Living most of my life in Chicago and Los Angeles I have seen, talked to and met a lot of celebrities. I’m sure you all are keenly interested in my life, so even at the risk of inflaming your jealousy I will share with you a few of the fascinating details, validating that your awe of me is well deserved!
- Ansel Adams: Not again! Already told you about him & me…he & I? We?
- John Cleese: I worked for the company he started, Video Arts, and he was a keynote speaker at the Training 1999 conference in Chicago. Got to hang out and talk with him for a few minutes. Did you?
- Amor Towles: Only met him through email but he graciously answered every time I wrote so I assume he thinks of me often. If you haven’t read his novel “A Gentleman in Moscow” you are a big dumb head! (Excuse the salty language but you should read the book, it’s wonderful!).
- Leroy Neiman: Signed my poster at a show in Seaport Village, San Diego, in 2001. He thought he knew me from Chicago and who am I to argue with Leroy?
- Stacy Keach: Played volleyball with him on Santa Monica beach in the late 1960’s. A chance meeting on the sand but, alas, he never called.
- Ray Bradbury: Twice in the late 1960’s. The first time was at a little theater on La Cienega Blvd. where he produced his plays “The Day it Rained Forever” and “A Device Out of Time.” The second was on his lawn when I visited a neighbor photographer and he had no recollection of our first meeting. Hmm, curious.
- Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows: They were in the audience at the Ray Bradbury Theater and I got their autographs and said “hi.” I was so eloquent in high school.
- Johnny Unitas: Quarterback for the Baltimore Colts patted me on the head when speaking at my father’s B’nai Brith Men’s Club meeting in the late 1950’s.
- Paula Prentis and Richard Benjamin: Actors for you youngsters. I was behind them in line at Gelson’s Market in Century City in the 70’s. Factoid: They have been married 62 years.
- Ann-Margret: Met her at Veteran’s Auditorium in Culver City in 1963 when she was filming “Viva Las Vegas” with Elvis. The King was rumored to have been there but I didn’t see him. I was hanging around outside gawking when the director invited me in if I would sit down and shut up. I sat down.
- George Clooney: Having been mistaken for that dreamboat so many times I feel like we know each other.
- Marisa Tomei: Only in my dreams.
This all seemed so much more impressive in my head.