Classic Film : Famous folks we've met (and missed chances)

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

"Dick Gautier in the women's restroom"
not a typo I assume.


You have really good stories ...

"May we have some more"
Oliver Twist

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances


"Dick Gautier in the women's restroom"
not a typo I assume.


It was at the Skirball Center and the restrooms were on a mezzanine that had to be reached by elevator, but to make it even more difficult, the men,s and women,s restrooms could not be reached by the same elevator. Dick was in a wheelchair at the time, and I assume that he and his attendant decided to use the women's RR rather than have to go down, over to the other elevator, and up again. Dick was washing his hands at the time, and I assured him I was cool with the choice.

Hope that explains that.

I have had a couple of music encounters, but mostly of the classical type. One of the famous graduates of my high school was Dorothy Buffum Chandler, who has the Pavillion at the Los Angeles Music Center named for her. She set up funds for the music students to have special opportunities to enjoy classical music, and we were bussed to dress rehearsal of concerts. At on of these, I got to speak to Sir John Barbarolli not long before his death.

My music teacher was a member of the local symphony and got some of us into a dress rehearsal of a film music concert conducted by Elmer Bernstein in1969. In 2001, I met Elmer again and told him how much his music meant to me, and he remembered the concert. He had also loaned my high school,orchestra his handwritten concert arrangement of his "Magnificent 7" score. It was thrilling to play it.

I was answering telephones for a radio station fundraiser and received a pledge call from film and television composer Lyn Murray (To Catch A Thief, Alfred Hitchcok Show) and I failed to recognized his name. While on the phone, he asked what I did at the station and I told him I was the producer of the Broadway and movie musical show. He asked me what show I was featuring that week, and I told him it was "The Music Man." The next day, the secretary came to tell me I had a phone call, and that it was Meredith Willson! Lyn Murray had called him and Willson called to,thank me for playing his music. I told him that I had learned to play the Sousaphone in three weeks so I could join the band and wound up marching in the 1972 Rose Parade because of "The Misic Man." He was so kind listening to me gush.

All the world is a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

To comment on just one mention .... Reading of that Meredith Willson call just gave me shivers. What a terrific experience ! I've been to the real "River City" inspiration city in Iowa but never got to actually TALK to the Music Man !

BTW your previous note had such interesting items but the Gautier one was so "Wha ?" and someone just HAD to ask knowing that it did have a reasonable explanation. What an odd sort up for a public space with the separate elevators and such.

Musical encounters here have been rarer than actors but shall be saved for another time.

Elmer Bernstein TWICE! WOW !! and the handwritten score
Super !

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

LMay ... I am taking the opportunity to touch base with some of the people I have enjoyed talking to ... in one of my favorite threads ever ...

It's been wonderful meeting you and reading your Martin Stories and racing you and that clock on the Garth Games.

Hope that you get HOME real soon.





Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Byrdz-

It has been great fun being able to share my stories. I have not been in a position to be out and about, much less running into famous people. I did have a roomie whose granddaughter was dating Jose Canseco, but I didn't think that was a good thing.

I am assuming we will meet again, don't know or when.

🎭All the world is a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

I saw Nicol Williamson coming out of a pub once, asked him for his autograph. Thought he might batter me but he was actually quite friendly.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Recent brief encounter -- traveled to Los Angeles to see young niece in a children's theater production of OKLAHOMA! Had good seats in the second row. Before the curtain went up, Lady Garth pokes me and whispers 'Look who's sitting to my left!' So I lean forward and spot -- Mark Wahlberg! Not wanting her to hog all the glory, I whispered back -- 'Oh yeah, well look to my right!' She leans forward and spots -- William H. Macy! When I looked at the Playbill, there it was -- both guys had daughters in the production.

At intermission, both of them chatted with each other on stage area. I noticed that both were height challenged -- we're talking Alan Ladd height. Wahlberg looked fine, but Macy looked ravaged -- maybe like his character on 'Shameless.'

Afterwards, the young cast members gathered for a post-show party at a local yogurt joint. Wahlberg was nowhere in sight (there was a general feeling of 'Don't come near me' about him at the theater anyway). But Macy was there, on line with his daughter. While she then gathered with the others of the cast, he stood alone outside enjoying his yogurt when I walked past him. I didn't want to bother him, but nodded to him and just said I've always enjoyed his work. To my surprise, he responded pleasantly and we chatted for about 10-15 minutes.

He got a chuckle when I told him that Lady Garth was furious that he lost out in the Oscar race for his role in FARGO and that she refuses to watch winner Cuba Gooding any more!

Very nice guy.

Take 'em to Missouri

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Wahlburg is of the paparazzi-ized generation of actors ...poor guy.

Macy seems like a nice fella ... btw have you seen him in "Happy, Texas" ... it's pretty good. NOT a western despite bein' in Texas.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

...at LAX in 1987, I walked up to Clint Eastwood and got his autograph on an index card. It is framed with a photo I acquired of him from his film "Hang 'em High". Another time, I was in downtown Chicago during the filming of "The Untouchables" and I spotted Sean Connery standing on a street corner (Randolph & Wells) but I did not approach him. Just seeing him was enough.

Edit: On another occasion in Chicago, I was walking along Van Buren Street and spotted a flat bed semi that has a scrunched up what appeared to be a miniature semi lying upside down on the flatbed. I saw a security guard nearby and asked him what in hell is that? He laughed and said it was the semi truck used in the Batman film with Heath Ledger as the joker. I took pictures...

Also spotted Don Rickles outside a nightclub in LA called Pizzazz...

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances


Sean Connery standing on a street corner (Randolph & Wells)


That's not too far from where he gets killed in the film – Racine and Harrison.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Mae West in 1970 in small Santa Monica restaurant.
My wife and I must have been within 15 feet of her and her male companion.
She probably would have been trilled people our age recognized her.

I once rode (alone) in an elevator with Brodrick Crawford where he was shooting a TV program in the Hospital in which I once worked.
The show he was shooting was The Interns.
Why was I so shy?
At the time, I didn't even think--or probably know--that he was an Oscar winner.
I only knew him from Highway Patrol on TV.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

1980: Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

1987: Cab Calloway.

Amazingly, the conversation was almost identical in both instances:
"Uhm, excuse me, might I ask for your autograph(s)?"
"Certainly, here you go."
"Thank you very much!"
"Not at all."



→ God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety ←

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Saw Bill Cosby walking in downtown Cincinnati (1975 maybe), just greeting folks and smoking a big cigar. Maybe on his way to buy some of his mickeys. Also, Za Za at the 21 Club in New York on a rare business trip. Lots of celebs at the Memorial golf Tournament in Columbus over the years: Bob Hope, Jerry Ford are all I can remember at present. Never would think of saying hi to any such people.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Bumped into Bob Newhart once in SoCal. Had to do a double take, then just said "Hi Bob" and walked on.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

At a folk festival, I nearly ran into singer Steve Goodman.

I mean literally. I was walking around a corner and didn't see him. Almost knocked the poor fellow over. Said "sorry" and walked away in embarrassment.

Earth without art is just "eh."

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

So, PK, that's a "missed chance" meet !

THESE ARE TERRIFIC !!!!!

Group thanks to you all... hope they keep on coming .. these are GREAT (said in Tony the Tiger voice !)

Re: THESE ARE TERRIFIC !!!!!

No way that any further ones can be coaxed from you? I got a couple dozen or so more. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.


Poe! You are...avenged!

Peter Falk in London

coming right up ... addressed to Canterbury since it was in London-town.

Re: Peter Falk in London

Capital! Wizard! Bloody good!


Poe! You are...avenged!

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

I met, and had a nice talk with James Earl Jones on two separate occasions.Mrs Canterbury worked with him during his London theatre production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and we spent about 15 minutes or so chatting in his dressing room, and posing for photographs.A very warm, friendly man, who seemed genuinely happy to meet people. The 2nd meeting was when he returned to London to perform Driving Miss Daisy with Vanessa Redgrave.Through Mrs.Canterbury's earlier association, we were invited to see him in his dressing room, and spent a happy hour chatting away.I asked him about his experience working with the late Diana Sands, and he shared some nice memories of her.

I have also been lucky enough to meet the gentleman whose photograph graces my post,Earl Cameron.A very humble, dignified man.

Living in London, and spending a lot of time in the West End, I have often seen actors wandering around: Dustin Hoffman outside The Playhouse Theatre; Frank Langella strolling through Covent Garden; Susannah York at an underground station; Richard Attenborough at The Savoy; Julie Christie on a tube train; Dirk Bogarde walking near Sloane Square; Kenneth Williams on Oxford Street; James Olson walking across The Strand; Kevin Spacey walking his dog near The Old Vic; Antonia Fargas at The Cafe De Paris; Peter O'Toole leaning against a lamp post, talking to a young woman near The Apollo Theatre stage door (a wonderful image).

There are probably others, but my memory fails me at the moment. The one I wish I could have spoken with was Richard Attenborough.I am a huge fan, and he always struck me as a thoroughly decent, passionate,caring gentleman.


"Barney Sloane...That's my new name...My old one's a little more Italian."

Flight to London

Canterbury :

How terrific for you to have been talking to someone who worked with Diana Sands. I remember we spoke about her a bit a while ago .. The Owl and the Pussycat was the topic.

I saw JEJ when he was on Broadway as Lenny in Of Mice and Men. That was just a "him through the stagedoor before the show" moment but it counts !

Living in London sounds a lot like lining in NYC, star spotting-wise.

My story: Visiting London. Spot this little guy alone in an alcove and looking through a newspaper. RECOGNIZE him !!! Break the rule since we are not at home.
" Oh, Mr. Falk I saw you in your first play on Broadway (The Passion of Josef D) and all your films" <BLUSH at the memory> BUT he was very nice about it all. I asked if I could take a photo (film days .. remember those?) It came out great and we both survived the encounter. Hopefully HE forgot it ! <blush>. Checking the date I figure he was waiting for John Cassavetes as they made a picture in London around that time. Husbands possibly. Oh, yeah ... he was wearing a Columbo raincoat and it was before Columbo.

oh, one more .. Tommy Steele at a polo match with his family. He smiled first!



Re: Flight to London

Byrdz, the only celebrity sightings I had overseas were the singer Georgie Fame at JFK airport about 20 years ago, clearly in a hurry, and getting very irate about a delay at Customs.

I also remember using a hotel swimming pool in North Carolina,getting changed afterwards, and looking up to see a very grumpy John Amos sitting opposite.

Back in London, I saw Barbara Windsor and Dr.Who's Sylvester McCoy in the audience at a Christmas show.

A group of friends and I had a photo taken with Charles Dance at a theatre bar.

How could I forget this..? I once stood behind Honor Blackman in a lift at the Royal Festival Hall.

Jenny Agutter walking in South London.

Most recently, Greta Scacchi talking with friends outside a shop.







"Barney Sloane...That's my new name...My old one's a little more Italian."

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Last year a couple came into my store and I sold them some of our merchandise. When the time came to verify if the lady was a Rewards member, she said, "Yes, at the Palm Springs store." I asked for her name. "Wilkinson, June," in a lovely English accent with a bit of California twang.

"Oh jeez! You really are June Wilkinson! I think I`m going to faint!"

When I was about six years old (and June was 19), my cousin, who was staying with us while he was working at Disneyland, bought a Playboy magazine and brought it home. I knew it was something that I was not supposed to look at, but I was able to sneak a peak and I saw a picture of a teenage girl whose face and physiognomy made a lasting impression on me. I learned a few years later that the girl was June Wilkinson. Moreover, the Christmas of 2014, I gave my friend two DVDs in which June appears: Too Late Blues and The Candidate.

Anyway, back to the story. After recovering my equilibrium, I said, "May I please have my picture taken with you? I have been a fan since I was a little kid!"

"But I`m not really dressed for getting my picture taken." She was certainly dressed casually in little more than sleep attire, but I said,

"Oh you are beautiful just as you are!" And she was — no lie! So she agreed and we stood arm in arm while the guy she was with snapped our picture with my i-phone. Afterwards, she asked for my business card and promised to send me an autograph picture. It doesn`t matter to me that she didn`t, but I wish I had had the presence of mind to Google an image of her off the store computer, print it up, and get her autograph on that.


🇺🇸 Liberty • E Pluribus Unum • In God We Trust 🇺🇸

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Around 1992/3 I was walking through Sydney one Sunday morning and saw Hugo Weaving come out of an antique shop. I was about to say hello when I noticed he was with a small child and I decided to keep going. Didn't want to interfere on private family time.


"He was a poet, a scholar and a mighty warrior."

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Good on ya !

Saw Sammy Davis, Jr, on a re-run of an old Dick Cavett interview show just yesterday and Davis was saying just that ... if he is alone he is happy to sign autographs and have pictures taken .. if with the kids he says "no, am with my family now" ... It's only fair !

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

I've met a few musicians here and there, Byrdz. But in cinema, hardly anyone. Although funnily enough, I did once meet a guy who I think was Dustin Hoffman lol.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

That Dustin sure gets around !

Another Dustin Story :

When the radicals of the day blew up a house in Greenwich Village in Vietnam War Protest time ... the house was next door to Dustin Hoffman's. After the smoke had cleared a bunch of us walked over to see what was what and you could see into his apartment. The whole building next door was gone and the wall that was part of his house was open! BUT ..the room itself seemed pretty ok. Odd !

I think that is the last of the Byrdz/ Dustin stories <whew>

Met musicians ?
"Famous Folk" it says ! sooooo ...

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

I'm no great shakes as a musician; keen but barely adequate. I have good musicians in my family who are professionals. For me personally, nothing will ever top saying hi to Kat Bjelland. I've seen Kristin Hersh & Carla Bozulich perform live - not yet seen Kim Shattuck, and these 4 are my holy quartet. But Kat, I actually talked to. What a babe, what a sweetheart. Makes me grin from ear to ear just thinking about it.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

👂to 👂



(emoticon ears look REALLY odd ! )

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Cheers!

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Several years ago I was at the Book Baron used book store in West Anaheim when it was going out of business (there were a rash of book store closings at the time) and I saw Robert Easton scouring the stacks. I have been a big fan of his for many years but I also must confess that he also was kind of scary-looking. I was with my son at the time and did not wish to embarrass either, so I stayed away from him. But now I wish I had spoken to him since he has since passed away.


🇺🇸 Liberty • E Pluribus Unum • In God We Trust 🇺🇸

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances


I wish I had spoken to him


Yup .. missed chances.

Remember John Shuck from "McMillan and Wife"? He was standing and waiting for the crossing light near the Plaza Hotel in NYC. He was alone. He looked lost and lonely ! I should have spoken to him. I think he might have liked being recognized and spoken to. I would NOT have gushed or blithered this time! (I hope!)


Book and record stores are great for "spottings".

Cue contributors !

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances


Remember John Shuck from "McMillan and Wife"?

To me, John Schuck will always be the Painless Pole, the best-equipped dentist in the army.

------------------
"The past is never dead. It isn't even past." -- William Faulkner

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

ok then !

I still regret not talking to him.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Most of my brushes with greatness have been while playing basketball:

James Comey (FBI head, former acting attorney general)

Arne Duncan (former Sec of Education)

Steve Hood (NBA)

R Kelly (singer)

Barack Obama (left-handed, good outside shot, shake & bake moves)

Sonny Parker (NBA)

George Seals (NFL)

LaBradford Smith (NBA)

Cass Sunstein (legal hotshot)

Brad Smith in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouI12Eg43KQ

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

You were playing basketball WITH these guys or just seeing then playing ?

Which ever one ... COOL !

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Yep. I played hoops with them. Mostly in Chicago in the 80s and 90s, some in the DC suburbs a few years after that. I played softball with Sunstein.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

When I first moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco, I went to my very first L.A. dinner party and was shocked to see that the gentleman on my left was Tab Hunter! He was very nice and laughed at all my jokes and even repeated one to someone sitting at another table.

I was on a film set on location waiting to be called when I noticed a poor scrawny looking one eyed stray cat. I felt sorry for him and began petting him when Christopher Walken (who was in the film) came by, ignored me but fed the cat some sushi.

I met Tippi Hedren twice. Once at an Alfred Hitchcock seminar where she signed a bootleg vinyl copy (this was before CDs) of Herrmann's Marnie. I met her again when I visited her on her wild animal preserve Shambala and she walked with me a bit and I reminded her we had met briefly at the Hitchcock seminar at the American Film Institute.

Tom Hanks introduced himself to me on a film set as if I didn't know who he was. Duh!

On another set, Jacqueline Bisset asked me about the costumes we were wearing. She was very sweet.

Sitting in hair and make-up trailer, getting my hair styled and cut, Jane Lynch was in the chair next to me getting her hair done and singing out loud.

Martin Sheen, Bill Pullman and Scott Bakula have shaken my hand. Kiefer Sutherland asked me how I was doing and I said fine, thank you for asking.

Joaquin Phoenx was running and bumped into me and grabbed my shoulders so he wouldn't knock me over.

On a set, Danny DeVito talked to me about food.

Lily Tomlin and I rode up an elevator together ..... in total silence.

At Canter's Deli, Jennifer Jason Leigh had her face buried in a book while her date paid the bill and I ordered some pastry.

I got to talk to one of the legendary stage actresses and teachers Uta Hagen briefly after the last play (off-Broadway) she did not long before she passed. I had seen the play and she left the theater walking with her dog. My friend stopped her and we told her how much we enjoyed the play and she was very nice.

At the movies, Neil Simon and Marsha Mason sat in front of me once, another time Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss sat next to me.

I saw Natalie Wood in person and I can truthfully say she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Every bit as beautiful as she was on film if not more beautiful.

Among many others I've been in the same room with: Angelina Jolie, Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Clint Eastwood, Barbra Streisand, Kevin Costner (shoulder to shoulder), Shirley MacLaine, Sharon Stone, Joan Collins, Marion Cotillard, Steven Spielberg, Bob Dylan, Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rourke, Christian Slater, Debbie Reynolds, Jennifer Aniston, William H. Macy, Mary Martin, Jeff Goldblum, Angie Dickinson, Val Kilmer, Cloris Leachman, George Lopez.

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never forgotten this

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Smiled all the way through and laughed at being ignored by the sushi feeding Walken .. can just see that scene !


I don't know about anyone else BUT I am getting such a kick out of all these stories. Each in its own way interesting and just plain fun to sit and share.


And wow is it hard not asking what you are doin' on all these sets and in makeup chairs and such but I won't. 🙊

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

But did you ever meet Dustin Hoffman?

And if Natalie Wood was the most beautiful woman you ever saw, who was the best looking guy? I'm guessing either Warren Beatty or Christian Slater, unless you met the legend Tony Curtis.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Warren Beatty ... Side entrance Plaza Hotel... Time of Dick Tracy... NOT wearing that yellow overcoat.

Asked the doorman ... was that ? Yes ! Yay !!!
Showed me the tip he had just gotten .. WOW !

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Never met or saw Hoffman. As for best looking guy, it's in the eye of the beholder I suppose but I'd say Scott Bakula. Very handsome and reeking of masculinity but not in an obnoxious way.

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never forgotten this

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Scott Bakula is a serious, handsome, creative guy with immense talent but I'd have to rank Mr Beatty a little higher. If you've not seen it already, you may enjoy Richard Rush's superb psychedelic night-life thriller 'Color Of Night' with Bruce Willis' best performance and an electrifying Jane March surrounded by an all-star character cast under cosmetics. I love it.

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

A word about Warren Beatty: although he's never done much for me as an actor or a personality, he was quite spectacular-looking in his youth. At the '68 Academy Awards (my father used to get tickets through his business), Beatty and Faye Dunaway were together just ahead of me, squeezing among the throng through the doors from the lobby of the Santa Monica Civic to its auditorium. He was like flesh and blood Greek statuary (albeit well-dressed), radiating robust, vital male perfection. And Dunaway, with her extraordinary bone structure and pale, translucent skin, appeared made of elegant porcelain. Together, they couldn't help but knock your eye out. They may not actually have been the two most beautiful people in the world, but at that moment, they seemed to be.

A couple years later at the '70 Oscars, I was in the lobby of the Chandler Pavilion as Elizabeth Taylor entered, and everything - and everyone - became mere background scenery. I don't even remember if Burton was with her. With her raven hair and tanned skin set off by a gown of blue with just a hint of lavender, she glowed in a way that seemed to have less to do with physical beauty than with some kind of other-worldly inner light, and you (well, I, anyway) couldn't look at anything or anyone but her.

But'cha know who really struck me, perhaps because it was so unexpected? Suzanne Pleshette. She was doing a show on the lot where I worked in the mid-'80s, at which time she was well into her '40s but, very trim in a pastel silk blouse with a simple, contrasting business skirt and minimal jewelry and makeup, looking more like an executive than an actress, she was an absolute knockout. And those dark eyes! It was all I could do to restrain myself from saying as she passed, "Wow, you look fabulous."



Poe! You are...avenged!

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

Faye Funaway and Warren Beatty look great as Bonnie & Clyde!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH ADDISON

I'd love to have met Tippi- seem to recall you meeting her from previous discussions on her (I think we count both her Hitchcocks among our favourites, no?) ----- but the one I'm really jealous/curious about is Angie!

Any more detail welcome!

Thanks

Tell mama, Tell mama all....

Angie

I never met Angie on a one on one basis. As I said, I was in the same room with her, many times actually.

Before my Academy friend (the one who worked for the Academy) retired and left California for Illinois, we would go every weekend to the Academy screenings. Angie was there almost every weekend with her daughter, they were very close. Her daughter had poor eyesight, so they almost always sat up near the front. She was always friendly to everyone around her but most attentive to her daughter. As you know, her daughter had psychological problems and eventually committed suicide and my heart just broke for her because I had seen first hand what a doting mother she was. After her daughter's death, she avoided screenings for many months before she started to come again.

When the Academy had special nights devoted to John Wayne and Don Siegel, she came both times and participated in a Q&A with the audience talking about working with both men. She had a great sense of humor.

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never forgotten this

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances


Lily Tomlin and I rode up an elevator together ..... in total silence.

As you passed the first floor and the elevator chimed, you didn't say, "One ringy dingy"?

I tried so hard to resist. I failed.

------------------
"The past is never dead. It isn't even past." -- William Faulkner

Re: Famous folks we've met and missed chances

The chances of meeting a celebrity in my city are practically zero.

I've never met anyone famous.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen
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