Richard Rodgers: NOT a Nice Man- Page 2

[Chloe]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 1:54pm

Rathnait. as a newcomer, I'm really honored!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 1:55pm

I don't think a person's personality would ever have that much influence on how people deal with their creative works. Otherwise, there would have been many successful people who wouldn't have been.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 2:28pm

BEAV!!!!! I've missed you, my friend! Love your icon.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 2:30pm

Awww, poor pup.

[magruder]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:07pm

It's sometimes important to separate the artist from the art. The fact that Wagner was a huge anti-Semite doesn't lessen the fact that he wrote incredible music. And Rodgers' domineering, womanizing and alcoholism don't detract from the fact he was Broadway's finest melodist.

Incidentally, the Ethel Merman quote regarding Call Me Madam is "Call me Miss Bird's Eye. The show is frozen." Simply wonderful. I also get a kick out of Sondheim referring to her as "The Singing Dog".

[Mattio98]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:20pm

"And Rodgers' domineering, womanizing and alcoholism don't detract from the fact he was Broadway's finest melodist."

While I agree that you must separate the man from his material and accomplishments, I never really thought of Richard Rodgers as Broadway's finest melodist. I've always felt very "hot and cold" about him. He has written some things I love (My Funny Valentine is one of my favorite standards) but others leave me saying "Eh". Just my opinion.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:25pm

Enough with the dead, let's talk about the living.

Why do you think they called Betty Buckley "kitty litter" backstage at Cats?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:43pm

Chloe - doesn't matter how new you are, dear. Brilliance is brilliance.

And please - I worked for Ms. Kitty Litter in my past life. That's the nicest thing I've heard her called. You should have been backstage at SUNSET.

Updated On: 10/27/04 at 06:43 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:57pm

This is old news. He still wrote great music so I guess he can be forgiven for being an SOB @ times

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 6:59pm

My favorite Mary Martin story had to do with her being at some avent with Larry Hagman.

She saucily introduced herself and pointed to her son who was standing beside her: "I'm the legend. He's the has-been."

She was right, of course.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:03pm

Rath, I know what you mean. I once worked with Stritch. They say only the good die young, Stritch will live to be 150.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:05pm

She and BB will be sharing a room at the home.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:05pm

Imagine if Stritch & Rodgers had mated. Reminds me of the homicidal baby in the cult classic " It's Alive "

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:08pm

Waylon Flowers (or rather Madame) put it so succintly:

Joan Crawford is dead and deserves every minute of it.

[bta212]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:42pm

I think that people who find beauty and meaning in art or the performing arts want to believe that the beauty and meaning are symptoms of beauty in the creator or performer. Again and again we learn it's just not so. And I don't think dishing the dead is so much fun, but the LIVING?! Move over and let's talk; so what about BB backstage at Sunset Blvd.????

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:45pm

One of our most beloved posters here at BWW, ONCEADANCER, performed in at least one Rodgers and Hart show and knew the composer fairly well. She's alluded to his womanizing, but is much too classy to go into anything specific.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 7:49pm

As am I, bta, sorry...