Source: http://www.local706.org/docs/artisan/Artisan_Fall_2010.pdf

La Rue Matheron-Barr (1917-2010)

The hair styling of journeyman hair stylist La Rue Matheron-Barr could modestly be described as iconic, magical and truly a part of Disney film history. She first joined Local 706 in 1947 and in 1954, her first feature film was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, working alongside legends Sydney Guilaroff and Bill Tuttle. She began working with make-up department head Bob Schiffer at Disney Studios in 1964 and the two collaborated on approximately 50 films in a 20-year span, and at least 10 of those films were with the same director, Robert Stevenson. Every child or adult who watched Disney films in the 1960s and 1970s experienced unforgettable characters created by the immense talents of La Rue, characters that will never be forgotten. The softly swept updo of nanny Mary Poppins, the frothy blonde bubble on Hayley Mills in That Darn Cat, the goofiness of Herbie Rides Again, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Love Bug, The Apple Dumpling Gang and Pete's Dragon. Whether Disney was filming a period piece or contemporary story, La Rue Matheron was the first choice of the studio, the directors and a long list of actors. Walt Disney did not like anyone passing the buck. Disney himself gave specific design instructions to La Rue for Julie Andrews wigs in Mary Poppins. The director (Robert Stevenson) had other designs for Poppins, but La Rue told him that Disney himself had given specific instructions. The director demanded that his instructions be followed and when Walt came to the set, he saw the way the wig was done. Disney confronted La Rue and stated that was not what he wanted. Caught in the middle (and not wanting to get the director in trouble) La Rue just said, ``Yes, Mr. Disney, I'll fix it.'' Stevenson came and thanked his hair stylist for not telling on him. He could have been fired. He was very grateful.

Helen Hayes' loyalty to Matheron was so strong that she would not do a film unless her hair stylist was allowed to do the film. They remained close friends until Hayes passing. If La Rue was on a hiatus between films, she would often go over to Universal and work with her close friend Florence Avery, who ran the hair styling department at the studio. Through all the more than 50 films, La Rue also stayed in close contact with Debbie Reynolds (who gave her a gift of a gold watch after wrapping The Apple Dumpling Gang), Suzanne Pleshette, Jo Anne Worley and Annette Funicello. She remained friends with Annette from the time she was a Mouseketeer until she married, and was even at the wedding. One of her craziest and most loyal clients was comedienne Phyllis Diller who loved the way La Rue would give her the freedom to have that wacky, exploding hairdo she was known for. Most stylists tried to smooth it down, but Matheron styled it the way Phyllis wanted it.

She loved her work and was never, never late--always arriving at least a half hour early. (Bob Schiffer became panic stricken and feared the worst the one time it happened.) Her daughter Kathy and granddaughter have followed in her footsteps and became hair stylists as well. After the passing of her husband Arthur, she retired in 1979 and moved to Hemet. She remarried but after a few years, she was once again widowed. Her son Tom passed away in 1999. She moved to Littlerock, Calif., and lived with her daughter and had a wonderful time telling her adventures and hilarious tales of the film industry to her children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. It was a wonderful life and she was greatly loved by so many. Sadly, La Rue was taken from us by the effects of Alzheimer's disease on September 25. Services were private, but her daughter and granddaughter came to the Local 706 office and we had a wonderful afternoon sharing stories of her incredibly talented mother. They also brought the photos that accompany this article and some will go on display in the office, alongside her longtime partner, Bob Schiffer.