Memories of Night of 100 Stars
My former teacher Louise Hay (You Can Heal Your Life) believes: “whatever energy we put out, we get back…the universe listens.” I’ve always had celebrity experiences because this is the energy I put out…and consequently these have become part of my tours. Years ago I obtained a job at Radio City Music Hall which led me to work on mega-charity event NIGHT OF 100 STARS and its sequels.
I was assigned to the Green Room which was rather like putting the mouse in charge of the cheese. My job was to keep the celebs happy with flattery and small talk and escort them to/from the stage, trying not to gush or drool on them. Celebs were running around backstage like giggling chorus kids getting pictures and autographs of OTHER celebrities. Radio City only has about 20 dressing rooms, so we were forced to pack them with major names. Most didn’t argue because it was for charity. I recently came across my dressing room assignment sheets and it’s a HOOT to see who we threw in together. Please enjoy reading this sample:
201- Olivia DeHavilland, Bernadette Peters, Linda Lavin, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, Grace Kelly.
211: Dustin Hoffman, John Forsythe, Jeremy Irons, Donny Osmond, Danny Kaye, Sidney Poitier, Robert Preston, Sir Laurence Olivier, Christopher Reeve (before), Vincent Gardenia, Ed Asner and James Earl Jones.
302 was the “glamour room”: Diahann Carroll, Linda Evans, Joan Collins(until the Dynasty gals demanded separate rooms!), Raquel Welch, Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Brooke Shields, Jaclyn Smith, Claudia Cardinale, Ellen Burstyn, Priscilla Presley, Susan Lucci, Dyan Cannon, Lynda Carter, Angie Dickinson, Ali MacGraw and Jane Seymour all sitting at tiny makeup tables designed for Rockettes. Next door were sports legends: Don Budge, Howard Cosell, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron.
303: Debbie Allen, Marge Champion, Sandy Duncan, Georgia Engel, Nanette Fabray, Bonnie Franklin, Ginger Rogers, Gwen Verdon, Juliet Prowse, Jane Powell, Chita Rivera and Elaine Joyce.
401: Lucie Arnaz, Marisa Berensen, Carol Channing, Petula Clark, Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Michelle Lee, Dinah Shore, Maureen Stapleton.
207: Dr. Christian Barnard, Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, Buzz Aldrin, John Updike, Rosa Parks, Martha Graham, Dr. Linus Pauling, and Dr. Seuss.
702: Anne Baxter, Meredith Baxter Birney, Nell Carter, Tyne Daly, Julie Harris, Kate Jackson, Jennifer O’Neill, Charlotte Rae, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.
604: Lloyd Bridges, Charles Bronson, Yul Brynner, Michael Caine, Cab Calloway, Bert Convy, Billy Crystal, Matt Dillon, Richard Dreyfuss, Charles Durning, Bob Fosse, David Frost, Ben Gazzara, Jim Henson, Rock Hudson, Ed Koch, Vincent Price, Jimmy Stewart, Tony Randall.
After this, I worked for many other celebrity-packed events…but none was as much fun as my first: Night of 100 Stars. In future blog items I’ll have more memories from these fabulous events.
Jim Dykes is co-founder of Rich & Famous Tours. www.jimdykes.com & www.richandfamoustours.com
I was assigned to the Green Room which was rather like putting the mouse in charge of the cheese. My job was to keep the celebs happy with flattery and small talk and escort them to/from the stage, trying not to gush or drool on them. Celebs were running around backstage like giggling chorus kids getting pictures and autographs of OTHER celebrities. Radio City only has about 20 dressing rooms, so we were forced to pack them with major names. Most didn’t argue because it was for charity. I recently came across my dressing room assignment sheets and it’s a HOOT to see who we threw in together. Please enjoy reading this sample:
201- Olivia DeHavilland, Bernadette Peters, Linda Lavin, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, Grace Kelly.
211: Dustin Hoffman, John Forsythe, Jeremy Irons, Donny Osmond, Danny Kaye, Sidney Poitier, Robert Preston, Sir Laurence Olivier, Christopher Reeve (before), Vincent Gardenia, Ed Asner and James Earl Jones.
302 was the “glamour room”: Diahann Carroll, Linda Evans, Joan Collins(until the Dynasty gals demanded separate rooms!), Raquel Welch, Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Brooke Shields, Jaclyn Smith, Claudia Cardinale, Ellen Burstyn, Priscilla Presley, Susan Lucci, Dyan Cannon, Lynda Carter, Angie Dickinson, Ali MacGraw and Jane Seymour all sitting at tiny makeup tables designed for Rockettes. Next door were sports legends: Don Budge, Howard Cosell, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron.
303: Debbie Allen, Marge Champion, Sandy Duncan, Georgia Engel, Nanette Fabray, Bonnie Franklin, Ginger Rogers, Gwen Verdon, Juliet Prowse, Jane Powell, Chita Rivera and Elaine Joyce.
401: Lucie Arnaz, Marisa Berensen, Carol Channing, Petula Clark, Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Michelle Lee, Dinah Shore, Maureen Stapleton.
207: Dr. Christian Barnard, Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, Buzz Aldrin, John Updike, Rosa Parks, Martha Graham, Dr. Linus Pauling, and Dr. Seuss.
702: Anne Baxter, Meredith Baxter Birney, Nell Carter, Tyne Daly, Julie Harris, Kate Jackson, Jennifer O’Neill, Charlotte Rae, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.
604: Lloyd Bridges, Charles Bronson, Yul Brynner, Michael Caine, Cab Calloway, Bert Convy, Billy Crystal, Matt Dillon, Richard Dreyfuss, Charles Durning, Bob Fosse, David Frost, Ben Gazzara, Jim Henson, Rock Hudson, Ed Koch, Vincent Price, Jimmy Stewart, Tony Randall.
After this, I worked for many other celebrity-packed events…but none was as much fun as my first: Night of 100 Stars. In future blog items I’ll have more memories from these fabulous events.
Jim Dykes is co-founder of Rich & Famous Tours. www.jimdykes.com & www.richandfamoustours.com
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