LA Woman Project. Art CyberSpace Gallery. History of EZTV. About EZTV. About Kate Johnson. About Michael J. February 22, It was at this time of year when a true force of nature was senselessly taken from us. Her name was Zina Bethune. Indeed, there were many things about her life and multiple careers that she shared only with her family and close friends.
She was probably the most unique person I have ever known. Wise well beyond her young years, as a teenager, she starred for several seasons on TV; playing adult roles. During this time, she was also doing guest appearances such as singing and dancing on the Judy Garland Show , acting in Broadway plays, and showing her more comedic side doing guest spots on celebrity game shows.
That young film student was named Martin Scorsese. It seemed inevitable that Zina was destined to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. But fate had a different script written for her to play out. During these same early years, she was diagnosed with a number of genetic medical conditions, the prognosis of which was devastating. No greater curse can be imagined for a dancer. What was to happen is a story so incredible that some ignorant people have even questioned its truth.
She did, for a while, become confined to a wheelchair. During those several years, she researched experimental surgical procedures.
She contacted a number of physicians seeking someone willing to try the impossible. She then found such a surgeon in Denmark. He performed an experimental procedure in which the top of her femurs were severed and then put back in reverse.
