The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 24, 2025

Mrs. Van Johnson, Getting One of Van's Fans Out of the Way

1948

Ruth Orkin

(American, 1921–1985)
America
gelatin silver print
Image: 18.4 x 22.9 cm (7 1/4 x 9 in.)
Gift of Mary Engel/Ruth Orkin Photo Archive 2023.66
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Ruth Orkin was there when matinee idol Van Johnson (1916–2008) imprinted his hands and signature into the cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.

Description

“I wanted to do a sequence showing the desperation of fans, the pushing and shoving,” said Ruth Orkin. The press of the crowd caused her to push a woman whom she discovered was the actor’s wife, actress Eve Abbott (1914-2004). Orkin immediately struggled to the other side of the crowd to get a shot of Abbott pushing a fan out of the way so she could take home movies of the ceremony.
  • ?-2022
    Orkin/Engle Film & Photo Archive, given to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    December 5, 2022-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Mrs. Van Johnson, Getting One of Van's Fans Out of the Way|url=false|author=Ruth Orkin|year=1948|access-date=24 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.66