What ever happened to . . . ?

[Oscar Jaffee]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 4:06pm

• Philip Anglim, the original Elephant Man?
• Peter Firth, the horse-blinder in "Equus"?
• Mama Leone's, the famous Italian restaurant I loved when I visited New York 25 years ago?

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 4:27pm

Anglim is on the Coast ("Out There" as Dorothy Parker called it). He does the occasional tv and film role. Por baby was almost run out of town when he did the title role in The Scottish Play at the Beaumont in about 1981. It was a lethal production of a bad luck play, directed by Sarah Caldwell, and he was not well-reviewed to put it kindly. Few came out of that production unscathed.

Peter Firth surfaces in the occasional English film from time to time. I must be charitable. He has not aged as gracefully as some have.

Mama Leone's was on W 48th Street in what was left of an old theatre (the President, I think). When the building was sold and torn down to build the Godawful apartment building that is next to the Kerr Theatre, the restaurant moved to the Milford Plaza on W 44th Street. This is the ground floor space just west of the Majestic. Kippy's Pier 52 (later 44--see the street numbers) had recently moved into the space and gone under. Mama Leone didn't last in the space either.

[tpdc]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 4:42pm

Anglim did the tour of M.BUTTERFLY and he appeared in a new play by Mart Crowley at the Olney Theater in Maryland in the early 90s.

Firth was in Spielberg's AMISTAD. I didn't recognize him.

[magruder]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 5:15pm

And isn't it strange that another restaurant hasn't taken over the space? It has sat empty on West 44th Street for YEARS now.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 5:19pm

Just to give you the Mama Leone story. The original owners got to old to run the restaurant and none of the family wanted to take it over. They sold it to a Japanese conglomerate. The move into the Milford Plaza was a marketing move in order to attract the legions of fans from Phantom of the Opera playing at the Majestic. Unfortunately, the legions of Phantom fans could taste the difference between Mama's cooking and the Japanese conglomerates cooking. Sadly Mama Leone's went the way of Luchow's, the Russian Tea Room, Asti's, etc.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 9/23/03 at 5:56pm

OK, well what ever happened to the Snapple Lady!?

Posted: 9/23/03 at 10:35pm

What ever happened to the beef in a Wendy's burger?

Posted: 9/23/03 at 11:28pm

What ever happened to class?

Yeah, I know, but I couldn't resist.

Yours for a classy Broadway!

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 1:34am

Thanks for the info on Mama Leone's. I loved that restaurant years ago when I lived in NY and it was at its original location. Lots of food! I never left hungry. What a fond memory you've resurrected.

[jo]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 2:03am

I had eaten at Mama Leone's once - pre-theatre, but the food was sumptuous even if we were in a bit of a hurry

Jo

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 3:35am

Yes, Wendy the Snapple lady! I liked her. I'm assuming she had a falling out with the Snapple powers-that-be over money.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 6:22am

There was never beef in a Wendy's hamburger

As far as Mama Leone's the reasons why the buidling is empty is numerous. Glut of restaurants in area, bad economy , rent is probably astronomical. Add to that Emperor Bloomburgs decree re smoking & many restaurants & bars are hurting so why open another. Unless landlord reduces what he probably asking, it will remain vacant for many years

Another NYC restaurant landmark was Luchows. It is gone as well

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 12:16pm

"Yes, Wendy the Snapple lady! I liked her. I'm assuming she had a falling out with the Snapple powers-that-be over money."

Well, let's hope the same doesn't happen to the Pine-sol (sp?) lady. lol
Did anyone else hear that Snapple is the new OFFICIAL beverage of NYC? Yeah for Snapple! lol I love their little facts in the caps

[QueenS]

Posted: 9/24/03 at 3:04pm

I remember my first and only Mama Leone's visit with great affection. I also miss their line of raviolis in a jar. So much better than Chef Boy-ar-dee.

Snapple may be the OFFICIAL beverage, but everyone who is anyone is drinking Vitamin Water these days (and vodka martinis these nights...)

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 9/25/03 at 10:40am

Vodka Martinis -YES-
Vitamin Water -EWWW- There are other ways to get vitamins and still have normal tasting water at a some what fair price. Give me Dasani!

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 9/25/03 at 10:44am

Yes, Viv has returned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miriam