Oh BrodyFosse123-thank you for the memory.
My contributions here are mainly personal as I will never again get to experience Broadway so apologies for mostly 'me' stories shared.
It is when threads like this appear that the memory is jolted back to......
I was a rookie traveller to NY, a kid let loose in a theatrical candy store, but this time it was an R rated movie house.
I had a precious ticket to see Ms Horne that night and was very early so bravely went into this naughty shop to pass the time[as you do].
It was raining when I left so needed to hurry[walking] and the next thing I knew there was a guy right next to me with something pressing into me--no not that--but a gun hidden by his jacket.
He had obviously been in that movie house and followed this fledgling and thought 'easy pickings'.
I was **** scared but kept walking, got out my wallet and gave whatever cash was there and he took off.
I was drenched and shaken but was more concerned about missing Lena Horne.
I got to the theatre, headed straight to the mens and prayed there was a blow hand dryer-there was. Trying to get my whole body under that was a show in itself.
Still very damp, the Goddess appeared and I just melted. She just sang, walked the stage, suggestively moved her body and Delivered ! No gimmicks, just the personality and That Voice. [I did take performance pictures].
A little more[sorry]. I decided to stage door and we were told Ms Horne was not coming out. I wanted to hang around[ no longer frighted by the dark streets of NYC !!]--there was 1 girl and myself waiting. We must have been there at least 2 hours when finally Ms Horne came out the front of the theatre to a waiting car. We both had our programs out and the bodyguard stood in the way. The lady was more aggressive and got her arm in the car as the car was moving so it had to stop--she got her autograph but I didn't.
That night I saw my first dirty movie, got mugged, got soaking wet, dried off in the mens, didn't get an autograph but I DID get to see the above performance of a REAL LEGEND.
If you bothered to the end of this, I thank you again Brody for letting that amazing experience be reborn.
We all have a book inside of us--[we all]should start writing--what hidden forgotten stories we all have.
