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LUNCH WITH TERRY

 

     
 (Note: One of my most memorable of all corporate TV memories starts with Don Amendolia, Broadway and TV actor,  a dear friend I worked with at Glassboro State when we “starred” in a couple of Campus Players productions.  Dominic (his real name) was very talented and could sing and dance - two skills I could never master.  Matter of fact, when I played Harold Hill and he was my sidekick Marcellus in The Music Man the director cut my dance scenes - but that’s another story.    After graduation, Don went on to NYC and studied acting at the famed American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He urged me to join him, but I wasn’t that brave - I chose television (which I thought was a much more reliable way of earning a living than on the big stage, especially for a tone-deaf actor with two left feet)  A choice I don’t regret, but I always wondered where I would be now if I had taken the “performing path not chosen”. Oh well. We kept in touch as both of our careers took off.)

     As the years passed, I spent many weekends in the Big Apple and he introduced me to a lot of his showbiz friends. One most memorable was a Saturday afternoon when I was part of a painting party for Lucy Arnaz’s (Lucille Ball's daughter) newly rented apartment.  After lots of laughing and dripping paint we accompanied Lucy on a shopping trip to “Bloomies” to buy some furnishings for her temporary home while she was starring in Once Upon a Mattress.  A clerk followed us around and wrote down all she wanted; “I’ll take two of those...one of those…!”  She bought at least several thousand dollars worth of “essentials” that afternoon - with the caveat,  only if they could be delivered that day!  Later that evening after a van delivered her stuff, we all had a “Chinese” at the now famous Jung Thong restaurant (on her tab) for our help. Every visit to NYC became an adventure - meeting Joey, Dick and Ray Heatherton; Laura Waterbuty, a Broadway star with a fabulous voice; a late dinner  with a Rockette; a drink with Georfrey Holder (the Uncola Guy and we had rum and coke).   One of the most fun was a backstage visit with Carol Channing on the closing night of Lorelei.  After her curtain calls she gave open bottles of wine from her dressing room  to the chorus - she was noted for being "thrifty" Don told me.  The list is long and was added to many times over the couple of years that Don and I hung out.  It ended when he moved to Hollywood for roles  in Wayne’s World and Twin Peaks.

  A couple years into working at NJ Bell Corporate TV and I was assigned a project for a new employee orientation series which I decided had to be entertaining, (a tough job considering the subject matter).  I had to find a very good “comedy” writer.  So, I called Don.  After a few moments of explaining my ideas Don said,”I know a great comedy writer, my friend Terry might like to try something different.”  He gave me his number and I called him and briefly explained I was looking for a writer and he suggested that we meet for lunch in the Village of NYC.  

     The following week I took the train into the city and went to a townhouse in Chelsea (which in itself was a very interesting place).  I knock at the door and was greeted by a very debonair guy who I thought was Terry.  But after a brief hello,  he informed that he was “Ed not Terry” and he invited me into a very upscale townhouse, beautifully and tastefully furnished.  

    After Terry and I exchanged pleasantries, we went to his favorite sidewalk bistro and had a great chat.  To my surprise, Terry seemed fascinated by my proposal for writing a “funny” training films.  But at the end of the hour he thanked me, but said, “I really don’t think I would be right for this project, but I have a young pal that might be a good fit.”  He wrote the name on the back his business cards and we went our separate ways.  On the train home I took out the card and read his suggestion of a possible writter and then flipped the card over, it simply read - Terrance  McNally --  Writer

     GOOD GRIEF - I just had lunch with a Tony Award winning playwright!  And the “Ed” at his door, was Edward Albee, one of my favorites too!  To my chagrin, I had asked a world famous writer of plays, operas, TV shows and films to write a telephone company training film, offering him $500! 

     After returning to my office, (this was before cell phones) I called Don.  “Damn you dog...you set me up!” And Don with a chuckle said, “Sorry but I couldn’t help myself - Terry just called me and said you were a pleasure to meet, but he had to decline since he was working on his new play and had a deadline...we both had a great laugh at your expense.  Don’t be mad!  Wasn’t it a fun lunch? Plus the writer he suggested will be perfect." (And he was)  I replied, “Oh yeah, what other famous person in disguise will I now get to meet this time?  Thanks for the help...I think!"

    By the way, the lunch was delicious.


NOTE:  The day after I finished writing this post Terrance McNally passed away at 81 from Corona19 virus complications - A very sad coincidence. 

    "Terry my friend" - Rest in Peace.


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