We are all simply star dust.
It is that simple.
I revel in the suggestion that we are so very much stardust, and have been since the beginning of time, that each of us may well have the molecules (or however stardust is actually measured) the molecules of Mozart, Shakespeare, Gandhi, Lincoln, or whoever we adore in ourselves because once our physical body is done with this earthly plain, we dissolve back into the heavenly star matter that can then re-mingle with all the glorious dust of our forebears.
I love that were are all made of the same thing.
And so, in my life of show business , and show busy-ness, I have held not only that stardust in my hands and hugged in my arms, but i have held many an actual theatrical and movie and television “star” to boot….I remember:
Momma was the state secretary for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Georgia and at that time Jerry Lewis was the guy who held the marathons every year to raise money for that organization…I remember meeting him, when i was a mere kiddo…i remember meeting Patty Duke when I was a kid…i remember meeting Fabian, the rock street as a kid, and i remember taking my fascination with showbiz stars into my own career as an actress on many stages and into a tv studio or two….when i did the SCRAMBLED FEET hit revue off Broadway at the Village Gate, not only did I meet a lot of stars who adored our show, and particularly my number with Hermione the Duck called “Never Go On Stage With An Animal”, but i posed for many a People Magazine photo with them as well….Judd Hirsch, Bruce Davison, , both of whom I ended up dating for a while….and when I did JERRY’S GIRLS off -Broadway,I not only worked with the great Jerry Herman, but I met Carol Channing, Barbara Walters, David Merrick, Ginger Rogers, and so many of the female stars who performed Jerry’s HELLO DOLLY on Broadway….and who ever was dating David Merrick at the time, and huge numbers more…and when I took A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE out to LA, I met everyone there was to meet…from the oldest Hollywood royalty like George Burns, Liza Minelli, George Hamilton, Craig Stevens, Alexis Smith, Ginger Rogers again, and so many many more since the show was about all of them! Then when I did SOCIAL SECURITY with Lucie Arnaz, i met and had lunch and dinners with LUCILLE BALL, her momma, and I will never forget that…..
So I’ve had my share of stars and stardust…..but my favorite of all was perhaps not only meeting but working closely with Bob Keeshan, CAPTAIN KANGAROO himself, when I was on his show playing Mr.Greenjeans’ niece, Jeannie Greenjeans!
I have a signed photo from Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit!
They were surprisingly spicy and naughty little creatures…bless ’em.