Goodbye, Dummy

And, by that title, I mean that lovingly.

Here's Don Rickles as I'd like to remember him.  I think this is the photo that adorned one of his comedy album covers.  "Hello, Dummy" may have been the name of it.

Driving home the other night from the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills where KABC's Legend Series had presented Don Rickles in performance, I was a little sad.   And thinking that, perhaps, I had seen him play Los Angeles for the very last time.

It's not the lasting memory I would like to keep.

I've always been a huge fan.   I grew up with his appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.   I've even seen him perform live in person maybe seven or eight times.  Whenever that was, it was always on that year's highlight reel of my life.

About seven years ago, I saw him perform in some large Anaheim venue and, after not seeing him live for a number of years, the night was like comedy comfort food.  It was all so familiar, yet so much fun.

He was back in the same place about three years later so I wanted to duplicate the sensation.   But, a lot had happening in those three years apparently.   Don, now in his mid 80s, had lost a little bit of his timing.   He seemed tired and lackluster.  The spark was gone.

Okay, I thought, you've seen him for the last time. And, in the ensuing years, I know he had health problems.   And his son had passed away, which is nature's harshest insult...outliving your child.   I actually was in Madeo's Restaurant one night when Don Rickles and Bob Newhart were seated in the next booth with their wives.  He sounded vibrant in conversation, much less so in appearance.

Yet, I noticed he was still performing from time to time.   And, almost mystically, he was set to play the Saban Theater, a goofy and somewhat dilapidated legitimate theater on Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills.   KABC was hosting the event.

I should have passed on this.   But, it was in my own backyard.  And, frankly, I have a young friend who relishes show business legends and wants to see them in person just once.   I always promised her that, if Rickles was ever appearing locally, we would go.  With Joan Rivers' death a few months ago, we were both reminded of the mortality of all those great stars.

We decided to go.  

The place was a sellout.  Indeed, we had the cheapest seats available.   In general admission balcony, but even those were almost a hundred bucks.  I got there super early to score some decent aisle spots in this open seating forum.   People were already lined up by the balcony doors.  We were denied access as they were conducting sound checks.   Okay, who's appearing tonight?  The Beatles?

Once they opened the doors, patrons surged forward.   It was the senior citizen version of grabbing a good lawn spot at Coachella.   Yet, it was an eclectic audience of all ages which always good to see.   Maybe Los Angeles knew the same thing I did.

This would probably be the last time.

Indeed, you could tell from the very first moment.   After an overture from the Rickles standard orchestra on stage, house lights dimmed and we were treated to some vintage clips of Don in action.   The screen raised and the comic was already on stage seated in a chair.   No longer is he able to walk triumphantly onto the scene with that gladiator fanfare.   Sitting there with his cane, he looked even older.

He immediately apologized for sitting down.   There's an infection in his leg and doctors say it will get better.   I'm not so sure.  I hear he's been sitting in performance since last year.  At several points, he looked like he was dying to stand up.   And tried to.   He was successful just once.

Oh, sure, there were the usual gags to the folks in the front rows.   The audience members plucked up to the stage for participation in a skit.  There was a laugh or two.   But, something was clearly missing.

You can't really fault Don.   He is 88 and obviously work keeps him alive.   But, given that this was an event sponsored by a radio station, it was inexplicable that the audio system was so bad.    You could hear Rickles for sure.   But, you couldn't understand him.   He was essentially overmiked.   And, so, most of the insults were lost in garble.  

To pad the usual show that used to feature the comic pacing from stage right to stage left, there were more pauses for even more film and TV clips.  The audio was messed up on those, too.   I wondered what the folks downstairs, with ticket prices of $250 and up, were thinking.

In his thank yous, Don referenced all the show biz pals who had come out for the evening.   He singled out good buddy Bob Newhart who also got a standing ovation and now I'm hoping to see him perform just once while he still can.

I realized at that moment that the assembled group of fans and close associates had probably one mission in mind.

To see Don Rickles for the last time.

And I think we did.   

I was sorry that my friend didn't get to see the real Don Rickles experience.   She was philosophical.

"Well, at least, I got to see him once."

One more reason why, if you find a performer you truly enjoy, you should see them in person at the earliest possible convenience.   You never know how life will take its next sad turn.

Dinner last night:  Bratwurst and red cabbage.