So sorry to see
that Valerie Harper was voted off of DWTS but she really gave it all that she
could. But that’s Valerie Harper. I have known her for over 40 years, she’s not
my best friend but I will always love her.
I met when she was in the chorus in “Wildcat” with Lucille Ball at the
Alvin and I was the usher in the mezzanine. We would all go the Roxy Bowling Alley on
Thursday night after the show and bowl all night and then go to breakfast in
the AM. Since the Alvin was one of two theaters that employed male ushers and most
of us were actors to be, we were included.
Cut and dissolve…the night that Valerie won her first Emmy for the Mary
Tyler Moore Show, Lucy presented the
award to her and as they left the stage, I ran back and greeted them. The star, the chorus girl and the usher
reunited once again. Cut and dissolve
once again, Valarie’s husband at the time
Dick Schaal opened in a play at the Westwood Playhouse and the after
party was at Hugh Hefner’s palatial home.
Zina Bethune was my date and once we arrived there, Zina and I would each do our thing. She would be pushing her ballet company and I
would trying to get some gossip for Rona.
At the end of the pool there was this big hill and people would go in there and didn’t
come out. Well inquiring minds want to
know so I ambled over there and it was a huge Jacuzzi filled with the most
beautiful women and handsome men, stark naked.
What’s a boy to do. A butler came
over and showed me the lockers where you could put your clothes and he gave me
a towel to wrap around moi. I saw Max
Baer, (all of him) Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies I gingerly made my way into the water and
sat down as the butler passed around glasses of champagne which certainly
loosened me up. The gentleman on my right
passed around a joint and I took a few puffs. I must tell you it was all very
innocent. I noticed that people would go
over to my left and disappear into the water and not come back. Of course I grew curiouser and curiouser and
took the plunge. It was a tunnel, I
turned on my back and began to push myself through. It was a little scary what if I couldn’t get
out! but I pushed myself out where there
was some light. Turns out that came
flying out poolside and jumped in the air bareass naked! . Zina saw me and yelled, Hi Dick! What are you doing?
A quick Harper
memory…several years ago, I was invited to see her as Tallulah Bankhead in “Looped”
a new play at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Now I love her but as Tallulah????
She was magnicent, proving once again that versatility is her middle
name!. Plus she also did a one woman show as Golda Meier!
Her appearance on DWTS was awe inspiring and
has given new hope for thousands of people!
Brava Madame Harper!
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