I doubt that Carol Channing and Michael McLean have ever been mentioned in the same sentence. About all they have in common is that both of them are highly gifted musicians . . . and I've been fortunate enough to meet and interview both of them. Plus each is connected to personal stories I've been waiting for an appropriate time to relate.
- CHANNING WILL BE in Salt Lake a week from Monday for her fourth visit to Utah in nearly as many years. Despite her status as a show-biz legend, she is not an egomaniac.The only problem when you're interviewing Channing is to pray your tape recorder's batteries don't run down before she does.
Channing is both ageless and eternally energetic. Maybe it's because she's a Christian Scientist and, according to her, they don't believe in observing birthdays. Being only as old as you act and feel makes Channing even younger than Jack Benny.
She is also a class act.
Two years ago, following her appearance with the Utah Symphony, I received a handwritten note from Carol thanking me for my review - and inviting me to join her for lunch "the next time we're in the same town together."
During an interview prior to this concert, we briefly discussed each other's families. I learned about her husband/manager, Charles Lowe, and their son, Channing "Chan" Lowe, and his accomplishments as an editorial cartoonist in Florida. And I mentioned to her that I had three daughters.
When "Hello, Dolly!" came to town last fall, the first thing Carol said during a telephone interview was: "Hello, Ivan Lincoln . . . Salt Lake City . . . How are your daughters?"
Most of the time I can't even remember their names . . . and she remembered them from months before.
Later, after "Dolly" had opened at the Capitol Theatre, Carol and her husband invited me and my family to their Little America suite for lunch. We were greeted by Lowe, a friendly gentleman who treated us like old friends. He said Carol would be out shortly.
Moments later, a woman walked into the room . . . bright red bathrobe, funky strawberry slippers and long, gray hair. Must be the maid, I thought - then she spoke in that famous foghorn voice and I realized that this was Carol Channing Unwigged.
For nearly 90 minutes, my wife and I and our oldest daughter enjoyed lunch with Carol and her husband, hearing wonderful anecdotes about both their family and life in the world of theater.
Having (not "doing") lunch with Carol Channing ranks at the top of my most cherished memory list.
- I'VE NEVER LUNCHED with Michael McLean. But maybe someday . . . at a Heber City diner.
Several years ago, my mother-in-law, Betty Armga, mentioned to me that she was Michael McLean's first piano teacher. Suspicious journalist that I am, I silently questioned the validity of this statement.
Then, a few months later, I was interviewing McLean for a story about "Celebrating the Light," one of his Promised Valley Playhouse productions. I asked him about his early training as musician.
"Well, we were living in Twin Falls, Idaho, at the time," he said.
Immediately I feared the worst. Both my wife and I have Twin Falls roots. Forging right ahead, I asked if he remembered his first piano instructor.
"Let's see," said Mike, putting his mind in a "search" mode. "I think her first name was Betty . . . "
" . . . Armga?" I offered.
"Yeh . . . it was . . . Betty Armga," he said.
There are few things more demeaning or humiliating in life than apologizing to your mother-in-law.
But I did - and somehow I survived.
Then, between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, McLean was doing a series of his "The Forgotten Carols" concerts in the area. My mother-in-law just happened to be visiting, so I called Mike and he personally arranged for three seats on the front row in the Austad auditorium at Weber State University. Since I had a previous commitment to review "Peter Pan" at the Grand Theatre that same evening, my wife and daughter accompanied Betty to the concert.
While "Peter Pan" was a lot of fun, I'm sorry I missed the wonderful experience Michael created for his former teacher. Near the conclusion of the concert, he was playing on the piano, then stopped and told the crowd, "I'm really nervous tonight because my first piano teacher is here in the audience."
Then he walked over to the front of the stage and introduced Betty. They chatted for a few moments, then McLean went on with the concert.
Eccentric artist Andy Warhol is quoted as saying that everyone deserves at least 15 minutes of fame.
This was Betty's.
Of all the activities we took Betty Armga to during her visit - including several plays, concerts and the lights on Temple Square - the "Forgotten Carols" concert was her most unforgettable.
And, at the time, we had no idea that less than four months down the road Betty would have triple-bypass surgery, then die two days later of heart failure.
I would like to publicly thank Michael McLean, who makes a lot of people happy with his uplifting music, for making my late mother-in-law very, very happy.
- ON THE ROAD - There was a full page color ad in last Sunday's Seattle Times about the national touring production of "Show Boat" starring Ned Beatty and Cloris Leachman as Cap'n Andy and Parthy. Currently docked at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show's final block of tickets became available last week for the remainder of the run.
The 1995 Tony Award winner closes in Vancouver on Sept. 29, after which it sets sail for an engagement in Los Angeles. For ticket information, call (206) 292-ARTS. In addition, the Waterfront Centre Hotel and Hotel Vancouver have special "Show Boat" room and ticket packages. Call 1-800-701-9070 for particulars.
The first national touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's spectacular musical version of "Sunset Boulevard" opens June 28 in the Buell Theatre of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. It plays through Aug. 10.
Single tickets, ranging from $40 to $65, are now available via a toll-free line: 1-800-641-1222.