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I Shot this photo at the Valley Music Theatre in
Woodland Hills, CA in 1973. I was the Artist Relations person at
the theater. She
was a sweet, wonderful lady.
In 1973 - 74 Marquee Enterprises
bought the Valley Music Theater and produced Las Vegas style
shows. Mitzi Gaynor, Sammy Davis Jr., Sandler and Young, Ike and
Tina Turner, Johnny Carson, Woody Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Croce
were some of the ones I remember. I worked for Marquee
Enterprises as their artist relations person and personally took
care of all their needs, including driving them to and from the
theater. I have fond memories of those times.
At that time, I drove
a Phantom 5, Rolls Royce Limo with right hand driving. Mitzi and
her husband, Jack Bean, sat in front with me every trip, to and
from the theater. They were both grand people. Those moments
were some of the highlights of that time for me. I recently
moved back into the LA area (Glendale). If Mitzi ever needs a
right hand man, with show biz savvy, I would be happy to be that
person for her. I am still very active, teaching drama and
promoting my play/book "Cancel Christmas", but I would drop
everything to help Mitzi. I have been offered that position
from others, but did not want to drop my life to do it.
One night, Ross Hunter, a producer, who just
premiered his latest production, Lost Horizons, gave a
lavish party back stage after Mitzi’s show at the Valley Music
Theater. Lucille Ball, her husband, Gary Morton, Sid
Gould, William Shatner, Pearl Bailey and others I can’t recall,
attended and were in the green room after the show. Sid, a
stand-up comedian, and I were old friends from Miami Beach Days,
so we took a long walk around
the perimeter of the theater and
recalled old times.
As much as I enjoyed watching
Mitzi Gaynor perform, I will always remember how wonderful they
both were on our rides to and from the theater. |
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