Honoring the memory of the legendary actor James Earl Jones, my dear friend
Adieu to an acting ‘Lion’
James Earl Jones, 93, voice of CNN, Darth Vader, Chrysler — TV, movie, stage star, my great friend — he came to my home, my parties. I loved him.
His son Flynn served as dad’s right hand backstage. When Jimmy starred on Broadway in “You Can’t Take It With You,” he’d receive me in his shorts. Then, dress. Then, walk me alongside him right up to the second he heard his cue — and then he’d strut onstage.
Between his onstage appearances, behind the curtain, in the middle of backstage’s usual hassle. The very caring crew had a couch and table waiting for him to sit down. I sat with him.
He read Lincoln’s 1858 manuscript at Christmas, dined with the Trumans, the Drama League honored him at the Pierre. We met through our great friend lawyer Barry Slotnick. He’d make the repeated statement: “I do not work for free.”
Jimmy’s first big paycheck went for his late wife Cece’s wedding ring. They loved one another deeply. He’d laugh when she’d often say: “I’m in charge now. Better believe he’s never going to have enough leftover money to ever buy anyone another wedding ring.”
He’d laugh when I periodically peed on Verizon. In last years, not hearing well, the onetime spokesman for Bell Atlantic avoided the phone.
They lived upstate but maintained a city apartment for when he was playing life upon the wicked stage.
After making a speech at Yankee Stadium he then ordered a dinner of takeout. And when he played the senior in “On Golden Pond,” he’d sit offstage and discuss the real problems of aging.
Life is breaking up that old gang of mine.
Sheerly, they’re not serious
EXCUUUSE me — but speaking of age, can we not stop acting like primates out in the jungle who are trotting around naked? Semi-dressed? Bare feet, flashing boobs, tight skirts, outlining a behind’s cracks, open skirts barely hiding other cracks? Boobs open on sidewalks? Two-legged animals walking NYC streets half-naked in shorts and bras?
Sew wrong
Did you know our precious American flags are not made of silk? They’re of cotton, nylon or polyester — just like a person’s drawers. Did you know the majority of American banners to which we devoted patriots pledge allegiance — and in innumerable cases pledge our lives — are mostly, primarily, nearly exclusively made in China?
The majority are.
Did you know that the woven silk fabric of Washington’s personal flag — his Standard — probably came to the American colonies from England or France? Maybe even China?
For this information I thank the staff of WABC-AM radio.
Stage fight
Actor’ Equity president Brooke Shields: “My priority is funding. I’m in Washington this Thursday. A meeting with the Press Club. People need to live on money. I’m going to work to endorse the performance arts tax parity act. It got lost somehow.”
Life today is so wonderful — and so are the children. One 10-year-old in Long Island recited “Mary had a little lamb . . .” and her friend said, “Yeah, but Gloria had a daughter.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.
