Bea Arthur, pictured in 1975, was a Broadway star long before TV hits such as “Maude” and “The Golden Girls.” AP photo.
Plus: Staten Island stabbing, a GOP anti-bullying bill and Stonewall Dems’ Endorsement Flap
Additional financial woes arrive as city trims $5.5 million in HIV/AIDS funds and the CDC announces a 40 percent spike in estimated HIV infections.
advertisement
advertisement
|
By Allen Roskoff
Friday, May 09, 2008
While in California recently, I had the unique honor of having a solo lunch with a longtime hero of mine, Bea Arthur. I have loved this woman from her early television days on “All in the Family”—when she played Edith Bunker’s cousin who drove Archie crazy with her progressive politics—to “Maude” (who could ever forget Maude Findlay?) to “The Golden Girls.” Both on and off screen, Bea has always been a strong, witty, progressive woman who I was able to grow up with from my college days on.
Being raised in a total right wing family, I totally enjoyed and agreed with Bea’s point of views. She tackled gay issues, abortion, peace and justice and race concerns as no one else could. She did all this in addition to playing Yente the Matchmaker in the original Broadway show “Fiddler on the Roof” and winning a Tony for her role as Vera Charles in Broadway’s “Mame” in 1966 (I actually saw both productions). Singing “Bosom Buddies” opposite Angela Lansbury helped make her a total worldwide star. Bea told me that she and Angela are close friends to this day. In 1974, Bea played Vera again in the film version of Mame opposite Lucille Ball.
Bea greeted me at the door of her ranch in Brentwood with a hug. I asked, “Who are you supporting, Hillary?” She bristled as only Bea can, “Hillary, no I am for Obama.” I told her that I was also. I knew right then and there that if Bea Arthur is for Obama, then I made the correct choice.
During lunch at the restaurant, Bea told me some delicious stories. She went to the Reagan White House at the request of bandleader Peter Duchin. Mary Martin was entertaining in one of the many rooms. Bea recounted, “I still get the goose bumps just thinking of meeting Mary Martin.” Like all of the guests, Bea understood that a receiving line with the Reagans was required. When Bea got up to Nancy, Nancy proclaimed, “Why Ms. Arthur, I just love your … posture.”
I had read that during the national tour of her one woman show “Just between Friends” some people in her audiences in the Midwest got upset about her advocacy on behalf of marriage equality. I asked her if that story was true. Bea replied, “Yes, but then I just went on to one of my Tallulah Bankhead stories and they got over it.”
Bea shared with me her positions on several topics of the day: she’s against the war, for medical marijuana and, best of all, against the death penalty. We shared several jokes not to be repeated to uproarious results.
She also filled me in on her “Golden Girls” colleagues. When Bea told me that she had not seen Betty White’s movie “Lake Placid” where White uses the F word several times, I promised to send her a copy. We also talked about Estelle Getty’s tragic illness. I am happy to report that Bea and Rue McClanahan are friends to this day and made a joint appearance at a Gay & Lesbian Aliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards ceremony in 2002.
Bea also had made a special trip to New York in recent years to raise money for the Ali Forney Center, which helps homeless LGBT youths. She explained that she would do anything to help gay kids disowned by their parents.
I invited Bea to Fire Island Pines this summer, which she has visited in the past, and she said, “We will see about that.”
I spoke to her on the phone a few days ago and we decided to have a Chinese dinner next time I’m out in L.A. I said “And perhaps a movie,” to which she replied, “and perhaps dancing.”
Allen Roskoff is longtime activists; read the latest installment of his column “Insider Trading” here.
|
