Just wanted to note the passing of actress Betty Garrett at age 91 and to say I always thought she was a talented, classy lady. She was a staunch supporter of live theater in L.A. and for a time, it seemed like every play I went to, I'd find Betty Garrett in the audience if not on the stage. Everyone revered her for her skills but also for the kind of person she was — friendly, approachable and willing to talk or advise anyone. She had an amazing career…a couple of them, if you note that the blacklist stopped the first one and forced her to pretty much start all over.
I think the last time I saw her perform was a production of My One and Only mounted by the Reprise! group up at U.C.L.A. She played a role usually played by a short black guy and stole the show, especially with a soft shoe dance routine near the end. Of course, she was a much younger woman at the time she did this. She was only 86.
I heard her talk on a few occasions…mostly about her late husband Larry Parks, who became a star playing Al Jolson, then saw his career and life destroyed by the House Un-American Activites Committee. His crime? Being Liberal, she said…and in those days, that was a felony. She was still a bit amazed that she'd overcome all that to not only work again but to work so much…and on two of the most popular TV shows of all times, All in the Family and Laverne & Shirley. Still, the sense of triumph was incomplete because Larry had not lived to see it and experience his own. She also talked with great pride and enthusiasm about her days in M.G.M. musicals. How great was it to be a part of that?
Such a lovely woman. I'm glad we had her around as long as we did.