When you were young did you play games with your family? I sure did. Pic up sticks…card games like fish and gin rummy…dominos and my favorite Monopoly.
When I was a waiter years later I served Ms Lucille Ball. I think I have seen every I Love Lucy episode. She ordered a salad and a pasta dish.
Once in a while she would ask me to take her to a private club on Robertson Blvd. And I would watch her play backgammon. Sometimes she would play until 3am. But I didn’t care…I was with a legend.
Around 9 years later, Ms Ball was asked to do a game show called Win Lose or Draw. They asked her who she wanted to play with and she said …me. We took a break during lunchtime. I would take Lucy to her dressing room and she would take a nap. Then I would wake her up and bring her…her lunch.
A few years later I was in New York to do a morning show. In the make up room, I met Lucy Arnaz. She said, “My mother told me how nice you were to her. She was fond of you.” Well, let’s just say I had to have my make up put on again.
Next show was Hollywood Squares. There were many hosts attached to this show. Peter Marshall, Tom Bergeron, and Jon Davidson. We would all stand backstage and when your name was called you would run out and say hello to the audience.
I would bring a bunch of t-shirts and throw them out to the crowd. I was never in the center square. That was for the very very funny people. My favorite was Paul Lynde. Everything he said was hysterical.
When he passed away, I was looking for a house to live in and my real estate agent said she had a very nice home to show me. It was Paul Lynde’s house.
I took a tour of his house and when I went into the bathroom my book Never Say Diet was there on the tank of the toilet. It really was not for me. I knew I would find a house that I really would fall in love with….and
I am sitting in that house right now.
Wheel of Fortune was really one of my favorite game shows to do. I was there to win money for different charities. Pat Sajack was quick witted. He reminded me of Jack Benny and what can I say about Vanna White? She is a gracious lady. Once while shopping I ran into her and she treated me like I was an old friend. She has not changed in all the years she has done that show.
Now I want to to leave you with this story. I was asked to do Password Plus with Betty White and her husband Allen Ludden…I accepted.
When we got on the set I looked at Betty and said, “Wow you are the queen of password!” Without missing a beat,she said, “No you are the queen of password.” There was a moment of silence. I did not know what to say… so we just continued playing the game. I had four more shows to do.
After we finished, I went to my dressing room and there was a knock at the door. I opened the door and there was Betty. “I hope I didn’t offend you. I was just being funny.” I just stood there and did not say a word.
As she walked away she turned around and said, “You can come back and play password anytime you want.” I never knew if they kept that in the show because I didn’t watch it. You know what they say…forgive and move on.
Love,
Richard
