles away from Agnes Moorehead’s home.

Meanwhile, her sister Sandi was living in and gave getting married a try in April 1966, and then gave divorce a try in July of the same year. Sandi’s first, last, and only marriage attempt lasted 90 days. Tanya never even tried once. 

If Quint Benedetti’s dates are correct, Tanya became involved with Agnes’ school around 1964-66. Benedetti has the idea that he and Agnes were “together” and that Tanya took his place. It’s an idea based on the idea that working for and being “friends” with Agnes was being with her. I found one letter from Quint in the archives in Wisconsin. It was written after his “split” with Agnes and appears to have been sent backstage to Agnes. She thought enough of him to keep it but not enough to write back. With Tanya, there are letters. Some are intimate in that you sense a closeness between the two women. Tanya leaned on Agnes as much as Agnes leaned on her, and the letters demonstrate that. One birthday card has on the front, “I’m sure glad you’re having a birthday, and inside, “I’d hate to grow old alone.” Love Tanya. The card itself intimates a situation which, by the way, was described in a news story about Tanya and her sister being homeless. Tanya says to the camera, a wee bit misty in the eye, “Agnes told me she wanted me with her the rest of her life.” Now, you see the complexity of the relationship and the reference to not wanting to grow old alone. Another reference to Agnes’ illness appears to be about the time of the 1967 illness that required surgery or perhaps later. The card is undated.

It reads “Whom do I love?” on the front and inside says “Youm that’s whom,” but it is the handwritten note that is stirring: “May this be the end of your chastisement from the Lord. Why did he choose you rather it be me than to see you suffer? How I have worried and knew you were going thru it–All will be well now. Love Tanya.” That was not written by someone who is just a friend. Someone in love wrote that. 

Tanya was doing the job Kathy Ellis used to do. There are letters addressed to Tanya as "Miss Hills" and sent to Agnes’s address. It seems that Tanya was acting as Agnes's secretary. There exists a letter from Agnes to Tanya dated 1972 in which Agnes reminds Tanya not to say a word to anyone about what she has gone through. Tanya knew when nobody else did exactly what was happening when Agnes went in for massive surgery after she was diagnosed with cancer. Ruminate on that. Tanya knew when nobody else did that Agnes had cancer. Freddie and Polly were told and also sworn to secrecy. Three people in the world knew, and two of them had known Agnes for years and years. Tanya had known her for a maximum of eight years.

Agnes was Tanya’s emotional vault. You can read it for yourself:

Sorry I got so emotional on the phone, but sometimes we need a friend to let down, and I hope you are still mine. 

Am going to start working in the intensive gynecological unit here at UCLA on call since the caseload for private duty has been slower, and the supervisors keep trying to use me for critical hospital patients.  So I can do both private duty and in between hospital work.  Then tomorrow, I have an interview for pre-med on campus.

Yes, my faith has wavered a bit, but I’m fine now.  Jim thinks I need to take Dilantin (used in brain control) and says I get too depressed and hostile–he’s right and all at him. 

Take Care, Love Tanya

I’m talking full emotional involvement on both sides of the equation. Again, read it for yourself:

…finding a ticket on my car, then I came in and found a note from you and jumped with joy-I miss you so.

Sandy gave me a bunch of enzymes, so will send them to you.  Thank you for the Reverie Bath Crystals and powder and for remembering I like them.

Must be off to work,

Love, love, love ya!! Tanya

These bits and pieces demonstrate a real, profound emotional attachment. You simply can’t argue that. As Agnes said, women love on a different level than men. It’s almost spiritual. After

Agnes’ death, Tanya continued with her life. She never married and lived with her sister, who also remained single. Tanya loved Agnes, and during her final years, she remembered it longer and better than anything in her life. Tanya died from complications of Alzheimer's in 2019.