GOOD MORNING: It was like New Year's Eve. It was like an old-fashioned wake. It was like a Hollywood premiere. Or like a Hollywood gala, guests leaving with the de rigueur "goodie bag." But Saturday night, the recognizable bright red "doggie bags" contained Mason jars filled with chili -- Chasen's chili. It was the last batch of Dave Chasen's trademark. And guests of Mickey Rudin's birthday party for wife Mary Carol in Chasen's main banquet room were given the chili as a parting souvenir. Will it go into freezers for posterity, saved for special occasions or -- maybe be reopened when/if Chasen's reopens. Rumors were rampant that "the deal" has not gone through -- everything depends on many factors. Regardless, everyone Saturday night knew this was the last night of Chasen's as we have known it for years. And as the last batch of trademark hors d'oeuvres were passed -- miniature, bite-size cheeseburgers, complete with slice of pickle -- you couldn't help noticing the cocktail napkins' "C" with the motto "Rien Superieur." Now it's just "Rien." No more comfortable booths in which to dine and carry on civilized, audible conversation; no more smiling staff to greet you warmly, sincerely, and by name -- without announcing their own names ... In addition to the Rudins' large party, smaller parties were going on throughout the eatery. Scott McKay, Maude Chasen's grandson, brought in a jazz combo outside the garden room. Fans waited behind barricades outside and police handled traffic as diners continued to come into the restaurant well past one ayem. And food was running out. After the last guests left, longtime manager Ronnie Clint gathered "the boys" for a final toast.
"WE WANT THIS to be a big sendoff," said Mary Carol Rudin as the room soon rocked with the thunderous drumming of the Taiko Drums group. On a more tender note, Rudin said, "We want to give a tribute to the unsung heroes"-- and brought out the toque-topped cordon of chefs who received a standing ovation. The guests ranged from politicos like Mayor Richard Riordan, Councilman John Ferraro and Sheriff Sherman Block to Hollywood celebs, including the Steve Allens, Chuck Frieses, Ted Manns, Art Linkletters, Quincy Jones and Nastassia Kinski, Herb Hutners, Joe Sinays, Arthur Hillers, Monty Halls, John Gavin, John McMahons, Martin Ransohoffs, Edgar Schericks, Tina Sinatra with Guy McElwaine, Joe Smith, Lee Solters and Carol Nemoy, Rod Steigers, Jerry Weintraubs and Jennifer Jones. While inside, among those saying their goodbyes were Ethel Kennedy with the David Gerbers, Pierre Cossette, also the Lew Wassermans, Suzanne Pleshette and husband Tommy Gallagher. Also stopping by were former Mayor Tom Bradley and Al Pacino. Longtime Chasen's captain -- also named Tommy Gallagher, retired a few years -- returned to also say his farewells. Also in the front room, the Marvin Davises, Bob Daly, Ardie Deutches, Jane Wyman with Nolan Miller, the Bistro's (Gardens) Kurt Niklas, Steve Roth with parents Bernie and Flo Ruth, Abbie Lane and Perry Leff, Don Klosterman, Tony Thomopoulos.
JIMMY STEWART DELIVERED the eulogy for Dave Chasen, who died Saturday, June 16, 1973. Chasen's, the restaurant, died Saturday, April 1, 1995, but Stewart was too ill to be there for last desserts. However, he sent over autographed photos to his friends, Clint, maitre d' Julius Reh, captain Claude Krinnick and hatcheck lady Val Schwab, thanking them for "your help over the years." In the eulogy (written by Nunnally Johnson) that Stewart had delivered for Dave Chasen on June 20, 1973, at the Church of the Recessional, Forest Lawn, Stewart reminded that Chasen's had become (since its opening Dec.13, 1936) "a branch office of Broadway." He told of the greats who were regulars, of the night when Fred Astaire did an impromptu dance there, when Jimmy Durante sang, Humphrey Bogart read Shakespeare, when Jimmy Cagney, Pat O'Brien, W.C. Fields and Frank McHugh quartetted. I recalled when Alfred Hitchcock opened his shirt to me and my wife to show his newly implanted pacemaker ... Chasen's reputation for kindness to the less-fortunate in showbiz (and out) continued after Dave's death. His beautiful wife Maude also continued coming in each night, greeting old friends, meeting new. She was stricken over a year ago and was unable to come in for a long time, but Clint and company continued to keep up the class even when the tables were empty and only the front room booths were occupied. When word got out that Chasen's was to close, the onslaught of past friends who had turned to the nouveau eateries began. And the curious, the tourists flocked in. Never had Chasen's done such business -- two turnovers, tables crowding the aisles in the back rooms, all party rooms booked solidly for the final months. Where were they when they were needed? Clint had no plans to return after Saturday night -- his mementos and photographs were already packed and moved out and he and his wife leave on a lengthy cruise through the Caribbean. Their reservations for the entire cruise: a table for two.
HOW STRANGE. On April 3, 1985, I walked up to the Vine Street Brown Derby to say so long to my caricature (drawn May 10, 1959, by artist Jack Lane) ... I had a final drink in the Record Room, walked out past Charlton Heston's star in the sidewalk, down Vine Street past the Merv Griffin Theatre -- past a new shopping mall and parking lot where Glen Wallichs Music City once stood -- across the street from NBC which is now Home Savings & Loan. It was reassuring to walk west on Sunset to find the RCA building was still there.
WE'VE ALL HEARD comments about David Letterman and the Oscars -- so tonight we'll hear and see David's own comments about Oscar. He's back from London where he's taped skits that will air during five shows the week of May 15. Among those he'd like to have as guests is Paul McCartney. He'll also have London's regular folks -- as in N.Y. -- as guests. Before leaving L.A. and the Oscars, Letterman told his producer Robert Morton he thought he'd done his best. "We all did our best," said Morton. "If he had a second chance we'd all do better -- like when we tape two of our anniversary shows, the second's always the one we use." Morton's not sure whether David would want to do the Oscars again, but reminded, "He's very competitive. He'd probably want to do it again -- but who knows?"... Last week in L.A., Morton (who also produces "Late Late Show With Tom Snyder") worked on the two pilots their company is readying for CBS. He says David is very involved, particularly with the "Emmett and Earl" show written by Adam Resnick. It will probably be shot in N.Y.
Contact Army Archerd at
army.archerd@variety.com