Apparently Even Lifelong Connections Won’t Get You Far in Hollywood
Maureen Waldorf of L.A. was excited when she was given a role in a bingo parlor scene in Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can.” Especially since “Spielberg’s mother was invited to join us,” Waldorf said. Alas, the bingo scene was eventually scrapped from the movie.
“So take heart, all you budding actors,” wrote Waldorf, a participant in a city-sponsored acting class for seniors (information: [323] 931-1026). “Even Steven Spielberg’s mother ended up on the cutting-room floor.”
Her son, the mogul: I had to phone Leah Adler, the director’s mom (and a Westside restaurateur), to ask her about it. She confirmed the story, adding with a laugh, “I’ve gotten no callbacks since then.” She did come away with a funny memory, though.
“I was in makeup for two hours and they put a gray wig on me,” she said. “When I came out, Steven passed by me and didn’t even recognize me.”
Gesundheit! The police log of Laguna Beach’s Coastline Pilot said, “A driver knocked over two parking meters, a GTE phone box and a street light, then drove off the road and dropped about 10 feet into a riverbed.”
The driver, who was uninjured, “said a sneeze caused the accident.”
Food for thought: Today’s Specials of the Column (see accompanying) include:
* Some grapes that must be pretty darn tasty, judging from the price (Anne Kronberg of San Pedro).
* An unfortunate chicken (Victor and Astra Vaits of Calabasas). I admit I’m one of those meat eaters who really doesn’t want to know how the creature on my plate expired.
* A redundant serving of bread (Miriam Sherman of L.A., who thinks it was supposed to say “braided”).
* And, finally, to, uh, sate your thirst, a salty Japanese concoction whose label says it supplies “the lost water and electrolytes from perspiration” (John Stevenson of Chatsworth). Cheers!
miscelLAny: April Smith’s “Good Morning, Killer,” a riveting mystery set on the Westside, is not only full of twists and turns but offers what I believe is the only sex scene on the Marina Freeway in the annals of literature.
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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.