Jeanne Porterfield Dies
Jeanne Porterfield, noted travel writer and former filmmaker, died at her Manhattan home Jan. 15 after a long illness. She was half of the popular filmmaking team of Jeanne Porterfield and Lisa Chickering, active on the travel film circuit in the 1960s through the early ‘80s. Lisa was at her side when she died.
In later years the team won many prizes for their travel writing and photography..
The women were childhood friends in Chicago, but went their separate ways after their schooling. Jeanne did some acting and Lisa embarked on a singing career.
Both met again in New York and Lisa invited Jeanne to accompany her to Paris where she had a short singing engagement. Instead of returning home after three weeks they continued traveling for three years. In all, they visited 36 countries, including London, Madrid and Hong Kong where Lisa had singing dates.
During their round-the-world trip the pair picked up an 8mm film camera and returned home with their suitcases packed with thousands of feet of movie film. The story of their trip was picked up by UPI and appeared in 500 newspapers nationwide.
After attending a travel film back home at Manhattan’s Town Hall the pair decided their involvement in this medium would be perfect because it offered the things they loved most—travel, photography and theater.
They bought two Bolex cameras, lights and tripods and headed for Austria, the subject of their first production. The next film was on Europe’s mini-countries—Andorra, Lichtenstein, San Marino, Malta and Monaco. The project would include filming the heads of state from each country.
“How are we going to get Princess Grace?” asked Jeanne. “We’ll send her a cable from Italy,” replied Lisa. It worked. When they arrived at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, they found an invitation from the princess. Their visit resulted in a warm friendship that lasted until Grace’s death in 1983.
The team was quite active on the travelogue circuit until traveling the country with their films became wearing, and they switched professions—becoming one of the most successful photojournalist teams in the country. Jeanne was the primary still photographer just as Lisa had been the primary cinematographer during their travel film career. Their stories and photos appeared in countless magazines and newspapers. Jeanne’s work appeared in the New York Times for more than 25 years.
Those who remember the team may want to write Lisa Chickering at 245 East 72nd St., New York City, NY 10021.
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Lisa and Jeanne and I lived in the same block of Manhattan for 25 years. I knew them 42 years. They were an amazing pair. They were pioneers in Woman’s rights and they succeded in a field dominated by men. I will remember many nights out to dinner and the theater with both of them. They were inspirational to me on how to live a rich and full life. Doug Jones