Rosemary Clooney and I played Loew’s Capitol Theatre in Washington, DC, in 1951. The Washington Times-Herald sent a young photojournalist to snap our photo and interview us. She was smart and pretty, and we enjoyed talking to her.
A few years later, I got a call from Rosie.
“Tony, Tony,” she said. “Remember the gal who interviewed us in Washington? It’s Jackie. Jackie Kennedy. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Remember?”
And then I did.
I think of that story now and then, not just because, like most Americans, I loved and admired Jackie Kennedy. I think of that meeting, and it reminds me of the wisdom of one of the oldest truisms in show business: be nice to everyone; you never know when you’ll meet them again.
The stagehand, busboy, or mailroom clerk you meet on the way up may one day become the producer, owner, or agent you need to ask for a job. The young photographer who comes to your dressing room, snaps a few shots, and shyly asks a few questions may one day become first lady of the United States—or president.
Central Park
Louvre, Paris