PLAYING THE PALACE
If one is a theatre aficionado, he has certain moments on the stage that are indelibly imprinted in his mind.
One of mine relates to LAUREN BACALL. She was the Hollywood legend known for her film noir movies, her sultry demeanor, her famed romance with Humphrey Bogart and, of course, “the look”. If you are not familiar with the latter reference, call up some of her photos from her storied past.
There I was in the front row of the mezzanine in the Palace Theatre on Broadway as she appeared in front of the stage curtain in a shimmering gold gown, ready to begin her Tony-winning performance in the Kander & Ebb musical WOMAN OF THE YEAR. It literally took my breath away.
Many years later, as I tended to our satellite, retail mall store in Harrisburg, PA, “Betty Joan Perske” (her real name) walked into our store, shopping our merchandise. Displaying her customary reserve while in public, she quickly exited when she realized that she had been recognized. Enough for me to savor that breathless feeling again!
This actress, who amassed considerable acclaim both in Hollywood and New York, has a niche in my carefully nurtured stage memory vault.
Looking Back Is Looking Forward…Snapshots of People, Performances et cetera (etc.) about the Way We Were
