Back from The Hollywood Show. I never thought I would say it - I've been going to these shows for many, many years (since they began) and I've done a fair number of them - but today was just depressing. I don't know why, really. Maybe it's the vibe of the new owners and their constant announcements on the PA system. Maybe I've just been to one too many shows - but even in the worst of the Ray Courts years, I never found it depressing, and I always had fun. Oh, these new owners seem to have found a way to get crowds - it was very crowded. They're apparently spending a good deal of money getting the word out, something Ray never did. But it felt like a circus and I can't say I've ever felt that. Less dealers than ever (and two really long-time dealers are done with this show, which is a shame), celebs in every nook and cranny (too many, I hate to say it) including the lobby area - and those poor celebs were not getting any traffic). I just roamed the room a couple of times, talked to the one dealer left that I know, saw a couple of acquaintances, and did have a nice chat with old pals Donny Most and Anson Williams, both, as always, super friendly. Others I noticed were Richard Kiel, George Lazenby, Rosanna Arquette (who doesn't much resemble herself anymore), Shelly Hack (still cute), Alan Young, Martine Beswick (shocking), Luciana Paluzzi (has aged gracefully), Kathy Najimy (who looked like a big ol' sourpuss), Billie Hayes (who always looks the same), Tom Bosley (really ancient-looking), The Fonz, Marion Ross, some younger types from more recent films and TV, Davy Jones (I thought he looked good, but you would NEVER EVER know it was the same guy), Barry Williams, Deborah van Valkenburg. One of the people I was curious to see was Jill Schoelen, who I always thought was very cute - she cancelled though. I wonder if Kenny Kingston, psychic, knew in advance that no one would be at his table - he and Bruce Weitz were stuck in no man's land in the lobby area. Oh, yeah, Bill Daily and Jack Riley and Marcia Wallace were all there. Marcia just looks odd, Bill looks fine, and Jack looks very frail. Edd Byrnes was there (there aren't many that he's missed), Tanya Roberts (lip work - I almost said hi, but didn't think she'd remember me from our being in Racquet together), Ann Robinson (who never changes), Francine York (always there, along with some poor shmuck who might or might not be her husband), Erin Moran (scary), Maud Adams (still looks fine), etc.
