Ann Doran

This is a 1966 Lydia Lane article. Enjoy!

“I believe in looking after yourself” Ann Doran told me on the set of ABC-TV’s The Legend Jesse James at 20th Century “That ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. “My inspiration is my mother who is over 80, but she is more active than some women half her age. She still can bend over and touch the floor with her finger tips. Ann has trained herself to hop out of bed and exercise the first thing every morning, keeping her in wonderful shape.

This is perhaps a reason a recent serious accident kept her off the set for only a few days. One of Ann’s favorite exercise routines will keep away a widow’s hump and help anyone retain a straight and limber spine. Lie on the floor on your back. Roll back until your knees touch the floor behind ear. “This stretches the muscles that you rarely reach during a day’s activity,” Ann pointed out. “Be patient if you are stiff at first and can’t get over very far. The harder you find the exercise the more you must need it.” Another place that needs care is the area around the mouth. 

“As a person grows older, lines seem to sprout out from the lips. These can be prevent from becoming wrinkles if you cream your face and iron them away. “Hold your upper lip tightly over your upper teeth and make a mustache of your index fingers so that the top finger points to the right and the bottom one to the left. Rub back and forth and press. If necessary also work the area around the bottom. When Ann has time she finishes this routine with an application of honey. After spreading it on, let it set for 10 minutes. “Honey is a natural astringent and used for tightening in many cosmetics.”