gThrough a lot of confusion I ended up attending University at the Universityof Southern California. The campus was and is in a very "unhealthy" part of Los Angeles and so there was no question of living on campus or even near campus. Friends of my parents in Los Angeles said what was wanted was a good apartment hotel and the one they all chose was the Ravenswood at 570 N. Rossmore. This is 54 years ago and so the commute to school was realtively quick. I moved into apartment 615 and all went along for few days. One Friday, a tall man-well, he was my height which is tall, knocked at my door, introduced himself as Paul, Miss West's Gentleman and, if it was convenient, could I go with him to the other end of the hall to meet Miss West-she liked to know who was around. Miss West also has a taste for tall men who attended USC so I was acceptable to her. She was a private person, occasionally we'd meet at the elevator or when our cars were being brought but to say we were social friends would be overstatement. Until she saved my life. On the back of my front door there was a larger mirror where you could make sure you pants were on correctly or whatever before you opened the door to the world. In a hurry I gave the door a rather too sharp a tug and the mirror fell on me, part of it going into my throat. As providence would have it, she and Paul had just arrived at the elevator and came to see what happened. Leaving Paul to see to me, she called an ambulance -this was before 911- and then returned to offer her jacket to prop up my head and perhaps stop the blood flow. In these days the interest and fascination with Miss West has dimmed but then it had not I know not how many ambulance companies responded and, on hearing the name of the caller, the police the fire departement....all of whom were congratulating her on her quick thinking and, oh yeah, getting me hauled off to Good Samaritan. She was a genuinely kind person whose public persona was just that. Public. But she did pull out all the stops while I was in hosptital. Putting on one of her "Mae West" type costumes she came to visit stopping every clock in Good Sam. By the time she got to my room a goodly number of staff were following her. And she had the last laugh as usual. Arraying herself by my door she struck a pose, reached for her "Mae West" voice and said, "I thought I'd come up and see you some time. And this is the time." Then Paul closed the door and she went back to being genuinely concerned. It was a brief visit but an effective one. As she strolle down the hall she said to the phalanx of doctors who surrounded her, "I want my boy taken care of good and proper, if ya know what I mean" and, taking the boutinierre from one doctors laple, "and I think you do." I almost had to sign myself out. The traffic to and from my room with questions was non stop. So that's a bit about my neighbour, and very great lady, the woman who single handedly saved Paramount. And my friend, Mae West.
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Yeah that sounds very familiar.....
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Just remember, everything I say is a lie.
I'm a liar.....:biggrin:
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