"I worked on a couple of Oscars as a Stage Manager/Associate Director in the '70s. That meant I threw cues at the stars. For instance, when Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Michael Caine presented together, I signaled them when to begin and end. They didn't want to stop, so Sean Connery gave me the finger and everyone laughed."
"My favorite was the 1976 Grammys; Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé performed a scat-singing duet. I was standing right in front of them waiting to toss cues, and I literally forgot where I was—their singing was so amazing. But the director was yelling at me on the headset to get Paul Simon for the next performance."
"Jessie Buckley's acceptance speech for Best Actress was better than the film Hamnet. The clothes this year were so boring that there must have been some note going around to dress with taste. That makes me sick. Think of Streisand's see-through pajamas, Björk's swan dress, and all things Mackie. Let's bring back the outrageous!"
"One change is the #MeToo movement. When I got in, men could come after all of us gals without getting in any trouble. One superstar with his own show gave out knee pads because that was the only way women could get in to see him."
Jan Wahl reflects on his experiences as a Stage Manager/Associate Director at the Oscars and Grammys during the 1970s. He recalls humorous moments with stars like Sean Connery and memorable performances, particularly a duet by Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé. Wahl expresses disappointment over the lack of creativity in fashion at recent award shows and notes significant changes in the industry, particularly due to the #MeToo movement, which has transformed the dynamics between men and women in the entertainment field.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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