Reel Classics: Elizabeth Meets the Stars

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Elizabeth Meets the Stars:

Over the course of my career as a classic movie webmaster, author and consultant, I have had the privilege of actually getting to meet a few of the stars on my web site when we happened to be in the same city, and some have even been gracious enough to let me have my picture taken with them. I hope you get as big a kick out of seeing these pictures as I did having them taken.

(Photo by R.H.A.)

Elizabeth and Margaret O'Brien at the Stage Centre in Oklahoma City after the final performance of Oklahoma Children's Theatre's production of "Little Women" on September 19, 1999. Ms. O'Brien starred as Aunt March in the production.

(Photo by Mr. O'Toole's chauffeur)

Elizabeth and Peter O'Toole outside The Old Vic in London after the last performance of "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" on September 25, 1999. For the inside story, read my article on "Meeting Peter O'Toole."

On March 18, 2000 I was in Bristol, England watching a local soccer game, and afterwards, as I was leaving, I happened to pass by a house decorated with the following marker:

Archibald Alec Leach, better known as Cary Grant, was born in this house January 18, 1904

Thus, although I never actually met Cary Grant while he was living, I have seen the house where he was born (15 Hughenden Road, Bristol, England). And because there was a camera handy, this elated moment is preserved for posterity here at Reel Classics.

(Photo by R.H.A.)

(Photo by L. Macklin)

Elizabeth and Celeste Holm at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on June 29, 2001, shortly before Ms. Holm spoke to the NPC about the importance of funding arts education in public schools. After the speech, she took questions from the audience -- including several from Elizabeth about her film career.

*(Photo by R.H.A.)*

Elizabeth and Debbie Reynolds backstage at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City after Ms. Reynolds performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra on February 23, 2002. Consisting of abbreviated renditions of songs from her classic films as well as her comic impersonations of such stars as Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davis, Barry Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand, Debbie's show is geared toward older audiences and blends the nostalgia of her life and classic movie career with her contemporary 'glamorous old broad' comic wit.

Elizabeth visits with Debbie Reynolds
(Photo by R.H.A.)

Elizabeth visits with Ms. Reynolds about Reel Classics and her film career while she signs autographs for guests at a special reception for her after the performance hosted by Oklahoma City's Rotary Club 29.

(Photo by R.H.A.)

Elizabeth with Janet Leigh at the Library of Congress Film Preservation Tour hosted by the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on April 12, 2002. Sponsored by American Movie Classics and Cox Communications, the National Film Preservation Tour promotes public awareness about the need for film preservation, a cause for which Ms. Leigh was a tireless advocate.

Janet Leigh at OKCMOA

Though she admitted that she doesn't "do the Internet," Ms. Leigh expressed great enthusiasm about Reel Classics, and by the end of the day, she was introducing me to people (above, a reporter from the Boston Globe (left) and Rebecca FitzSimons (right), Coordinator of the Film Preservation Tour for the Library of Congress), telling them about my website! Of all the stars I have met, Janet Leigh was definitely one of the most gracious. She was very friendly, quite willing to visit with me, and very down-to-earth. Only scheduled to appear for an hour at the event's public book signing, she continued signing autographs through lunch until every fan had been taken care of, sipping on a McDonald's chocolate shake between visitors.

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