"One of my favorite memories concern one of my favorite actresses, Jane Russell. The strong, sultry brunette was the most down-to-earth, tough gal I ever met. By the time we did a series of interviews, she was wearing Birkenstocks rather than high heels. Once, we were at The Castro Theatre doing one of Marc Huestis' wonderful events, and Jane decided she was a born-again Christian."
"My advice is: When you have fun, the audience has fun. For example, I worked for Rona Barrett at ABC TV before Barbara Walters kicked her out of the network. Mel Brooks was a guest, and he made us all laugh by taking the microphone and farting into it. It sounds disgusting, but when Mel Brooks does it, it's funny!"
"I was lucky enough that my father played Big Band drums, so music was alive in our family. I dated two musical stars: Donald O'Connor and Gene Nelson, both amazing dancers. Both were older than me, but old dancers keep themselves in great shape."
Jan Wahl, a television and radio broadcaster with 22 years of experience, gained access to numerous celebrities because they came to town promoting their projects and sought media exposure. Wahl recalls favorite memories with actress Jane Russell, known for her down-to-earth personality, who incorporated her born-again Christian faith into interview responses about her glamorous films. Wahl emphasizes that creating a fun atmosphere during interviews translates to audience enjoyment. Notable experiences include working with Rona Barrett at ABC TV and encountering comedian Mel Brooks, whose spontaneous humor made awkward moments entertaining. Wahl's appreciation for musicals stems from a family background in Big Band music and personal relationships with dancers Donald O'Connor and Gene Nelson.
#celebrity-interviews #entertainment-broadcasting #hollywood-memories #musicals-and-performers #media-history
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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