Willie’s Story: Stop! Think! Act!

Hi D,

I know you get a ton of emails so if you are reading mine I thank you for your time. I realize Bette has many loyal and “huge” fans and she deserves them all! I am just one of the many with an interesting story.

I was one of the bleacher folks at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion back when Bette was nominated for Best Actress for The Rose. After the fans had cleared out I sat waiting for the departures to get one more glimpse of Bette. I had changed the message on my sign to read “Bette is still #1”. Hours later the flow of departing guests turned to a trickle but I was determined to wait. A departing guest noticed me standing by my lonesome with my sign. She told me that Bette was still in the theater and to wait because Bette would appreciate my sign. This lady walked back towards the entrance. A few minutes later Bette came out and waved to me. (like a dork I had my instamatic camera pointed at her and have a picture of her waving up to the bleacher).

Flash forward to the filming of Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

Shortly after graduating from high school I went on holiday with a pre-approved limit on my father’s credit card. I charged up a storm. Desperate to find a job with quick rewards to pay the debt I took a job selling cars in Pasadena. Their hiring practice was questionable since they hired a slew of guys to battle it out on the lot. I befriended a gentleman on the lot who had worked for the Beverly Hills Cab Company. Since the gig at the dealership was not working out he caught my interest with the prospect of making cash money driving a cab. He hooked up an interview and I went downtown to get my license. (I was desperate to pay that credit card bill before my dad discovered the debt) I was a fish out of water…what did I know about driving a cab. A few weeks later, early on my round through the city I came across an assortment of movie trailers. STOP THINK…didn’t I read about Bette Midler filming a movie in Beverly Hills! I pulled over and walked up to about three or four tourists sitting outside a trailer who let me know they were waiting for Bette!!! I waited with them and was speechless as Bette appeared in a sequined gown with hair that look matted to her head. (later to realize that Bette had just filmed the new years pool scene) Bette was gracious but I was tounge tied. All the years of gratitude for her greatness and I could not speak a word! I had my picture taken with her. My life was complete, I had met my Idol!

Late in the afternoon after getting a bite to eat I finally returned to the business of saving my hide from my father. I drove up to a taxi stand at the park above Santa Monica Blvd. and made my call in to dispatch to alert of my availability. The crackle of the dispatchers order came through my radio to pick someone up for a trip to the airport. As I followed the directions I realized I was driving right back to the same area where I had just camped out to meet Bette. As I drove into the driveway my heart was beating fast as I began to put the pieces together. There was a beehive of activity around this home near where the trailers sat. Someone from inside the home called out for me to go into the backyard and get something to eat since my passenger was not ready for her trip to the airport. I walked into the backyard of what I later understood was director Paul Mazursky’s home where Bette’s New Years Eve scene had wrapped right before I met her by the trailer. I looked looked nervously across the yard and spotted Bette in a robe with a diva-like towel wrapped around her head. I retreated to a corner of the yard away from Bette’s view afraid that I would freak her out if she recognized me as the guy on the street who was now snacking on a sandwich in Paul Mazursky’s backyard. Soon enough I was told the passenger was ready. As I drove away to LAX with Tracy Nelson in my backseat I regained enough composure to tell her of my great fortune of having met my idol that day.