I met Coral Browne in 1983 (I was 20) in Washington DC at a fete being held in Vincent Price's honor. I think I was the youngest person there by a good ten years and she came by and was introduced to my by the host. She was very nice, and then she took my chin in her hand and said "Vincent adores chicken." and then walked away. I knew she wasn't speaking about the buffet...
well, i met coral too & it was truly "a moment" in my life. i think it was unusual, for her, since i'm the one who did the recognizing. (forgive me if i'm repeating myself, i do that from time to time). i was in deluca's market, 1980s, newbury & fairfield, boston blabbing with emmett the baker. all of a sudden we are interrupted by a woman who asks, "do you have any bah-nah-nahs?" as i turned, i let out a shriek, as only a queen can & announced coral to all within earshot. no one knew or cared who she was. she was looking for some fruit for vincent's cereal....he, ensconced at the copley plaza. (obviously, they were counting pennies). when i asked why she was in town, she told me that vincent was shooting promos for "mystery" at WGBH. as usual, i was tongue-tied, always am with the famous & adored. she complimented me on my peewee herman tee-shirt and our brief encounter was over. i kicked myself for a week, thinking of all the things i might have said.
if you have never seen "an englishman abroad" find it & watch it. if you have seen it, watch it again. brilliant! (this photo is from that film).
The party in Washington was actually the second time I had met Vincent. The first was in 1980 or 1981 in Marion Ohio where I went to high school. Vincenet was touring with his one man show on Oscar Wilde. I interviewed him for teh high school newspaper and took along a female friend form high school.
The man was very tall and "big boned" if you will. He had horrible skin color - he was ashened and gray. But I will never forget that handshake or the feeling of his hand's flesh on mine.
He was very charming and we talked for five minutes before he had to go to a "short get to together" at local's home. "I'm sure they will find my desire for a cold glass of milk to a glass of wine odd, but when you are on the road you crave the little things."
I did take along a girl that I went to high school with because she wanted to meet him - he said hello to her and smiled but his eyes were riveted on me. I would have loved to have selpt with him when he was in his 20s.
I'd like that on my tombstone.
ReplyDeleteI met Coral Browne in 1983 (I was 20) in Washington DC at a fete being held in Vincent Price's honor. I think I was the youngest person there by a good ten years and she came by and was introduced to my by the host. She was very nice, and then she took my chin in her hand and said "Vincent adores chicken." and then walked away. I knew she wasn't speaking about the buffet...
ReplyDeleteoh my dear! i love that morsel!
ReplyDeletewell, i met coral too & it was truly "a moment" in my life. i think it was unusual, for her, since i'm the one who did the recognizing. (forgive me if i'm repeating myself, i do that from time to time). i was in deluca's market, 1980s, newbury & fairfield, boston blabbing with emmett the baker. all of a sudden we are interrupted by a woman who asks, "do you have any bah-nah-nahs?" as i turned, i let out a shriek, as only a queen can & announced coral to all within earshot. no one knew or cared who she was. she was looking for some fruit for vincent's cereal....he, ensconced at the copley plaza. (obviously, they were counting pennies). when i asked why she was in town, she told me that vincent was shooting promos for "mystery" at WGBH. as usual, i was tongue-tied, always am with the famous & adored. she complimented me on my peewee herman tee-shirt and our brief encounter was over. i kicked myself for a week, thinking of all the things i might have said.
if you have never seen "an englishman abroad" find it & watch it. if you have seen it, watch it again. brilliant! (this photo is from that film).
The party in Washington was actually the second time I had met Vincent. The first was in 1980 or 1981 in Marion Ohio where I went to high school. Vincenet was touring with his one man show on Oscar Wilde. I interviewed him for teh high school newspaper and took along a female friend form high school.
ReplyDeleteThe man was very tall and "big boned" if you will. He had horrible skin color - he was ashened and gray. But I will never forget that handshake or the feeling of his hand's flesh on mine.
He was very charming and we talked for five minutes before he had to go to a "short get to together" at local's home. "I'm sure they will find my desire for a cold glass of milk to a glass of wine odd, but when you are on the road you crave the little things."
I did take along a girl that I went to high school with because she wanted to meet him - he said hello to her and smiled but his eyes were riveted on me. I would have loved to have selpt with him when he was in his 20s.