BETTY JANE BOUCHAT McINNES

When I was a tender lad, I worshipped my Uncle Bill.  Who didn’t???  Football player at THS, brown hair, brown eyes, so good looking and loaded with charm.  And what a wonderful guy!  He was a Prince and when he met his Princess, Betty Jane Bouchat, it was like a fairytale come true. She was beautiful and so sweet.   They moved into an apartment  near First Ward School and we were all welcome there.   Then they bought a terrific home in Natrona Heights and were still welcome there. Uncle Bill passed away in 1981 and whenever I came home to Penna., I would go up and visit with her.   We had a wonderful time talking about the good old days.  As I left one time, she pressed $20.00 in my hand and when I protested, she said “No, I want you to have this”.  I felt just like that little boy again.  Betty passed at age 87 last week and she has been treated royally by her loving children, Marcia and Bill Jr. and grandchildren Mandy, Michael & Christine….she deserved it…after all she was a Princess….

I love you Aunt Betty…..always have and  always will.

 

First of all kudos to GH, SoapNet for their extraordinary coverage of the 50^th Anniversary of GH.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the 1^st ten or so and didn’t know they were repeating the whole thing, the Liz Taylor stuff ( was doing extra work on that day and was praying I might be in one of the scenes) but seeing all those wonderful actors and actresses was a trip, hate calling ladies actors…they ain’t!  Jackie Zeman was particularly radiant, Stuart Damon was unbelievably handsome, Denise Alexander, one of the most talented women in the business, Loanne Bishop so sweet and pretty, Philip Tanzini so young and funny, Anna Lee & David Lewis, Gail Brown & Peter Hansen outstanding performers doing outstanding work  Norma Connelly & Rachel Ames, superb actresses always,   Shel Kepler, a bit dizzy but always entertaining, John Stamos already showing his  star potential ….let’s face it they were the best!!  John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin proving that real friendship between a man and a woman could be just as entertaining as romance and watching the Luke and Laura…easily the most romantic, fun and adventuresome duo in soap history….I was just as taken as I was when it was happening and by the way they still have it…..

Remembering those “Thrilling Days of Yesteryear” when Easter was one of the most fun holidays…large coconut eggs dipped in milk chocolate from Joe Clark’s (the best) putting hard boiled eggs into the vinegar and dye mixture, our brand new Easter duds complete with hats.  What special memories! 

Cut and dissolve….Hollywood, CA….I had read about the Easter Sunrise Service at the famed Hollywood Bowl all of my life, well I produced and directed 3 of those services in the 70’s.   What a thrill to stand on that stage and take in the vastness of the Hollywood Bowl…one such service I worked with Bee Beyer a wonderful very Christian woman (I also produced her syndicated TV talk show).  She knew a lot of those avid Christians who wore lots of diamonds and cowboy duds and came to rehearsals in limousines.  But I must tell you though, they were absolutely wonderful and were fun to work with.   My opening number was not one but two Black choral groups (60 each) making their entrance from the top of the Bowl, coming down the steps singing the Hallelujah Chorus interspersed with dancing harem girls…to say the least it was an eye opene r…thank you, Mr. DeMille! Macdonald Carey, radio, television,  soaps (Days of Our Lives) and movie star was a PR client of mine and I asked him to read the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning.  Being an ever vigilant PR man, I went into the audience so I could get a great photo of Mac onstage.   Beautiful moment, Mac in his best theatrical reading standing on the stage and he finished the prayer, raised his arms and 100 white pigeons took off from the stage to the back of the Bowl.  As I stood there taking pic after pic, as they zoomed over my head…some of those little darlings decided it was “ka ka do do” time and I was soon covered with white spots all over me and the camera.  I swear as they flew over I heard one pigeon coo….I told him no pictures….

It’s my Uncle Bill’s birthday…he’s gone now…passed away many years ago much too soon but his persona has stayed with me and will for many years to come.  He was athletic, warm and very handsome. Try to imagine a boy who was the perfect son, brother, uncle and friend all rolled into one….legend has it that he was mischievous too.  Seems that one day, Bill, age 15 and his best friend,  Gail Massart asked my Mom if they could take me for a walk in my baby carriage.  She was busy in the kitchen that had a window that looked out on Fentzel Alley which ran up to 10^th Avenue so she agreed.  It was a bit steep.  She was doing the dishes when she looked up and saw me in my carriage barreling down the alley.  Not to worry, pal, Gail was standing at the end of the alley to catch me.   I was about 3 and I thought this was great fun.  Needless to say,  my Mom didn’t agree but for years we laughed about “the trip”. 

Whenever I would come home, Bill always the first to drop by to see me.  Each time, I promised myself I would call him as soon as I arrived but he always beat me to it.  He made me feel so special.   He had the great fortune to marry the girl of his dreams, Betty Jane Bouchet and had two wonderful children, Bill Jr and Marcia. 

Uncle  Bill…thanks  for all that you did for all of us and for being such an inspiration…you were truly one of the good guys!

OK let’s talk about the soaps….Y&R first

Sick about Steve Burton leaving GH…..yeah, I know probably time.   But it was so good to see him seemingly happy for the first time in years.   At last he was smiling!!! Alas he goes to Y&R and what do the brains there do…they have him coming back from the dead (how original!) and he gets in a car accident!...Bravo writers!!...just remember Steve, what they did to Genie Francis on Y&R….made her character so stupid that she mucked up her nuptials to Jack, etc, etc.   She did some wonderful work when she went undercover but it was too late…they bring  Tristan Rogers over and write him so badly that he’s gone…they  don’t seem to know what to do with stars.   Doug Davidson has been doing the best work of his career and I sincerely hope he gets that damn Emmy soon….Melody Thomas whom I personally and professionally adore is  saddled with that ass Victor once again.   Does she ever learn…his evil persona  is becoming so BORING….wasting Jess Walton is ridiculous…and does anyone in Genoa City see that there is a major blizzard going on ...does anyone have any cold weather coats, hats & scarves?…Katherine (poor dear can’t afford a chauffeur), Phyllis, Lauren, Avery, all driving in a major blizzard (the affects showing the raging blizzard outside of everyone’s windows were spectacular)  having Kate Linder wear that maid’s uniform would be funny if it wasn’t so idiotic..  they have made Fenn the most terrible villain…I almost expect  him to grow a mustache so he can twist it, Lauren is finally getting to do some emoting and of course, she does it well….the troubled youth, Jamie is excellent and it is well written…so having watched it since day  1, I will always stick by them but sometimes it’s difficult.  I think that most daytime actors do an incredible job and work very hard….but don’t get me wrong, I love soap operas!

Finally found a solution for those so important news interruptions on our soaps…screw ABC, CBS & NBC who actually think that soap audiences do indeed care about those things….car chases, funerals, etc.   They belong in the news slots where they have an audience.   Big moment on B&B the other day and it was interrupted...they used to rerun it early In the AM but now they do nothing.  So I now tape all the soaps except B&B on SoapNet later in the day and watch them at night.   Because B&B is a half hour show, they won’t show B&B which is plain stupid. And SoapNet is really going all out to celebrate GH’s upcoming 50^th Anniversary.  Check it out!!

February 19 was the birthday of my favorite aunt, Helen Elizabeth McInnes Moore.   It is also the birthdate of my cousin Bill McInnes.  (something I didn’t know until last year)    Helen was one of those very special ladies that  made an indelible impression on all that knew her.  A favorite story….Helen lived in a three bedroom apartment  above a store on 6^th Avenue overlooking the train station with  her Dad and his new wife, also named Helen (they became known as Big Helen and Little Helen).  You could look out the windows and watch the trains stop and pick up passengers.   One morning, Little Helen left for work, boarded the train and sat by a window.  She lit up a cigarette (no one knew that she smoked) and began to read the newspaper.  As she puffed on it, the train backed up and Grandpap and Big Helen could see her!  When she came home they told what they saw and all had a good laugh! 

Every year on my birthday, she would take me to a movie and then over to New Kensington to Milano’s for Italian food.  Now on my birthday I either go out or stay at home and make spaghetti and watch an old movie in her honor….she became very  ill a couple of years ago and had to be placed in a rest home.  When I was home, I visited her with her devoted husband, Joe Moore who was truly one of the good guys.  He went to see her every day.   When I went into her room she seemed very remote and  I hugged her and said…Next to my mother, you are the most important woman in my life…she looked up and gave me the biggest smile!!

 I am so blessed to have had the family and to have these warm memories!!