Well, dear readers, Miss Chita Rivera will be honored at the Kennedy Center and that is a wonderful thing. I first saw Miss Rivera in a very cheesy production of West Side Story done at Frank Sennes’ Moulin Rouge on Sunset and Vine. The production was a quick attempt to cash in on the huge success of the film, which was playing at the Chinese. The production was cheesy set-wise, but the cast was pretty amazing, and of course the direction and choreography recreated Mr. Robbins’ original. Carla Alberghetti (sister of you-know-who) was Maria. Mr. Larry Kert, the original Tony, was Tony. If I remember at all correctly, Tony Mordente played Riff (he was then married to Miss Rivera, at least I think he was), Miss Rivera reprised her original role as Anita, and many of the film’s actors either played their roles from the film or reprised roles they’d done on Broadway. The only thing I really remember about it was the balcony swaying perilously back-and-forth during Tonight, and Miss Rivera’s incredible turn during America. The next time I saw her live was in the original production of Chicago on Broadway. It was one of the nights when Miss Liza Minnelli was taking over for Gwen Verdon, and there was so much electricity, both on stage and in the audience, it was incredible. As soon as that incredible mini-overture ended and she rose up from beneath the stage, the audience went wild. Liza was lots of fun, but I must say Chita wiped the stage with her. The next time I saw her was at the old Studio One Backlot, when she did the first incarnation of her act – and she was, once again, splendidly splendid. I finally got to see her do Chicago with Gwen when it came to Los Angeles. In any case, congratulations to Miss Chita Rivera.
Yesterday I lunched with my old pal Wendy Stuart (now Davis), who I hadn’t seen in close to thirty-seven years. First of all, I do not like being able to say I haven’t seen anyone in thirty-seven years, that is just too many years to be able to say you haven’t seen someone. I don’t mind saying “ten years” but thirty-seven years makes one sound so ancient, doesn’t it? Am I getting old? Not me, not me. We had a marvelous time and yes, we remembered it well. She’s had some tough years but she’s in wonderful shape, looks great and has a great attitude about herself and life. She’s been happily married for over twenty years and has a beautiful daughter. I found out some amazing things – like the fact that she never had a date in either junior high or high school. That is amazing because Wendy Stuart was and is gorgeous. My guess is that people were either too scared to ask her out (that would have been my excuse, certainly) or they simply assumed that someone that gorgeous must have had a boyfriend. I gave her a copy of my book because she grew up mere blocks from where it takes place and she’ll remember every single reference in it.
I promised you a Meltz and Ernest song, and by gum and by golly I have unearthed a doozy. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I have unearthed a doozy (no mean feat). It was one of their first songs, and I believe it was the first time that a song of theirs was recorded – by Hymie Goldberg, an obscure but popular entertainer whose only recording this was. I’m told that there is an old “soundie” of Hymie singing this song, which I’m desperately looking for. In any case, let’s all click on the Unseemly Button below, so we can all check it out.
Before we get to the Meltz and Ernest song, do remember that on Friday our brand spanking new Unseemly Interview with Miss Alison Fraser will be up and running. It is a great interview and Miss Fraser holds nothing back – and I mean nothing. She talks about sharing a dressing room with a naked Miss Kerry Butler and she tells us all about the amazing performers she’s worked with – and I mean all about. Do not miss this white hot interview.
Now for the Meltz and Ernest song. As I said, this was one of the first songs they wrote together. I understand, I suppose, why it wasn’t the popular hit they’d hoped it would be, but its neglect and their neglect over the years continues to astonish me.
I’M A BLUE BLUE JEW Music by Hinky Meltz Lyrics by Ernest Ernest
WE HAD A LOVELY LIFE, DEAR
YOU WERE MY LOVELY WIFE, DEAR
BUT NOW I AM FILLED WITH STRIFE, DEAR
EVER SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, DEAR
I’M NOT FEELING BRIGHT AND GAY,DEAR
I’M A BLUE BLUE JEW,
OVER YOU, OVER YOU
EVER SINCE YOU LEFT ME
I’VE BEEN A BEREFT ME
AND I CAN’T EAT BORSCHT
CAN’T EAT BRISKET
MY HEART COULDN’T RISK IT
I’M A BLUE BLUE JEW,
DEAR, IT’S TRUE, IT’S SO TRUE
WHEN YOU SAID ‘SHALOM’, DEAR
AND YOU LEFT OUR HOME, DEAR
ALL YOU LEFT WAS LOX
AND SOME HERRING
WAS THAT VERY CARING?
AND NOW I’M ALONE
DROWNING MY TEARS IN CHICKEN SOUP, DEAR
I’M ON MY OWN
WHY DID YOU FLY THE CHICKEN COOP, DEAR?
ALL I CAN SAY IS ‘OY’
I’M AN UNHAPPY KOSHER BOY
I’M A BLUE BLUE JEW
FOR WE’RE THROUGH, YES, WE’RE THROUGH
NO MORE SHARING BLINTZES
DINING WITH THE MINTZS
NOW I’M MIXING MEAT WITH THE DAIRY
AND THAT’S PRETTY SCARY
IT’S TRUE, SO NU?
OH, I’M A BLUE BLUE JEW
OVER YOU.
Isn’t that a marvelous song? And I must say, Hymie Goldberg and the Meyer Klein Orchestra, do a great job on it.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do – the next three days are going to be very busy indeed, but I will be here every day to let you know what’s happening in the world as I know it. In the meantime, you know what today is – today is Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me any excellent question your collective hearts desire. This week only, I will be answering your excellent questions in Saturday’s notes, because there simply won’t be enough time for me to do them before then. I shall return later today to see what excellent questions you are coming up with so, post away, my pretties.