Postage Stamp Honoring Van Johnson, Hollywood Icon and Newport's Native Son, Appears Likely

A campaign calling upon the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the late Van Johnson, a Hollywood heartthrob and native son of Newport, is apparently on the verge of success.

The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee is reportedly giving serious consideration to giving Johnson a stamp in 2016 -- just in time for the actor’s 100th birthday.

The nationwide campaign has been led by Henry and Bobbie Shaffner, the husband and wife songwriting team from Bala Cynwyd, Penn.

They said they received word from Krista Becker, manager of Stamp Development for the USPS, that the committee will consider the stamp when it meets later this year.

The committee, which makes formal recommendations to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, might not need to make much of a case to the postmaster.

Donahue apparently has signed on to the Shaffners’ petition himself!

According to a release, A Van Johnson postage stamp would represent a huge victory for the Shaffners who have enlisted the support of superstars like Liza Minnelli and Debbie Reynolds in their campaign. The Shaffners also hope to convince curators at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. to mount a major exhibition of Van Johnson memorabilia on what would have been the actor’s 100th birthday and have already donated a pair of his trademark red socks to the museum for it’s permanent collection.

Film director Woody Allen and actor William Shatner are among Van Johnson’s greatest admirers. Asked who was his favorite actor to direct, Allen said ”hat’s easy. It’s Van Johnson.”

Allen recently wrapped up principal photography in Newport, Johnson’s hometown, for an upcoming untitled mystery drama-comedy film. Shatner spent the better part of one year seeing Johnson when they were both working in summer stock during a tour of New England.

“[Van] would almost levitate, he was so full of energy,” recalled Shatner fondly. “For an hour every Sunday I had the pleasure of experiencing his charm.”

The committee will choose from about 20 possible subjects whittled down from upwards of 50,000 suggestions the USPS receives every year.

Johnson, who was born in Newport on Aug. 25, 1916, was the son of Charles and Loretta Johnson who lived at 16 Ayrault St.

He clawed his way up the ranks on Broadway after graduating from Rogers High School in 1935 and immediately dashed to New York City to chase a dream of being a great actor.

He worked his way from chorus boy to the lead in Pal Joey and eventually was under contract with MGM. With boyish good looks and pure acting talent, he soon was LIFE Magazine’s “Most adored male in the U.S.” and coined “The Bobby-Sox Blitzer” by the Saturday Evening Post.

According to a city of Newport proclamation declaring August 25 Van Johnson Day earlier this year, ”Mr. Johnson was so much more than a matinee idol. He was determined to be, and quickly became, recognized as a great actor. In film after film, he proved his ability to inhabit a character and shine through it.”

The Shaffners’ petition drive continues to draw the support of celebrities. Three of the four surviving members of the Tokyo Doolittle Raiders--David Thatcher, Richard Cole and Edward Saylor--and Jonna Doolittle, Jimmy Doolittle’s granddaughter, recently signed petitions as their way to express appreciation for Van Johnson’s starring role in the film classic, “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.”

For further information go to:www.vanjohnsonstamp.org

The city is proud to call itself the birthplace and home of such an acting legend, and in the proclamation, the mayor “call[s] upon all citizens to join with me to celebrate the life and career of our beloved native son, Hollywood icon and legendary actor.”

Johnson, who died on Dec. 12, 2008, has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his hands are imprinted in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and here, in Newport, he will always have his day — Van Johnson Day.

Photo: Always a ladies man, Van Johnson sits surrounded by admirers in this undated photo. (Photo Courtesy: Mike Luckman)