I met George Fisher 30 years ago at the legendary restaurant Scandia. a new friend Jay Parsell knew I was enthralld by the history of Hollywood. so he arrangd for me to meet the legendary broadcaster & his charming wife Ruth.
I knew George primarily for his small role in the Judy Garland version of "A Star is Born" & his announcing on the television coverage of the movie's premiere at the Pantages. all of Hollywood (even an awkward James Dean in a tux) had turnd out for Judy's triumph.
Jay had told me that George had become famous for illegally broadcasting the Academy Awards for the first time. later he had his own radio show "Hollywood Calling" in which he interviewd the legends of the day Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart Barbara Stanwyck & Betty Grable (as well as many of my personal faves such as Gloria Grahame & Keefe Brasselle). his best known interview took place just before Xmas 1949 with Joan Crawford & her children. Christina uses a 7-page transcript verbatim in her bestseller. & it gets pickd up in the cult film "Mommie Dearest" in which an actor portrays George conducting the interview.
I've always sd when it comes to regrets I'm an Edith Piaf person. but I do feel bad that I never kept notes on my conversations with George. he knew where all the skeletons were. & he was a superb storyteller. for years a trip to Hollywood wasn't complete without dinner with George & Ruth.
one nite we were attending the taping of a tribute to Bing Crosby to mark his 50th anniversary in show business. at the end of the show Crosby fell into a hole on the stage. a stunnd audience didn't know what to do. George forever the journalist jumpd out of his seat & ran to the edge of the stage to look down.
I hope that the tapes of all of George's shows are in an archive somewhere.
4 comments:
I am looking at my family history and know that my great, great uncle (great grandfather's brother) is George Fisher a silent movie star. I am trying to figure out if the George Fisher III listed in the IMDB movie database is related (the age and timing would be about right)and I am interested in knowing more about my family.
the George Fisher I knew wasn't in silent films. he's II in IMDB. he can be seen toward the beginning of Cukor's "A Star is Born."
Was he related to the George I of silent films or is the II a coincidence? If so, he would be a cousin(?), I think.
I doubt they were related but have no proof either way.
Post a Comment