Authentic New York Giants Super Bowl ring!
Photo of the day: WHY ALL THE SUPER BOWL FUSS? I HAVE MY AUTHENTIC SUPER BOWL RING! (Well…I wore the bling for about 5 minutes!) In November of 2010, I went to the opening of the Broadway play “Lombardi” and got to wear an authentic Super Bowl ring and got up close to the Lombardi trophy đ (The complete photo album is on my Facebook page.)
The Vince Lombardi trophy
February 2, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Broadway, Broadway play "Lombardi", celebrities, Dan Lauria, entertainment, Giants Super Bowl ring, Hans Von Rittern, Judith Light, Manhattan, New York City, New York Giants, New York Giants Super Bowl, New York photo, Photo of the day, Super Bowl, Super Bowl ring, Times Square, Vince Lombardi, Vince Lombardi trophy | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HELLO DOLLY!!! – There are certain voices that when you hear the first note you know itâs them. At the top of the list is Carol Channing. Yes, thereâs Cher, Bette Davis, Hepburn, but Carolâs voice and accent is absolutely irreplaceable. Who else can go from a squeaky inquisitive voiced googely eyed girl to a jazzy baritone in a split second. No one, period – Carol Channing can.
Monday night, January 20th, that unmistakable charming infectious voice filled the Town Hall on Broadway in a dual celebration of the 50th anniversary of opening night of the classic musical âHello Dollyâ – the role she originated and played uncomplainingly over 5,000 (yesâŠ5,000) times AND her upcoming 93rd birthday on January 31st.
Hosted by performance artist Justin Vivian Bond, it was a love fest that likely will not be equaled for a very long time. To have been there was a privilege that will not ever be forgotten. The star studded audience included Folies BergĂšre/musical âNineâ star Liliane Montevechi looking absolutely stunning in her bright red fur coat, Carolâs dear friend and champion Richard Skipper, Sandra Bernhard, John Cameron Mitchell, Alan Cumming, Jackie Hoffman, divine John Lypsinka Epperson and Lady Bunny, Michael Musto (of course) as well as countess LuAnn de Lesseps and none other than Sir Ian McKellen.
Liliane Montevechi
Her entrance on stage in her crisp white pantsuit resulted into thunderous applause that would not end, no matter how they tried to start the show the audience persisted with their enthusiastic welcome. Upon first sitting down in her chair she was concerned that there was a microphone on a stand next to her and tried to grab it, it wouldnât release. Justin explained it was âa back up mic.â âOh! A bAAAAAAAAAAckuuuup mic!â she exclaimed setting of a gleeful roar in the audience. No one can say âback up micâ and be heard all the way in San Francisco! San Fran is also, btw, where she wants to be buried, between the Curran theater and the Geary, she has already gone and measured and it seems there is just enough room in the narrow alley between the two theaters. âThere are fire escapes there – but theyâll have to get rid of those.â Another roar. Sheâs as sharp as tack, when she canât recollect a name or story she will digress into another story with glee. She has no filter, she just blurts out her truth. When Justin intimated she performed 5,000 times in Dolly for the love of it, she interrupted him, looked down and said ânoooooo, I wanted the money too.â Hysterical laughter and applause.
Sandra Bernhard with her idol
In one not technically well functioning segment with taped video questions for her, Carol didnât catch on there was a giant video screen behind her and was startled by the booming voice overhead. As Justin explained it was a video she said with great relief, âOh, I thought it was Godâ (perhaps eluding to her age). Each time a video segment came on, Carol just flung herself sideways in her arm chair, legs over the side and sat there like a little schoolgirl of seven years old.
Carol Channing sideways
She told of Sophie Tucker teaching her songs and sang ala Soph, excusing herself saying âI can sound nicer, but thatâs just not how Sophie sounded!â In baritone voice she sang an ethnic milkmanâs song as well. When asked about her pairing with Mary Martin in the ill fated show âLegendsâ she just drawled âit was a terrible show!â, thought a moment and added, âthat was a bitch remark.â More gleeful roars. If any fan or Justin brought up highlights of her long career, she would always (feign) be astonished ââyou remmmmmmberrrrâŠ..were you there?!â One of the most touching answers she gave when asked what she would want for her 93rd birthday, she quickly answered âDavid Merrick.â Nothing more needed to be said.
When it was time to bring the program to an end, Carol recited her closing speech from âHello Dollyâ, in which she asks the spirit of her beloved late husband, Ephraim Levi, to âLet me go!â so that she might fully rejoin the living and marry again, there was not a dry eye in the house. As a âthank youâ, the audience spontaneously broke out into âHello Dollyâ led by a high school group in the balcony. The (mostly gay/theatrical) crowd sang the song to Broadway production perfection! The magic of the moment was, when the part came for Carol to sing âwow, wow, fellas, look at the old girl now!â the audience instinctively lowered their voice in wait for her refrain – it was absolute theater magic that no flash mob could ever replicate. When ever are you going to get another chance to stand in a theater and serenade Carol Channing with âHello Dollyâ?! Iâve not seen so many beaming faces with joyful tears in an audience since I can remember. She was deeply moved, and in one very rare split second she let her guard down and looked as if she would break down and cry, she quickly caught herself and the beaming Hirschfeld Carol returned to take it all in, her eyes even bigger than usual, if that is at all possible. (Carol also has the distinction of having been drawn more times by Al Hirschfeld than any other personality ever.)
Host Justin Vivian Bond and Carol feel the love
As she was led off the stage, the audience was not ready to let go of her, and quickly broke into a strong âHappy Birthdayâ song. She turned around and the look on her face as she took it all in, is one of the most priceless gifts she has ever given to me or an audience, it is a magic moment that flares for those brief seconds in a theater, you and the artist sharing this heartfelt strong love and you are the richest person on earth for having caught it. We are all richer for having Carol Channing in this world. Raspberries !!!
January 23, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Legends", 'Hello Dolly', Al Hirschfeld, Alan Cumming, audience serenades Carol Channing, Broadway, Carol Channing, Carol Channing 93rd birthday, celebrities, Channing interview, Channing talks, countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Curran Theater, David Merrick, entertainment, Geary Theater, Hans Von Rittern, Hirschfeld Carol, Jackie Hoffman, John Cameron Mitchell, John Lypsinka Epperson, Justin Vivian Bond, Lady Bunny, Liliane Montevechi, Mary Martin, Michael Musto, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Richard Skipper, San Francisco, Sandra Bernhard, Sir Ian McKellen, Sophie Tucker, Town Hall Carol Channing review, Town Hall New York | Leave a comment
Twilight Zone “The Midnight Sun” painting
Photo of the night: DREAMS OF A “MIDNIGHT SUN”, Twilight Zone episode
Original air date: November 17, 1961. Starring Lois Nettleton and Betty Garde.
As the United States is experiencing an unusual ‘Artic Vortex’, the Twilight Zone TV series has thought of this already – sweet warm dreams?
The Earth has begun moving away from its usual orbit and is gradually rotating towards the sun. A prolific artist, Norma, and her landlady, Mrs. Bronson, are the last people in their apartment building. Everyone else has either moved north where it is cooler or perished from the extremely high temperatures. Norma and Mrs. Bronson try to keep each other company as they see life as they know it erode. They watch in terror as their water supply is turned on for merely an hour a day and their electricity is considerably reduced. Food and water are scarce. As mentioned by a radio reporter, all citizens are to remain indoors and be prepared for a looter rampage. The radio reporter also states that you can “fry eggs on your sidewalk and heat up soup in the oceans”.
As the temperature grows hotter the two women increasingly perspire. Mrs. Bronson’s mind cannot manage the psychological pressures any longer and she beseeches Norma to paint a picture other than hot topics such as a burning city, screaming deliriously, “Don’t paint the sun anymore!”. Footsteps are heard from outside the apartment door. Norma asks her landlady if she locked the doors of the apartment complex. Mrs. Bronson is uncertain if she did. They hear a knock on the door, and Mrs. Bronson starts to answer it as Norma screams for her to not open the door under any circumstances. Norma threatens the mysterious man with a gun and after a few seconds he says he will leave. Unfortunately, despite Norma’s warning to the contrary, Mrs. Bronson opens the door and the stranger forces his way into the apartment and drinks their supply of water. After several moments, he begs for their forgiveness and claims that he is an honest man and would never hurt them, and that he was driven to looting due to the heat. He goes on to describe the recent death of his wife due to complications of childbirth, as well of the death of their newborn child.
Feeling that her latest painting might cheer her friend, Norma displays a beautiful oil of a waterfall cascading over a lush pond, implied to be that of Taughannock Falls near Ithaca, New York (specifically inUlysses). Mrs. Bronson, unable to cope with the unbearable conditions of the raging sun, deliriously claims that she can feel the coolness and delightfully splashes in the imaginary water before she collapses to the floor and dies. The thermometer surges past 120 °F (49 °C), and eventually shatters. As her oil paintings melt, Norma screams and also collapses.
Lois Nettleton’s nightmare – burning/freezing to death…
The scene cuts to the apartment at night with snow outside the window. The same thermometer reads â10 °F (â23 °C). Norma is bedridden with a high fever and is accompanied by Mrs. Bronson and a doctor. She was only dreaming that the Earth was moving closer to the sun. In reality, the Earth is moving away from the sun and will eventually freeze. Norma tells Mrs. Bronson about her nightmare, adding, “Isn’t it wonderful to have darkness, and coolness?” Mrs. Bronson replies with a sense of dread in her voice, “Yes, my dear, it’s… wonderful.”
January 7, 2014 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "The Midnight Sun", 2014 blizzard, Artic vortex, artic vortex dreams, Betty Garde, entertainment, freezing to death, Hans Von Rittern, heatwave, Lois Nettleton, New York City, New York photo, nightmares, Photo of the day, retro TV, Rod Serling, snow dreams, snow nightmares, The Twilight Zone, Twilight Zone | 1 Comment
Photo of the day: WHAT HAS 72 LEGS AND MOVES WITH PRECISION? – The New York Radio City Music Hall Rockettes ! !
The Christmas Spectacular is the single most popular show in New York at Christmastime. 5,931 seats available for each show!! Five shows a day!
There are two sets each of 36 dancers in each New York show. There are 80 Rockettes (4 understudies), and they split the casts into 40 and 40. On the days with five shows, one cast will do two shows, the other will do three. On six-show days they divide it by three and three. So they can get a break, during the week they give each other a day off. The most they would do is four shows in a day.
A little known fact, if you are from Missouri (ironically the âshow meâ state) â you can be proud! The group was founded in St. Louis, Missouri by Russell Markert in 1925, originally performing as the âMissouri Rockets.â Markert had been inspired by the John Tiller Girls in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, and was convinced that âIf I ever got a chance to get a group of American girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks⊠theyâd knock your socks off!â The group was brought to New York City by Samuel Roxy Rothafel to perform at his Roxy Theater and renamed the âRoxyettes.â When Rothafel left the Roxy Theatre to open Radio City Music Hall, the dance troupe followed and later became known as the Rockettes. The group performed as part of opening night at Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932. In 1936, the troupe won the grand prize at the âParis Exposition de DanceââŠthe rest â is history !
December 20, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 1925, arts, Broadway, Christmas, Christmas in New York, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, John Tiller Girls, Manhattan, Missouri Rockets, New York, New York City, New York photo, New York Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, opening night Radio City Music Hall, Paris Exposition de Dance, Photo of the day, photography, Radio City Music Hall, radio city music hall rockettes, Roxy Theater, Russell Markert, Samuel Roxy Rothafel, The Christmas Spectacular, Ziegfeld Follies of 1922 | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: 121212 WHERE IS THE HELP NOW? – One year ago today there was a monumental concert effort to help the victims of our hurricane Sandy. While a valiant effort it was, there are still today thousands of people without homes in New York and New Jersey, miles and miles of seashore destroyed.Â
One year later, there are thousands of people suffering in the Philippines from Super Typhoon Haiyan. The destruction was catastrophic. Storm clouds covered the entire Philippines, stretching 1,120 miles — equal to a distance between Florida and Canada. The deadly wind field, or tropical storm force winds, covered an area the size of Montana or Germany. Winds gusted an unequaled 195 to 235 mph! Over 10,000 are dead, most of the poor population is homeless. 80% of the structures are flattened.
One year later: Where is the 121213 concert?
December 12, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 121212 concert, Alicia Keys, arts, benefit concert, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, entertainment, Eric Clapton, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Kanye West, New York City, New York photo, Paul McCartney, Philippine aid lacking, Philippines storm, Photo of the day, photography, Super Typhoon Haiyan, The Who | Leave a comment
Josephine Baker twists in a room
Photo of the day: JOSEPHINE BAKER DOES THE TWISTÂ IN A TUTU IN A DISCO BALLROOM AT THE CLOCK TOWER –Â Â Only in New York. Brooklyn-based collage artist Judith Supine has created a fun house mirror effect of Josephine Baker dancing in a disco like room with walls lined in mylar with mylar strips hanging about. The illusionary effect was a trip. The art installation was for yet another art gallery site closing, the famed Clock Tower Art Gallery in lower Manhattan.
November 25, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Air International Radio headquarters., arts, Broadway, celebrities, CLOCK TOWER, Clock Tower Gallery, disco room art, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, Josephine Baker, Judith Supine, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: BOGEY AND ME at THE UNITED PALACE “CASABLANCA” RE-PREMIERE – ‘Mondays on Memory Lane’ takes us to a grande gala evening of tuxedos and gowns as the revitalized United Movie Palace once known at the Loew’s 175th Street Movie Palace, re-premiered the all time film classic “Casablanca” starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Having once spent a magical evening alone with Ingrid Bergman in 1972, the film also has an extra special place in my heart.
Dooley Wilson
The Palace originally opened in 1930 as the Loew’s 175th Street Theater, presenting vaudeville and “talking pictures.” With its spectacular Thomas Lamb design, it was the last of the five Wonder Theatres to be built. In 1969, when many of the city’s grand movie theatres had been demolished or turned into multiplexes, the Palace was purchased, and preserved in magnificent style, by Reverend Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter (Rev. Ike) for his church. Rev. Ike paid big money to have European craftsman restore the hand carved gold detail work throughout the theater declaring: “We are all created in God’s image, therefore each of us is god-like. Therefore you should be made to feel like a god when you enter this palace.” (You do, thank you Rev. Ike!)
United Palace Loew’s lobby
Since Reverend Ike’s death in 2009, the United Palace has been led by his son, Xavier, a life-long musician and minister currently working with the Rhythm Arts Alliance in Southern California, whose dream has been to create a cultural center uptown. Toward this end, he has organized UPCA as a secular non-profit that has a long-term licensing agreement to use the theater and rehearsal and classroom space.
Loew’s Palace balcony
The theater is Manhattan’s third-largest; portable partitions enable its use for audiences ranging from a few hundred to its full capacity. It has hosted symphony concerts, been used in films, videos and TV shows like “Smash”.
United Palace Loew’s theater
What was expected to be an event that would just draw a couple of hundred people through their web site and friends on twitter and Facebook, wound up drawing an audience of 1,100 people! (I was made aware of it by my friend Carolyn Blackbourn). Admission was $15 but those appearing in formal gowns and tuxedos were given free admission but could still make donations to the theater in form of raffles (I won a poster!). The audience was polled by a show of hands, how many were visiting this theater for the first time – 75% of the hands went up! How many had never seen “Casablanca” in a movie theater before – 50% of the hands went up! The audience gasped with the excitement knowing we were all sharing this wonderful experience of “a first” together, that is the magic of film- the shared experience in the dark.
Mike Fitelson and Lou Lumenick
We were treated to live music performances by the SONGS chamber Orchestra and serenaded with “As Time Goes By” by Tim McAfee Lewis. Executive director of ‘the Palace’ handsome Mike Fitelson welcomed us with a wonderful speech of his goals for this architectural treasure. This was followed by the world premier of hip hop artist GPK’s music video “Bouger” which happens to have a ‘Casablanca’ theme. “Casablanca” was introduced by New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick, declaring it his favorite film of all time. Then came that magic moment when the lights are dimmed, the dark screen illuminated with the Warner Brothers logo and the magic began. The film is perfection. Bogey and Bergman are perfection, Peter Lore and Paul Henreid are perfection, the script and editing are perfection. It’s truly is the golden age of 1942 Hollywood.
Loew’s Palace mural
The joy of classic lines like: “Play it! ” (no Bogey does not say ‘again Sam’, Woody Allen did).
Captain Renault: I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money] Croupier: Your winnings, sir. Captain Renault: Oh, thank you very much.
Rick: We’ll always have Paris. We didn’t have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night. Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you. Rick: And you never will. But I’ve got a job to do, too. Where I’m going, you can’t follow. What I’ve got to do, you can’t be any part of. Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that.
Rick: Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
And I hope that this is also the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the many of you who will check out The United Palace web site (below) and visit this spectacular theater for future events.
“Here’s looking at you kid.” Bogey & Bergman
November 18, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "As Time Goes By", "Casablanca" film, 'Mondays on Memory Lane', 1942 Warner Brothers, 7 train, architecture, arts, Broadway, Bronx, Carolyn Blackbourn, Casablanca, Casablanca quotes, celebrities, Dooley Wilson, entertainment, GPK "Bouger", Hans Von Rittern, Humphrey Bogart, ingrid bergman, Loew's 175th Street Palace, Manhattan, Mike Fitelson, New York City, New York photo, New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick, Paul Henreid, Peter Lore, Photo of the day, photography, Reverend Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter, Reverend Ike, Rhythm Arts Alliance of Southern California, The United Palace, Thomas Lamb, Tim McAfee Lewis, United Movie Palace, UPCA | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: CHRISTMAS DINNER AT BENDEL’S WITH LIZA, SARAH-JESSICA, WOODY, MARILYN, CAROL AND AL HIRSCHFELDÂ – Since I was a little boy the magical drawings of Al Hirschfeld have absolutely fascinated me! The fact that a few twists of the pen could totally capture a person and their character was astounding to me. Every Sunday I would get up early to run to the corner store to get a Sunday New York Times and pull out the Arts & Leisure section to see who had been ‘Hirschfelded’. That was a steadfast tradition from about 1964 till Al Hirschfeld’s death in 2003. I have boxes and boxes (and boxes) of clippings of all the Hirschfelds I could find from then till now.
The great Hirschfeld
My dream of meeting him came true one day in the year 2000, in the theater that was later to be named for him, The Martin Beck now The Hirschfeld. The story of meeting him is a story unto it’s own. I had met the greatest of the greats until then: Ingrid Bergman, Bette Davis, Elvis, Elton, Cher, Liz Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, but meeting Hirschfeld had topped them all. I had met the man that had documented close to 100 years of America’s entertainment history. It was the most humbling and breath taking moment of my life.
Jerry Stiller meets ‘Jerry’ with Margo Feiden and Bendel’s
When Hirschfeld died, I bought many of his possessions at the 2011 Doyle Galleries estate sale, his pens and pencils, his large wooden pencil box, his shoulder bag and many, many other items, all lovingly displayed in my home.
Fast forward to November 14, 2013 and I am standing in front of Henri Bendel’s windows waiting for the grand unveiling of their Christmas window featuring a three dimensional tribute to the great beloved Hirschfeld.
Bendel’s president and top executives and creative team
I waited front row, clutching my Hirschfeld owned shoulder bag which still has his handwritten name tag attached written in his trademark squared signature. Due to arrive were Jerry Stiller who is featured in the window and Margo Feiden, the sole curator of the Hirschfeld collection. They were followed by the president of Bendel’s, the artistic director, and by Tom Carroll who created the pieces and Bendel’s Assistant VP of Visual, Gilberto Santana. Once inside, I showed the president of Bendel’s my Hirschfeld bag, “You must meet Margo!” (Shades of ‘All About Eve’!!) She welcomed me with open arms and warmth. There I was, after 49 years of collecting, sitting with Margo Feiden, holding hands and telling her my Hirschfeld stories. She so very much reminded my of my dear aunt “G” (see older posts here.) I told her: “Back in the 1960’s and 70’s I was the quintessential stage door Johnny. I had met Bergman, Davis and Crawford…” Margo squeezed my hand and cut me off, “but when you met Hirschfeld…” she interrupted. “Yes!” I proclaimed, “how did you know?” “I can see it in your eyes, it’s still there.” She held my hand tighter. I will not forget that moment. Bendel’s has a limited edition ($100.) poster available for sale commemorating the evening which I asked Margo to sign. “I hope you can read this,” she said as she rolled it up before I could read what she had written to me. I was on cloud 9 as I thanked her and left.
Hans, Jerry Stiller, Margo Feiden
I called mom and told her of the wonderful evening and how my Hirschfeld story had come full cycle. “Well what did Margo write to you?!” mom asked. I didn’t know, because shortly thereafter it was tied up in the traditional brown/white polka dotted Bendel bow and into to fancy large shopping bag it went. “I’ll stop by your apartment on the way home and we can unveil it together.” I rushed home holding onto to it for dear life.
Margo Feiden
Once in mom’s living room, we carefully untied the bow and unrolled the large parchment poster, our eyes transfixed on the small handwriting on the poster, trying to make out the inscription. Then we both looked at up each other and were speechless when we saw what Margo had written: “To Hans, with your enthusiasm Bendel’s won’t need lights, Margo Feiden.”
My heart is full.
“To Hans…”
The celebrated party guests translated into three dimensions in the window include from left to right: Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Woody Allen, Matthew Broderick, Liza, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jerry Stiller, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing and Hirschfeld himself. (Omitted in error is Margo Feiden.)
The Margo Feiden Gallery
15 East 9 St Between 5th Ave & University Place
November 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 'Hirschfleded', Al Hirschfeld, aligncenter, All About Eve, arts, AUDREY HEPBURN, Bernadette Peters, Broadway, Carol Channing, celebrities, collecting Hirschfeld, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, henri, Henri Bendel, Henri Bendel department store, Hirschfeld, Hirschfeld estate sale Doyle Auction, Jerry Stiller, Liza, Liza Minnelli, Margo Feiden, Margo Feiden Gallery, Marilyn Monroe, Matthew Broderick, New York Christmas windows 2013, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Sarah Jessica Parker, whoopi goldberg, Woody Allen | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: MY EVENING WITH FRANK COSTANZA/JERRY STILLER – Last night the upscale department store Henri Bendel’s Christmas windows were unveiled revealing a tribute to the greatest caricature artist of all time and one of the greatest artists ever – Al Hirschfeld. Bendel’s Christmas window revealed the ultimate fantasy gathering for Christmas dinner with some of the most famed New York personalities, Jerry Stiller among them. After some glasses of champagne and discussing today’s TV shows “our show is better than that vampire crap today!” said Stiller, I asked Frank Costanza, er, ah, Jerry if we could pose for a few photos together, this is my favorite. More of the event to follow.
November 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Al Hirschfeld, arts, celebrities, entertainment, Frank Costanza, George Costanza, Hans Von Rittern, Henri Bendel, Henri Bendel department store, Jerry Stiller, Manhattan, Margo Feiden, Margo Feiden Gallery, New York Christmas windows 2013, New York City, Photo of the day, photography, Seinfeld TV series | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: 1971 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL to 42 YEARS LATER AT THE BEACON 2013 (you âcanâ go back!)
In 1971 on a hot summerâs Saturday night in July, I heard on the radio that tickets were still available for the Creedence Clearwater Revival concert at the Forest Hills Stadium. I begged my mother for the money and to let me go, I was 15 years old and I was about to go to my first concert ever! I put on my size 28 faded pink with blue patch pocket bell bottoms and my purple long sleeve butterfly t-shirt and ran to the subway to head up to Forest Hills.
Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971
My seats were waaaaay in the back of the oval of the stadium, but I was so thrilled, I didnât care. This was the group that had performed between The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin at the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival. My music tastes were still evolving, I hadnât quite found my identity. Disco was yet to come, then I loved the bluesy rhythmic rock style of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their albums were all the rage in school and on the radio, I had all their lps and 45s. I loved the imaginative magical hit âdoo doo dooâ “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” from their 1970 Cosmos album. I have never forgotten sitting way up their in the upper seats singing along and experiencing what was to be so many more incredible concerts in my lifetime. I remember I was such a goody two-shoes that when the audience rushed the stage half way through the concert, I stayed in my assigned seat – boy did I change!
Within the next few years to follow, my musical tastes varied and broadened to include incredible concerts by The Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, any Beatle, Elvis at Madison Square Garden, Rock & Roll Revivals, and Elton John. Eventually my taste for disco and the fever to dance ruled and I forsook the sounds of rock, but never completely, always appreciating a good rock artist.
John Fogerty rocks with his son at the Beacon, NYC
Forty two years later, I saw an announcement on my friend Randi Horowitzâs web site SocialEyesNYC.com that the surviving and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty, was going to appear at New Yorkâs legendary Beacon Theater. I had to go! Ironically, the only tickets that were to be had were in the upper balcony, again, but didnât mind – I was going to relive my first concert of forty two years ago. John Fogerty, an energetic and vibrant 68, gave his all and totally rocked the house with his electric guitar for 2-Âœ hours. Hit after hit after hit. I had come home again, and so had the rest of the audience. The audience all seemed to be from Queens, Staten Island or Westchester. The faces seemed sort of familiar yet things had changed dramatically. See my following post of âobservations of a concert crowd 42 years laterâ.
Same seats for Creedence – 42 years later đ
November 14, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Lookin' Out My Back Door", 1969 Woodstock Concert, 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival, arts, Beacon Theater New York, bluesy rock, Broadway, celebrities, classic rock concert 2013 review Creedence, Cosmos album, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971 - 2013, entertainment, Forest Hills, Forest Hills Tennis Staium 1971, Grateful Dead, Hans Von Rittern, Janis Joplin, John Fogerty, Manhattan, memories of my first rock concert 1971, music, New York City, New York photo, observations of a concert crowd 42 years later, Photo of the day, photography, Saturday July 17 1971, SocialEyesNYC.com, Sonny and Cher, The Grateful Dead | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: On November 13, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence . . .
that request came from his wife.
Deep down, he knew she was right,
but he also knew that some day he would return to her.
With nowhere else to go,
he appeared at the home of his friend, Oscar Madison.
Several years earlier,
Madison’s wife had thrown HIM out,
requesting that HE never return.
Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?
November 13, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1970's New York, arts, Blanche Madison, Brett Somers, Broadway, celebrities, classic 70's sitcom, classic TV show, entertainment, Felix and Oscar, Felix Unger, Hans Von Rittern, Jack Klugman, Manhattan, Neil Simon, New York City, New York photo, November 13 1970, opening credits The Odd Couple, Oscar Madison, Photo of the day, photography, The Odd Couple opening credits, The Odd Couple TV show, Tony Randall | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM BABY DIVINE! – If ever there was a fierce drag queen, it was Divine! Born Harris Glen Milstead, star of cult films like “Pink Flamingos”, “Mondo Trasho”, “Female Trouble”, “Lust in the Dust”, “Multiple Maniacs”, “Polyester” and all time classic “Hairspray”. She has been copied ever since and will never be topped or duplicated. . . until now.
DIVINE in ‘Pink Flamingos’ 1972
I saw this Halloween tribute to her in the window of Two Boots Pizza in Greenwich Village. Tonight’s New York Greenwich Village Halloween parade is the largest in the world – our ‘carnival’. Filled with political satire, sex, gore, sex, humor, sex, and over the top creativity! Over 3 million participants and viewers and broadcast internationally. Only in New York !
Two Boots Pizza – 210 West 11th Street, Greenwich Village
October 31, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Female Trouble", "Hairspray" movie musical, "Lust in the Dust", "Mondo Trasho", "Multiple Maniacs", "Pink Flamingos", "Polyester", Baby Divine, Born Harris Glen Milstead, Divine, Divine as Demon Baby, entertainment, fashion, Greenwich Village, Greenwich Village Halloween parade, Halloween Parade Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Harris Glen Milstead, largest Halloween parade in the world, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, NYC Halloween, Photo of the day, photography, Two Boots Pizza | Leave a comment
Ladies and gentlemen, Grace Jones . . .
Photo of the day: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – – – GRACE JONES – 1 year ago today, Grace Jones hit New York City with her show called “Hurricane” two days before the most disastrous hurricane ever destroyed parts of New York forever, hurricane Sandy. Eerily now in hindsight, the audience and I screamed and cheered in Grace’s defiance of the oncoming storm. None of us had any idea of what was to come. . . here is my review of that ironic and incredible night at Roseland Ballroom, which it was announced this week – Roseland be torn down, not due to hurricane damage, but torn down by greed:
“Thirty four years after the legendary performance of her 1978 concert at Roseland Ballroom, NYC â Grace Jones returned Saturday night, October 27, 2012 and gave what perhaps will go down as one of her most legendary concerts of her career. She has not changed a bit. At 64 years old she is an astoundingly fit statuesque Amazonian creature as she was then. When she asked âWho was here in 1978?â the roar in response was deafening. (I was there that night in 1978). Last night’s sold out concert crowd recreated the height of the atmosphere of the divine Studio 54 disco days. Extreme outfits were the norm. Glam, glitz, drag, shock and over the top seemed to be the order of the night.
Grace outdid herself for her die hard fans, even the Hammerstein Ballroom concert performance of July, 2009. She was more animated, loose, filled with naughty adlibs (Grace is obviously an oral sex fan). Roselandâs lighting crew was off their game for which Grace retorted with a flurry of quips, zingers and re-starts of her legendary disco and new wave songs. No dubbing, live for almost 2 hours! âKeepinâ it tight!â It was Grace unleashed.
Every move was a camera pose. Every gesture calculated to cause frenzy and cameras to go wild. She is still a fierce, angry, cocky sexual diva. Her legendary toned body is remarkable, her legs are longer than a Barbie dollâs, her ass firmer that a 30 year old. One of her songs was performed while consistently swirling a hula hoop around her waist and then while continually twirling and moving about the stage she introduced the band â constantly twirling! Lady Gaga, Britney, Madonna, Rhianna, Taylor Swift or any of the young acts today do not have the stamina of this remarkable icon. With a hard pounding rock/reggae beat flavored with disco and new wave, her mega hits did not disappoint. Ironically called âThe Hurricane Tourâ, Grace ended in defiance singing âHurricaneâ while huge fans blew her about on stage and whipped the crowd into an ecstatic frenzy leaving euphoria in her wake.”
October 27, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1978 Grace Jones concert, 2012, Broadway, celebrities, concert review Grace Jones, entertainment, fashion, Grace Jones, Grace Jones "Hurricane", Grace Jones audience, Hammerstein Ballroom, Hans Von Rittern, hurricane Grace, Hurricane Sandy, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, October 27, Photo of the day, photography, Roseland, Roseland Ballroom, Roseland Ballroom closing, Studio 54 disco | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: CHER, THE OLIVE BRANCH AND HANS – After having written my now very much read criticism of Cher’s entrance and exit from the Letterman show, the article has caused some interesting reactions and or effects. Yes of course I got my haters and then – many agreed with me. It seems the article, via twitter, blog, Facebook, however, got to Cher’s people (!) and an olive branch was extended. My olive branch was being “on the list” with my good friend Janet Novick to attend a private catered listening party for “Closer To The Truth” at the not opened yet Club Tao on West 16th Street. They were still painting the walls as we got there.
Club Tao
West 19th Street
The club is a cross of 80’s feel seating, geisha girl murals painted on exposed brick walls, candles everywhere and quiet elegance. Hors d’oeuvre and champagne were free flowing. Drag queens were on the balcony above to dance to her music while the chosen few mingled below.
Cher’s people, fan club members and friends who had read my article “Cher Distances Herself from Her Fans” insisted that the ‘distant’ Cher is controlled by Ebar, the head of her now over-the-top security team. “Cher is still the loveable Cher we all love, it’s her (relatively) new team!” everyone said. From having now studied the photos of Cher’s arrival at Letterman it is more and more obvious.
Frenzy took over the room when Cher descended slowly down the stairs into the club. Janet and I went to see and noticed she, despite her heels, had gotten a lot taller – it was the damned good impersonator Steven Andrade who happened to love Janet.
HANS VON RITTERN and JANET NOVICK
Janet Novick and Steven Andrade as Cher
Hans – tall Cher – Janet
Steven adores Janet and called Janet ‘a celebrity in her own right’ so Steven/Cher wanted to take Janet and me to meet the real Cher, so she snuck us out of the club and into the underground garage where Cher was just about to arrive. There she was! A surreal moment: me, Janet, ‘tall Cher, the real Cher and a few of her security team, alone – in this underground garage. No I didn’t have my camera because it was all so sudden and the sight of my fancy camera might have whisked Cher away. So there we were the four of us. Hans, Janet, Cher and Cher! Cher laughed and said “You’re taller! I like your outfit, you look good!” Smiled broadly and waved at us and entered the club. What a Cher/Cher moment!! Thank you dear Steven Andrade !
Cher and Club Drag Queens
“I hope you like my album, er…CD!”
“I love you all”
Inside the surge was on to get close to the real Cher. My problem was, no “professional cameras” allowed. So while everyone was flashing away with their cell phones, I wasn’t allowed take pictures. đŠ You see, my cell phone is a lousy 3G dinosaur age phone with no flash.) There I was close to her and no pics! Watching her up close you could see she was gracious as ever, but always ‘led’ by her walled team. (I did finally sneak the few photos you see here.)
Serving fierceness
> Here is where I will amend what I have written earlier. It is not totally Cher distancing herself from her fans. She is still as warm an fuzzy as ever and has a steel trap mind, remembering people on the spot that she had not seen in years and tries to reach out to them. > It is her security detail! < They barricaded her everywhere she moved. There was a ‘Believe’ record producer “Mike” who even had a hard time getting to her. We were about 150 privately invited, pre-screened guests and ~still~ the over the top security walled her off. I watched her closely, Cher is still Cher, just as her team of fans insisted, she has just been walled away from us. But – I will still argue, Cher should be a “strong enough” woman to say “I’m going over there, etc” and do so, but since she has put herself in Ebar’s hands, there is nothing we can do and we Cher fans will have to learn to accept her at somewhat of a distance now.
Cher speaks from the heart
Ok – so I’m not “done” with Cher. It is a sad loss of old ‘accessible Cher’, maybe she will get enough complaints, maybe she will eventually stand strong and see the light and look more to her fans at events. Maybe one day when she does the wheel chair tour, the security around her will have changed, Cher will never change inside. Cher now reaches out simply in the ‘new way’, a fast and furious opinionated tweeter. It’s a different age I’ll have to catch up to.
Cher – I forgot to thank Tao?!
“Did I do OK?”
So – to be in the room with her and to see her flawless face and fabulous clothes was a thrill. My thanks to Cher’s circle, John Torello and the fan club for extending the olive branch to me, it did make me think . . . “what would I have done without Cher?!?” đ
September 27, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Cher Distances Herself from Her Fans" blog, "Closer To The Truth" CD, celebrities, Cher, Cher drag queen, Cher impersonator, Cher in a garage, Cher listening party 9-26-13, Cher private party, Cher's body guards, Cher's entourage, Cher's olive branch, Club TAO, David Letterman, Ebar, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, Janet Novick, John Torello, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: HANS MEETS JUDGE JUDY ON 17 YEAR TV ANNIVERSARY ! ! ! ! – On the day after Judge Judy’s 17th year anniversary of having the longest running and highest rated court show in America, I had the glorious privilege of meeting her honor in person! I have admired her no nonsense moralistic, old values, harsh humorous stance on the law approach to our court system since September 16, 1996 – 17 years, no one can compare.
First and foremost – at 70 years old, she looks better in person than on TV! A soft complexion and looking radiant and youthful as ever, beaming warm smiles, filled with spunk, humor and above all gracious. I think that’s why she has such a loyal following, the ‘court Judy’ is not the ‘in person Judy’, she is an iron judge in a velvet shell.
Where else but NYC’s 92nd Street ‘Y’ can you see Linda Ronstadt and Judge Judy?!
Judge Judy was being interviewed by Katie Couric at the 92nd Street “Y” (YMCA). I arrived 2 hours early and waited by the stage door wearing my “I â„ Judge Judy”
t-shirt. More than anything I desperately wanted my picture taken with her. At 7:30pm she arrived, wearing an elegant suit, husband Judge Jerry Sheindlin by her side. She immediately saw my shirt and said “Well, I have to go over there!” It was absolutely surreal to see her in person after having seen her on TV, sometimes 4 x’s a day, finally there she was…talking to ME. Another fan took the picture with my arms around Judy, finally the t-shirt and Judy were together after allll these years, my heart was pounding!! We took a few pictures and I asked if I may tell her something important to me, from my heart. She took my hand in hers, held it tightly and with the warmest smile she said “go ahead”. GULP! I said my rehearsed words: “You – are my drop of rain on the desert. There are times when I can’t even bear to watch the TV news anymore for the lack of sensible laws, the lack of logic and morals, the political infighting, it’s the same day after day. But then there’s you. . .the voice of reason, and then everything is bearable again, thank you for that!” She squeezed my hand tightly and I felt like I could fly!
Once inside the sold out event, the interview began and Katie had her prepared questions. The one thing Katie learned quickly, you ask Judge Judy 1 question and she will talk and digress on about 4Â or 5 different subjects – the audience loved it. Katie just let Judy go. The judge had the audience in her hands as she spoke freely, of course uncensored and from the heart.
Photos and tape recording were strictly forbidden and enforced, so I took out my old fashioned pencil and paper and took reporter-like notes, I didn’t want to forget what she said, here are some memorable Judy-isms:
– She comes from Ocean Avenue between Avenues ‘S’ and ‘T’ in Brooklyn.
– Her style in the court room comes from Jewish borscht belt humor, she said “Brooklyn humor and attitude cannot be replaced.” That’s how she learned her timing. “Brooklyn timing separates you from ‘Brooklyn not’“.
– Born Judith Blum, her dream was to live and work in Manhattan.
– Her first job in the late 1960’s for L’OrĂ©al cosmetics as a lawyer was the only time she was treated in a sexist manner. Two lawyers were hired to handle customer lawsuits, a man and she. He was given an office, she was given a desk and a pad and pencil and told to call the manufacturers to check up on orders. She said “that didn’t work for me! ‘You don’t put baby in a corner’!” (She actually said that!)
– What attracted her to her first husband? His highly polished shoes. Her second husband? His looks. “We still have a mojo.”
– Her makeup artist Nancy is invaluable to her because she sets the “up” mood for each day on the set.
– Officer Byrd and Judge Judy have worked together since she was on the bench in NYC and are best of friends.
– She now earns $47 million – a year ! She spoke about it at length. “CBS is making a lot of money off me. Furthermore, I can do the show on my own, they can’t do the show without me.” She donates a lot of her income.
– The show’s message: “Do the right thing and the rest happens, take responsibility for your actions.”
– Her take on today’s times in America: She feels things are not getting better, but instead worse, we as a people are just afraid to admit it.
– In 1982 Mayor Ed Koch gave her the first break by appointing her as a judge, first in criminal court, then later as Manhattan’s supervising family court judge in 1986. What did she learn? ‘First impressions are everything.’
– Her advice: follow what you are good at. You define yourself. A woman defines her own worth.
– From all the years on the bench the lesson learned: “Anger is a hard emotion to get rid of.”
At the end of the night, many fans ran to the stage door for an autograph. I thought ‘why not?!’, and waited about 90 minutes. Finally to our shock and surprise the security guard came out and said, ‘There are too many of you to sign autographs at this late hour, but, Judge Judy wants you all to come inside and she will take group pictures with you.” The fans squealed like little children on Christmas eve. Judge Judy was asking to see us! So there we were, late at night, inside the empty 92nd Street ‘Y’, Judge Judy directing ‘fan traffic’ as we got this rare treat of our moment with this generous, gracious spunky gal from Brooklyn – our very own Judge Judy. I can’t stop smiling đ
JUDGE JUDY DIRECTS
JUDGE JUDY GROUP PICTURE
JUDY-ISMS: “Do I have ‘stupid’ written over my forehead?” “I’m here because I’m smart, not because I’m young and gorgeous, although I am,” “If you live to be 100, you will never be as smart as I am, sir,” “Clearly you are not wrapped too tight,” “Where did you think you were coming to today, a tea party?!” “I’m speaking!” “If you interrupt again madam, your case is dismissed, and I’m throwing you out. Do we understand each other?” “I’ve been in this business for over 40 years,” “Do I look like I need help from you?” “That’s a lot of who shot John” “This is my playpen!”
September 18, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: $47 milion dollar salary, 17 year anniversay of Judge Judy show, 92nd Street "Y", Brooklyn, CBS Television, celebrities, criminal court judge, entertainment, family court judge, Hans Von Rittern, Judge Jerry Sheindlin, Judge Judy, Judge Judy greets her fans, Judge Judy interview, Judge Judy quotes, Katie Couric, L'Oréal cosmetics, Linda Ronstadt, Manhattan, Mayor Ed Koch, New York City, New York photo, Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, officer Petri Hawkins-Byrd, Photo of the day, politics, private moment with Judge Judy, What would Judge Judy say? | 3 Comments
Photo of the day: LOVE IS ALL, ALL IS LOVE – CHER keeps that mantra all the time. It is so relevant this Gay Pride weekend when America has finally said you can marry whom you wish and share equal rights. Cher is love. Love is all.
June 29, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: celebrities, Cher, Cher gives sign of love, entertainment, Gay Pride weekend, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, Marquee Dance Club, new album, New York City, New York photo, Nightclub, Photo of the day | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: MY NIGHT WITH ANDY COHEN AND . . . CHER ! – Last night, at 2:30 in the morning the vision of Cher ascending the staircase amongst the club goers at Club Marquee was not a dream, it was a dream, some would say come true. The goddess herself after spending the evening with Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live” show on Bravo, joined Andy in attending a ‘Cher Fashion Show’ while her music was blasting.
Dressed in an Egyptian/street warrior type outfit, she and Andy watched with delight as she sang along to some of her songs. It was surreal to have Cher just a few feet away holding court over “her boys” and the Cher drag queens for Pride Week. Andy Cohen was charged with energy as he couldn’t stop grinning with sheer delight at spending the evening with Cher. Neither could we!
After the show she came down the stairs right through the club goers, onto the floor and joined the DJ on stage and spoke from the heart: “I have a lot of very special fans, but you guys are extra special. From the bottom of my heart, I mean this, I have had ups and downs in my career and you guys have never left me! You will keep me in sequins forever.”
Here’s a video montage of the evening:
June 28, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "my boys" gay fans, "You will keep me in sequins forever.", 'Watch What Happens Live', 2:30am appearance, Andy Cohen, celebrities, Cher fashion show, Cher immitators, Cher joins crowd, Cher sings to her songs, entertainment, gay club, gay diva Cher, Gay Pride, Hans Von Rittern, her boys, Manhattan, Marquee Dance Club, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Pride Week | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: ANOTHER TROPICAL NIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY –
The tropical breezes blow
The palm trees sway to and fro
As the piña coladas flow
The city seems to glow.
For a luxurious tropical night in Manhattan visit 230 Fifth Avenue’s rooftop cocktail lounge. All sorts of palms trees and lush fauna in giant white wooden planters let you forget you are in The Big Apple, but take a look at the skyline view – and you see the best view of one of the world’s most iconic buildings, The Empire State Building and it’s surrounding skyscrapers. Sip your Mai tai as you watch the magic of Manhattan’s sunsets turn the skyline from blue to orange to red to irridescent blue as the light come on the skyline starts to glow! 230 FIFTH is the largest outdoor rooftop garden in New York City.
230 FIFTH has two floors, an outdoor rooftop as well as a fully enclosed (Penthouse Lounge) and private event rooms underneath, both with breathtaking views of the NYC skyline. Their Rooftop Garden also has very large, oversize umbrellas for rainy days, or for very hot sunny days, they partially heat the rooftop in cooler months. 230 Fifth is a lounge that also offers a full food menu. Open every day, 365 days of the year to the general public from 4:00PM – 4:00AM. Saturday and Sunday Brunch from 10am-4pm.
Location: 230 FIFTH AVE corner 27th street on 5th Ave. 212-725-4300
June 19, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 230 Fifth Avenue Rooftop Lounge, cocktails, Empire State Building, entertainment, Fashion's Night Out, Fifth Avenue, food, Hans Von Rittern, incredible views, Manhattan, Manhattan views, New York City, New York photo, night on the town, nyc skyline, penthouse lounge, Photo of the day, rooftop garden, skyline view, sunset views, tropical palm trees | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane: THE PALLADIUM DISCO “EVERY DAY IS GAY PRIDE DAY” – June is world wide Gay Pride month. One of the last great dance palaces of the disco era was the grand Palladium which every Sunday catered to an almost all gay audience. Owned and operated by the former Studio 54 masterminds Ian Shrager and Steve Rubell. It was one of the last clubs I attended around 1986 before “it just wasn’t fun anymore.”
The Palladium was converted from a movie theater to a music venue and then into a nightclub. The famous duo hired Danceteria DJ Richard Sweret, who saw the possibility of a much larger audience for a downtown New Wave, Euro and house music-oriented club. From its celebrity-studded opening in May 1985, through the end of the 1980’s, it was one of the major features on a vibrant New York club scene. The club was a mainstay on the New York club scene until it was bought out in 1997 by the voracious appetite of New York University (NYU) and demolished for a sterile campus housing project. They have continued to destroy New York ever since.
Junior Vasquez’s Arena party, held Saturday nights and all day Sundays at Palladium between September 1996 and September 1997, was one of the most popular parties in the New York club scene at the time. Although the promoters billed Arena as “The Gay Man’s Pleasure Dome”, the party drew an eclectic mix of gay and straight from Manhattan and far beyond. 14th Street in those days was still seedy and therefore the attraction to gain entrance into the club as you bypassed the bums in the adjoining urine stenched doorways was ‘chic’ and daring.
1986 Palladium party invitation
The Palladium represented architect Arata Isozaki’s transformation of a vacant and rundown theater, originally built in 1927 as the Academy of Music, into an extraordinary interior that can only be described as a sleek new structure, the equivalent of a seven-story building using more than 200 tons of steel, within the restored grandeur of the original shell. After the conversion from a venue to a club, the main dance floor of the Palladium was a huge space which used to hold the theater and seating. One interesting feature of the club was the large banks of TV monitors in grid formations that were used to display music vidoes. Each monitor could operate separately, or one large picture could be shown across the grid – we had never seen such technology before and it was mesmerizing to us at the time.
The entire gigantic cavernous club was big enough to hold different areas, the equivalent of three or four clubs! Besides the pounding main dance floor area there was a multicolored basement, and the famous upstairs “VIP room”, The Michael Todd Room. Murals were created for this space by the well known New York artists of the 1980s Jean-Michel Basquit, Francesco Clemente, Kenny Scharf and Keith Haring – these treasures are gone.
The video links below will show you the 1980’s grandeur it once was.
A rare visual tour into the past of The Palladium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5_NI2MSmp8
MTV music video A. Snap – The Power B. Technotronic – This beat is Technotronic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUdbX4B-74s
June 3, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "The Gay Man's Pleasure Dome", "VIP room", 14th street, 1927 the Academy of Music, 1980's, architect Arata Isozaki, architecture, arts, Danceteria DJ Richard Sweret, Downtown Julie Brown, downtown New Wave, entertainment, Euro, fashion, Francesco Clemente, gay club scene, Gay Pride, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, house music-oriented club, Ian Shrager, Jean-Michel Basquit, Junior Vasquez's Arena party, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, large banks of TV monitors, Manhattan, MTV music video, music vidoes, New York City, New York photo, New York University (NYU), PALLADIUM DISCO, Snap - The Power - Technotronic, Steve Rubell, Studio 54, Sunday gay party night, the end of the disco era, The Michael Todd Room, vidoes of club, vint\ge video club scene | 2 Comments
Mondays on Memory Lane: Richard Skipper weaves a magical evening with Tommy Tune – On Thursday night, May 23rd, 2013, Richard Skipper hosted an extraordinary evening of intimate conversation with nine time Tony winner Tommy Tune at Queensborough Community College. The evening was a rare privilege for all. First and foremost for Richard, since it was Tommy himself who had requested him for the interview. Secondly for all of us lucky enough to be in the audience. To see this talented icon of Broadway theater open up to Richard’s questions and reminisce freely was an exciting treat. We’ve all seen Tommy Tune dance and perform, but a shared moment like this is irreplaceable. Richard knows his theater history, combined with both their friendships with legend Carol Channing – their bond made for an insightful conversation. Tommy shared lessons learned from luminaries such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Carol, Michael Bennett, Lucie Arnaz, Honey Coles and his perfect pairing with Twiggy in the film “The Boyfriend” and the hit Broadway show “My One and Only”.
Tommy Tune reflects
Tommy Tune doing the letter “H” from the song “You Gotta Have Heart”
At age 74, Tommy has a youthful energy that comes from the love of his craft. He simply radiates joy. The audience was riveted by the insight and advice Tommy gave, many times reinforcing that our own uniqueness should drive our determination to forge forward and take chances and leaps of faith. Richard steered the ‘conversation’ masterfully. In ending the evening Richard with his usual warm charm, asked the audience to participate in asking questions of Tommy which added to the bond that had been created with both Tommy’s and Richard’s fans. It was an evening not to be forgotten, thank you Richard!
“What Becomes A Legend Most?” 1994 ad
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poster
Tommy Tune and Richard Skipper saying good night
May 27, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Broadway history, Broadways musicals, Carol Channing, celebrities, entertainment, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Hans Von Rittern, Honey Coles, intimate interview with Broadway legend Tommy Tune, leaps of faith, Lucie Arnaz, Michael Bennett, New York City, New York photo, Queens, Queensborough Community College, Richard Skipper, Tommy Tune, Tony Award winner, Twiggy, What Becomes A Legend Most? | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane: 1981-2103 ONE NIGHT ONLY AT THE RITZ WITH HOLLY WOODLAWN – Thirty three years ago I saw advertised in the local underground magazines that Andy Warhol’s outrageous transgender star Holly Woodlawn was to appear in Terrence McNally’s play ‘The Ritz” co-starring then infamous gay porn star Cal Culver better known as Casey Donovan. The show was at Xenon Disco, the strong competition to Studio 54 at the time. Xenon (as Studio 54 was) was also inside an old Broadway theater with huge pinball bumpers that came down from the ceiling that you had to bump with your hip so that alarm bells would go off, part of the current ‘the bump’ dance craze.
‘The Ritz’ was based on Bette Midler’s 1971 unusual meteoric rise to fame in the gay bathhouse ‘The Continental Baths’ owned by Steve Ostrow in the Ansonia Hotel. The Broadway play garnered Rita Moreno (as third rate Puerto Rican actress wannabe ‘Googie Gomez’) a Tony award and her role was reprised in the hilarious 1976 film.
The fact that Holly Woodlawn, herself Puerto Rican, certainly not ‘third rate’ but campy as hell, was performing in this play had me immediately buy tickets for the first night of previews (I couldn’t wait for opening night!). The show was a perfect fit for Holly and she was hilarious. After the show we danced the night away, in the early morning hours, on my way out of the disco I tore this poster off the wall – unbeknownst to me at the time, the show opened and closed that same night due to lack of funding.
For those of you too young to know who Holly is, but the name still sounds familiar, singer Lou Reed refers to Holly Woodlawn in his iconic song “
Walk on the Wild Side,” in the opening lyric “Holly came from Miami, Florida.” Her antics and connections to a now much revered Andy Warhol past are legendary. I seem to be the only one who remembers that when iconic 1960’s/70’s music club Trude Heller’s at 418 6th Avenue (SE corner of 9th Street and 6th Avenue) started placing hand prints of the famous performers on their sidewalk, Holly placed her ass prints in the side walk. The block was framed and hung on the side of the club.
AIDS and changing tastes wiped out this entire glorious and glamorous era and the people and it’s clubs simply disappeared. But there is one of the few tough survivors – Holly Woodlawn. I was stunned and excited to receive a notice that she was going to make a super rare appearance at the Laurie Beecham Theater (Joan Rivers’ fav hangout) on Friday, May 17. I bought a ticket immediately and sat 2nd row. I brought with me my theater posters of Holly’s shows such as ‘The Neon Woman’, Women Behind Bars’ – both starring drag legend Divine. But my ultimate treasure is the one night only appearance of ‘The Ritz’. The posters caused quite a stir amongst her fans and old friends, taking pictures of them with their iPhones. Then 7:30 came, the lights were lowered and out she came, thirty three years after I had seen her – Holly.
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She is the embodiment of a survivor! Now battling near crippling spinal stenosis, it was heartwarming yet hard to watch her cheerfully be helped on stage by two of her friends. “I am home!” she cried. Now 66, nothing else had changed, the sly wink, the double entendres, the off-the-wall humor, and above all, the immense amount of love streaming between her and her audience. She is sharp as a tact. Funny, irreverent, reflective and above all determined to have a good time. It was a mutual love fest. With no disrespect meant to either women but Holly has sort of morphed into long gone comedian Totie Fields. It was endearing. After the show she was helped from the stage in her wheel chair and her long time friends such as actress Brenda Bergman and fans surged towards her, some wanting autographs, some a photo and some just to recall one of the incredible Warhol days with her. She was able to sign only one autograph and she chose my ultra rare poster, “I can’t do it so well you know, Hans is your name? You know I am part German too,” she said with a determined smile. I was left speechless as I watched her struggle to lovingly sign my poster in hot pink ink. In that moment I was transported back to that first night of previews of “The Ritz”, I could hear “You’ll be swell, you’ll be great! Gonna have the whole world on a plate.” Holly Woodlawn does have the whole world on her plate – and I was lucky enough to be at her feast!
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“The Ritz” The farce is set in a gay bathhouse in Manhattan, where unsuspecting heterosexual Cleveland businessman Gaetano Proclo has taken refuge from his homicidal mobster brother-in-law, Carmine Vespucci. There Gaetano stumbles across an assortment of oddball characters, including a rabid chubby chaser, go-go boys, a squeaky-voiced detective and Googie Gomez, a third-rate Puerto Rican entertainer with visions of Broadway glory who mistakes him for a famous producer and whom he mistakes for a man in drag. Further complications arise when Gaetano’s wife Vivian tracks him down and jumps to all the wrong conclusions about his sexual preferences.
May 20, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 'the bump' dance craze, 'The Neon Woman', 'The Ritz", 'Women Behind Bars', 1971, 1976, 1981, AIDS, Andy Warhol, Ansonia Hotel, Bette Midler, Brenda Bergman, Cal Culver, Casey Donovan, celebrities, Divine, entertainment, gay bathhouse, gay club, Googie Gomez, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Holly Woodlawn, Joan Rivers, Laurie Beecham Theater, Lou Reed, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Rita Moreno, Steve Ostrow, Studio 54, Terrence McNally, Tony award, transexual, transgender, Trude Heller's club, Walk on the Wild Side, Xenon disco | 1 Comment
Photo of the day: NOT YOUR AVERAGE NIGHT AT CARNEGIE HALL – So you thought Carnegie Hall is quiet and reserved for it’s classical music concerts…well you’re wrong. This sell out house was cheering on the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with their red state colors and were there to see one of the most exciting singers around Storm Large. Having front row center seats added to my excitement!
Storm sang Kurt Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins” made famous by Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya. Storm was in top form singing and acting the part with her trademark deep gut passion.   The concert broadcast live over classical music station WQXR consisted of
- RACHMANINOFF Caprice bohémien, Op. 12
- RACHMANINOFF Isle of the Dead
- WEILL The Seven Deadly Sins with Storm Large
- RAVEL La valse
Storm Large takes her bow to thunderous applause with conductor Leonard Slatkin.
Carnegie Hall built by Andrew Carnegie for his wife in 1891 because she said she had no decent place to listen to music in New York, is one of the few concert halls in the world that is acoustically perfect. It has had some of the greatest voices of all time and some of the most iconic concerts have been recorded here. Imagine sitting where Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, James Gang, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jessye Norman, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf have appeared! It is one of the musical treasures of the world.
May 10, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "The Seven Deadly Sins", Andrew Carnegie, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Carnegie Hall, classical music concerts, classical music station, dave brubeck quartet, Detroit pride, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Edith Piaf, entertainment, front row seat, Hans Von Rittern, Harry Belafonte, James Gang, Jessye Norman, Judy Garland, Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, Manhattan, Maria Callas, Marlene Dietrich, New York City, New York photo, Nina Simone, Op. 12, Pink Martini, RACHMANINOFF Caprice bohémien, RACHMANINOFF Isle of the Dead, RAVEL La valse, Shirley Bassey, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Storm Large, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, WQXR | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: WHICH ONE OF THESE GIRLS WILL BECOME A RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ROCKETTE? Only the grueling 45 minute audition will tell. Yesterday morning hundreds of anxious women between 5’6″ and 5’10 1/2″ tall, proficient in ballet, tap, and jazz lined up on 50th Street outside the iconic landmark Radio City Music Hall to hopefully fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a NYC Rockette, if even only for the run of the popular Christmas show. They were told to all come with a ‘Rockette Look’. All the women had the same Christmas red accented lips. No short haired ladies, they all had long hair pulled back in a chignon. Most eyes bore heavy black false eye lashes. It was a strange yet beautiful sort of 2013 version of the 1988 Robert Palmer music video “Simply Irresistible”. Rows and rows of them, simply ‘irresistible.’
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It also looked like the opening scene of ‘A Chorus Line’. The looks on their waiting faces ranged from anxiety to sheer excitement. Later in the day, about 1pm, I passed by again and the last girl was being admitted inside. But now on 50th street, there was also this stream of women leaving Radio City Music Hall that, to the passers by…oddly all seemed to look alike! Some serene, some happy, some in tears. Callbacks will be on Wednesday for the lucky ones to get through to audition further, ultimately proving the Big Apple is where everything is possible and dreams can come true.
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New York City is called the Big Apple because the red apple, like temptation from Eve to Adam, represents ‘the tempting opportunity’ the people have flocked to this city for centuries to take a bite of. The apple of these ladies’ eye is a contract which states: “Travel and Housing are provided for all performers in shows performing outside New York City. No travel or housing is provided for the performers of the show in New York. If cast in the show, performers will be offered an American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) contract with competitive salaries and benefits.”
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Here’s hoping one of them will be kicking her heels high at Christmas time !
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Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…Right!
That connects with… Turn, turn, out, in, jump, step,
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch. Got it?… Going on.
And… Turn, turn, touch, down, back, step,
Pivot, step, walk, walk, walk.
Right! Let’s do the whole combination, Facing away from the mirror.
From the top. A-Five, six, seven, eight!
[ALL] God, I hope I get it. I hope I get it. How many people does he need?
[BOYS] How many people does he need?
[GIRLS] God, I hope I get it.
[ALL] I hope I get it. How many boys, how many girls?
[GIRLS] How many boys, how many…?
[ALL] Look at all the people! At all the people. How many people does he need? How many boys, how many girls? How many people does he…?
[TRICIA] I really need this job. Please God, I need this job. I’ve got to get this job.
[ALL] God, I really blew it! I really blew it! How could I do a thing like that?
[BOYS] How could I do a thing like…
[ALL] Now I’ll never make it! I’ll never make it! He doesn’t like the way I look. He doesn’t like the way I dance. He doesn’t like the way I…
[ALL] GOD, I think I’ve got it. I think I’ve got it. I knew he liked me all the time. Still it isn’t over.
[MAGGIE] What’s coming next?
[ALL] It isn’t over.
[MIKE] What happens now?
[ALL] I can’t imagine what he wants.
[GIRLS] I can’t imagine what he…
[ALL] God, I hope I get it! I hope I get it. I’ve come this far, but even so It could be yes, it could be no, How many people does he…?
I really need this job.
[A FEW VOICES] My unemployment is gone.
[ALL] Please, God, I need this job.
[A FEW VOICES] I knew I had it from the start.
[ALL] I’ve got to get this show.
[PAUL] Who am I anyway? Am I my resume? That is a picture of a person I don’t know.
What does he want from me? What should I try to be? So many faces all around, and here we go. I need this job, oh God, I need this show.
May 1, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Simply Irresistible"., 'A Chorus Line', 1988 Robert Palmer music video, American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), audition, Chorus Line lyrics, Christmas show, dancer hopefuls, dancer try outs, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York City, NYC Rockette, open call, opportunity, Radio City Music Hall, the Big Apple | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane – I DREAM OF JEANNIE 30 and 40 YEARS LATER: I have met Barbara Eden 1-1/2 times in my lifetime. The first time was in the year 2000 while I was working in downtown Manhattan. I was on my lunch break and would usually have my lunch near City Hall Park. On Wednesday, February 16th at 12 noon I got to the park and I could see this huge, huge line of almost only men outside of the mega store J&R Music and Computer World at 15 Park Row just opposite City Hall. There was this unusual heightened buzz of excitement about them so naturally I had to go over to investigate. I thought it was probably a Playboy Bunny or pin-up girl or some hot girl rocker. The line snaked out of the store and down the block. It was three to four men deep. The closer they got to the entrance of the store, they would all stand on their tippy toes to see “her” inside. “It’s Jeannie! It’s really Jeannie! Man, she looks great!”
‘Jeannie who’ I wondered, what Jeannie in 2000 could cause such a stir of excitement? I went to the guard at the door and tried to claim I was just going to shop – but no dice “Gotta get in line, all the other men are dreamin’ of Jeannie too, bud.” That Jeannie?! I was filled with excitement and headed around the corner to the back of the line, with at least 100 – 150 men ahead of me. What was so extraordinary about this frenzy was . . . this was way before Barbara Eden was heavily promoting the old beloved TV series as she does now and signing replicas of the famous bottle. She was there to promote the now defunct Cygion Cyber Genie, a micro PBX cordless phone system.
Since it was a promotional tour, her time schedule was limited. You could hear the J&R personnel saying that they had not expected such an enormous turnout. So, by the time I got inside the door, only to see her far on the other end of the store, the announcement was made, “I’m sorry fellas, but Miss Eden would love to meet you all, but she has to go.” That started a big roar of boos but also wolf call whistles to let her know how ‘hot’ they thought she was. Now in retrospect, I think working for Cygion must have been part of the wake up call to Barbara Eden to realize how still very beloved and popular she was thirty years after the show’s end.
Fast forward to Friday, October 27, 2010, ten years later and I am about to have my “Dream” come true! I am attending the Chiller Theater Autograph Show in Parsippany, New Jersey, where TV, movie, sci-fi, and music stars come for you to meet them and get their autographs and photos for a price. Finally I was going to meet Jeannie. I got there early and the lines were very long. Patty Duke was there, John Astin of ‘Addams Family’, Linda Blair, Richard Roundtree of ‘Shaft’ fame, LeVar Burton of ‘Roots’, the entire surviving cast of ‘Jeannie’ and ‘Dallas’ including Larry Hagman and so, so many more. So you’d think with that many stars inside, the crowd would evenly be distributed inside, the way water seeks it’s own level. No. Most people raced to the Jeannie/Dallas room, the wait in the hot hotel hallway was about two hours. (Larry Hagman passed me in the hallway on the way to the bathroom, lol, surreal.)
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The wait was worth it. She was and is radiant. She beams love. There is an incredible gentility to her. She looked amazing! There was a man selling replicas of the bottle, which I had, had to have! I bought the bottle clenching it in my hand as I waited to meet Jeannie forty years later! How is it that I had aged and Jeannie hadn’t…yeah I know, she really is a genie! The moment came, I was next in line! My heart pounded, my palms started to sweat, my knees a little shaky, this was so surreal…a few steps more…a few steps more and I was in the arms of Barbara Eden. I had died and gone to heaven!
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In 2010 I had met an extraordinary amount of celebrities on my wish list, including my obsession Cher (whom I had met before), but out of allll those stars, it was Jeannie that was the biggest thrill. To look at my nightstand today and see the signed bottle next to my bed is awesome, so I can truly ‘dream’ of Jeannie â„.
April 29, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 'Dallas', 15 Park Row, autographs and photos, Barbara Eden, celebrities, Cher, Chiller Theater Autograph Show, city hall park, Cygion Cyber Genie, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, I Dream of Jeannie, J&R Music and Computer World, John Astin of 'Addams Family', Larry Hagman, LeVar Burton of 'Roots', Linda Blair, Manhattan, micro PBX cordless phone system, New York City, Parsippany New Jersey, Patty Duke, promotional tour, Richard Roundtree of 'Shaft' fame, the bottle, TV series | 1 Comment
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 