Hollywood Party Memories       (updated 3/21/03)
by Ray Sherman

 
     At the Beverly Hills Tropics:
 
• My dad and my brother and I have been booked to play a "wrap" party celebrating the end of production on "All This and Heaven Too."  As we walk in the front door, Bette Davis comes up and greets us with, "I'm Bette Davis."


     At Richard Harris's house:
 

• Robert Morse does his impression of Gene Kelly singing "For Me And My Gal."

 
• A lady asks us for some Hawaiian music so she can do a hula.  About eight bars into the tune, she starts stripping.  The bass player leans over and says, "Women like to take their clothes off."

 
    At Debbie Reynolds' house:
 
• Van Johnson comes in with his entourage.  He leans his elbow on the piano, props his chin in his hand and gives me a long, soulful look.

 
• I'm playing a ballad medley, oblivious to who is or who isn't at the party.  I decide to go into "All The Way," one of my favorite songs, not giving a second thought to who the writers were.  Sammy Cahn dances by and says, "Thank you."


    At Shirley MacLaine's house:
 

• I'm playing "Sophisticated Lady."  Edie Adams walks by and says, "I hate that song."

 
• Jayne Meadows (who is with Steve Allen) leans across the piano and says, "Would you please tell Shirley we left -- I don't like to say good-bye."

 
• On my break, on the way to the rest room, I pass Ms. MacLaine bawling out her secretary, who is in tears.

 
    Christmas party at David O. Selznick's house
 
• Anne Shirley comes out on the patio to keep us company during a break.

 
• Judy Garland sits in one position on a couch all evening, pouting.  She doesn't honor any requests to sing.

 
• In the foyer, on my way out, I hear Merle Oberon loudly cussing out her escort.