Good mornings

By ARMY ARCHERD

In Archerd's column, which ends today, he encountered legendary entertainment artists, stars and moguls. Here's a choice sampling:

Nov. 2 1953

WORTH QUOTING: Billy Wilder, explaining why "Sabrina Fair" is being shot in black-and-white: "If you make a film in color, you have to start writing 'Technicolor dialog.' " ... H. Bogart thinks 20th-Fox should be very careful about "loading" CinemaScope because: "It is a star, and if you give a star one or two bad pictures - he's through" ... Bob Hope, about his Hollywood preference for TV shows: "Out here everything goes like a well-oiled machine" ... WORTH NOTING: "Julius Caesar" will not get wide-screen treatment for its Nov. 20 preem at the Four-Star ... But, "Gone With the Wind" will be re-soundified and expanded for its next reissue ... Price of admission for the Henry Wilcoxon's Nativity Play this year: a toy for the Marine Corps' "Toys For Tots" ... WORTH NOTHING: Perry Lieber's half owner of a North Hollywood restaurant --and wouldn't you know the name is "Korney's."

Nov. 5, 1953

Christine Jorgensen, who had an SRO opening at the Sahara, included this line in one number: "If you don't like the way nature is arranged, get it changed." Q.E.D.

Nov. 19, 1953

Darryl Zanuck, back at his 20th desk, left nine uncompleted deals in Europe and sent for Joe Moskowitz to finish them up. They include long-term contracts and foreign film productions. It was a triumphant return for Zanuck who left before "The Robe" and CinemaScope started sweeping old records off the boards. IF you can picture it, Zanuck is more exuberant about CinemaScope than ever he was before! "The public," he says, "is going to get so used to the medium, you won't be able to get away with any other. It's the punch the public needed."

June 3, 1958

Ingrid Bergman never looked lovelier, but she still does not look toward Hollywood for a long time to come. It is not by her choice, however... She greeted some old friends from the Hollywood press corps in her dressing room... "I'm flattered that people in the States think Hollywood is my home," she said, "and want me to return. But so far, all the stories that are offered to me are to be made in Europe, which is, after all, where I come from. I would like to come back, and I will -- for the Continued from page A1

Oscars next year." (She had planned to attend this year's Awards but "Inn" change of locations nixed her sked) ... Miss Bergman, always with a big smile often breaking into loud laughter, said she is a happy woman for many reasons. She's most pleased with the film. "I'm not like a great many actresses," she laughed, "who say it's hard to find a good script" ... As for her personal life and Lars Schmidt, Miss B. beamed, "Certainly I like him, very much. But things are a little complicated now and have to be worked out" ... Among the "things to be worked out" is the annulment of her marriage to Roberto Rossellini. The case is due June 6 in Italy's courts. She will not be present ... "I don't regret one moment of it," she admits about her past.

Jan. 5, 1959

Rod Steiger, enjoying his "Rashomon" raves in Philly, pens: "This is a tough show. I lost five pounds opening night, and I have to rape Claire Bloom eight times a week."

Jan. 9, 1959

GOOD MORNING: Liz Taylor and Eddie Fisher were very much in L.A. last night, champagne-toasting each other at Chasen's, when the Mirror-News headlined she was a patient at Menninger's clinic in Topeka. Miss T's comment on the false yarn: "THIS I'm not going to take sitting down. Watch out!"

Feb. 4, 1959

Kim Novak and Dick Quine quarreled, busted up - all via the long-distance fone ... Marlon Brando put in a long session at Cedars Monday visiting about-to-be ex-wife Anna Kashfi ... A studio nurse gave Brando oxygen to sober him up after a drunk scene in "One-Eyed Jacks" during which he consumed considerable quanities of gin -- all for the realism, of course. Brando is NOT a drinking man ... "Only Flynn could play a drunk scene," he laughed.

Feb. 6, 1959

The California Highway Patrol found a $1,000 Verve check belonging to Mort Sahl on the Hollywood Freeway. The comedian had tossed the check, an advance on his "Look Forward in Anger" album in the back seat of his open convertible, along with shoe polish, old newspapers, etc. ... Now it can be told: NBC and Sahl fought about the material he was to use on the Eddie Fisher show. They wanted to censor his material, but he stood his ground, didn't change a line.

Dec. 14, 1959

"The only thing Elvis Presley ever gave a disk jockey was a Christmas card," says Cuhnel Parker, now down in Nashville, Tenn., mailing out a million season's greeting messages for his G.I. client. "What's more," Parker proclaims, "I think this payola thing isn't as bad as it sounds -- no one ever asked me for anything to play records." ... Present plans for Presley's vidappearances in '60 call for the single show with Sinatra, for which E.P. will get $125,000.

Jan. 18, 1960

The "mystery malady" which laid low Marilyn Monroe is an allergy to medication, she says. "At one time I was out cold," she admits. "Now, the only thing I'll take is an aspirin." MM mystified guests at her cocktail party launching "Let's Make Love," Friday, by showing up on time -- George Cukor picked her up.

Feb. 19, 1962

GOOD MORNING, Mr. Ed Murrow and others in USIA interested in the U.S.A. image created by Hollywood, here's a sample: "Our friends in Africa, Europe or Asia will see that there are plenty of enlightened Americans in our South," Greg Peck calmly explained on the set of "To Kill a Mockingbird." "There are others besides the hotheads that, too often, are the only ones portrayed." The star quickly adds the film version of the bestseller is not a "message" film -- has all the elements of excitement, drama, passion, comedy, as well as the race seg ... Asked the perennial question, "How will this film sell in our own South?" Peck answers, "I think the success of the book, the poularity of Harper Lee and Horton Foote should handle that."

Sept. 9, 1963

Robert Ryan, here for a guest stint in Kraft Suspense Theatre's "A Part of the Bargain," returns next week to N.Y.--now calls it home. But has no intention of jumping into another B'way show, claims "Theatre parties are ruining the theatre." Ryan discloses the five-month advance on "Mr. President" via the theatre party route forced the show to go on in N.Y. -- sez it should have folded. He also joins fellow thesps in claiming "B'way is run by real estate men today." (He adds, however, "We were the lucky ones -- we had Leland Hayward").

Sept. 20, 1963

Before departing, (Otto) Preminger parted with a few more quotes. "The business has progressed to the point where it is no longer built on stars; the theme, story and characters -- they are the most important." But he added, "Today's stars are good actors and they give more to those themes, stories."

Nov. 25, 1963

Debbie Reynolds in her dressing room, "That's why I work for mental health -- one out of 10 people is potentially as sick (as the President's murderer). But what can you expect?" She became emotional, "With so many slutty books, dirty movies and pornographic material going thru the mail. Teenage pregnancies are at all-time high and parental discipline at an all-time low. The country's morals are at a new low."

Dec. 31, 1964

Nat Cole, in excellent spirits, is skedded to resume cobalt treatments next week. John Wayne sent him a wire: "Sorry to hear you've joined the club -- but don't worry, I had one taken out three months ago" ... Wayne, who departs Saturday for the Durango, Mexico start of "Sons of Katie Elder," sez the script is loaded with water fights. "And that river is just about freezing this time of year," sez Wayne. "I think we ought to insist the writer (Bill Bowers) test the temperature for us!"

Feb. 11, 1965

GOOD MORNING: Shirley MacLaine and Steve Parker started to rejoice the most recent "Goldfarb" decision -- then received word their Tokyo offices had been vandalized, robbed; in addition, dotter Sachi, in school over there, suffered a busted arm. "And just when I thought everything was coming back into focus," Miss M. managed to laff. Parker took off for Japan ... Asked about the estimated $500,000 losses via "Goldfarb" and Vegas Tallyho Hotel delays, Shirley said, "The important thing isn't the money but having faith in things you believe in" ... The entire Vegas troupe has been salaried, in rehearsal since Nov. 15. "When we finally open," she opined, "it'll be so well-rehearsed, it'll seem like an old show!" ... Whether Shirley appears at the hotel as a nitery performer "is up to Steve," she admits. Meanwhile MacLaine returns to films in May with the choice pic not yet set. "It's time I came outta 'enforced retirement,' " sez she ... Miss M. further admits the incident in Bhutan was more dangerous and frightening than she cared to discuss, but reveals, "I couldn't walk or think straight for a long time." She planned to attend the Indian film fest, but current problems curtailed her travel yen -- for the present.

Feb. 19, 1965

GOOD MORNING: A "SMALL action picture" is next for Richard Brooks at Columbia following "Lord Jim" and in lieu of "Catch 22." Just back from the London preem of "Jim," Brooks admits, "I don't want to do any more famous books or plays -- it's too difficult to please everyone when you do a classic" ... He apparently pleased England's Queen Mother who attended the London preem of his pic and not only for the film, but when he told her he was happy her hoss, "The Rip" won its last big race. "Were you on him?" the Q.M. whispered to Brooks. "Yup," he answered. "Good!" she exclaimed.

Dec. 7, 1965

Three of the sweetest people in the biz were lensed by Esquire for Valentine's Day: Bob Hope, Jack Benny and George Burns. When Hope disappeared for a moment during the foto session, Burns asked "What happened to Bob? He was here two seconds ago." Benny answered, "By this time, Hope could be in Pakistan."

Jan. 24, 1966

GOOD MORNING FROM LONDON where Darryl Zanuck, globe-circling 20th-Fox prexy, joined international guests at preem of Bob Aldrich's "Flight of the Phoenix." It was only one reason for DFZ's visit. He's here to check two more pix made in Europe by Fox last year, "Blue Max" and "Modesty Blaise," thence to Alexandria and Cairo for location sites for "Justine." Forunately for us, he stopped a moment to tell his current thoughts, future plans ... "We spent $11 million more on feature production in Europe than in Hollywood last year. But this year, Hollywood will outweigh Europe. It just happens that way. We shoot here only because of countries needed -- no other reason. This year we don't have that much taking place here" ... What type picture is Zanuck looking for? "Any type that's exciting, human -- just find us a 'Sound of Music' each year!" ... He hopes to up the time-table whereby a new Fox studio will rise at Malibu in fixe-six years instead of the 10-year plan. He then would convert the BevHills lot into a high-rise apartment, hotel, shopping center, etc., instead of retaining the studio as a rental lot ... In July, DFZ celebrates his fourth year as TCF Prexy and his record speaks for itself. Will he seek another term? "You have to be elected," he modestly said, but admitted he'd like a fifth year. He also had the old urge to make his own-bannered films. "I'm going to go back into independent production again, definitely. But not while I'm concentrating on ALL our productions" ... As for our annual question, "When are you coming to Hollywood?" he answered, "I'm too busy right now -- besides, that's Richard's department" ... DFZ additionally has a yen to make another World War II film, "The Secret of D-Day" (his "Longest Day," you recall, launched 20th on its comeback) ... As for tv, he frankly says, "I don't even get a chance to look at it. BUT - there has to be an industry-wide revision wherein networks now have to share in the financial responsibility of the casualties" ... As for the feature future at Fox, "We have no product limitations -- only the total annual expenditure. Each project gets all its justifiable budget. But, unfortunately, today there seems to be no way to reduce picture costs. It's intolerable to operate under conditions whereby 75% of the pictures don't break even. The problem must be solved -- industry-wide, with top-bracketed players and executives, agents, and guilds. There must be a way to cut negative costs. You can't wait for three-four massive hits to carry you." Among these hoped-for hits is "The Bible," which Zanuck forewarns, "is the greatest film of ALL time!" ... In case his pals are wondering, DFZ looks great, keeps in shape skiing and still puffs on massive cigars.

Feb. 4, 1966

GOOD MORNING: Alfred Hitchcock has few tears for filmmakers complaining about treatment given their chef d'oeuvres by that crassly commercial medium -- television. Who should know better than Hitch, who has played both sides of the film fence? "It's simply a case of knowing what deal you make," he pleasantly pontificated. "Make your deal first -- then, complain -- if you can." Hitchcock will unwind another of his prize pix, "Rope" to home screens, following the recent two-showing "Rear Window" pact ... Although he has no plans for future tv series, he's anxiously looking for more feature material and and deplores -- as only he can -- the lack of available completed screenplays by top writers. They don't write on "spec," Hitch notes, as top playwrights. "They could name their own price," A.H. quickly concedes, "and deserve to -- without any changes to be made" ... He also regrets too many film writers today believe plot is out of fashion. "Plot in a short story and a movie is the most important thing. The motion picture is like a short story - it's the only medium you expect to see in continuity without a break. You have to consider the endurance of the human bladder. It is a challenge to keep the audience from going to the toilet" ... As for newly-created gimmix in pix, Hitch laughs, "It would be like a writer saying 'I'm going to use new words.' We must use the words we have -- but in better prose" ... However, it's no secret Hitch has constantly added technical as well as artistic innovations, such as the lighting in "Torn Curtain." He also has scenes with no dialog at all ... "Yes," he smiled, "I have my own kind of kookie pictures." Among those planned ahead is J.M. Barrie's "Mary Rose," a "charming ghost story." And next will be "R-R-R-R-R," which Bob Hawkins is now translating from the colloquial Italian into filmable English. Although coin classification is limited to four "R's," Hitch sez he's added one for crix. "They can use it as 'Rotten,' or 'Ridiculous.' "

Dec. 8, 1967

"There's too much sickness in today's American drama," says (Blake) Edwards. Our craft (films), instead of trying to change the neuroses of our times, seems to reflect these neuroses, the sickness of our time. You can't keep saying, 'I'm a neurotic -- I'm a neurotic,' and get well. Our choice is not to cure anything but to be a form of therapy. If you can get people to truly laugh, you're making a contribution."

Jan. 5, 1968

The Danang base where the troupe played has since been mortared. And the Hope plane bore holes from small fire arms at the Cuchi airstrip. "Nobody (in the troupe) on the plane knew except me," admits (Bob) Hope. "I was up front where I could see our artillery firing back. At the time I was working on my monolog!" ...Enroute home, Hope, exhausted, fell asleep in a drafty space atop the plane's kitchen; this week, Hope discovered he has bursitis in his right arm, is unable to raise it -- even for a golf ball! His comment: "I was lucky I didn't get it on the way there." Now the tour is over.

April 23, 1968

GOOD MORNING from a runway in the middle of the San Francisco airport -- where Steve McQueen threw himself under a Pan-Am 707 in takeoff ... It was about 3:30 ayem; the thermometer chattered 34 degrees, the wind, 25 knots, and about 100-knotted stomachs in the crew responded to the scene just filmed for "Bullitt" ... McQueen with his usually-flat hair standing straight, ran directly toward the camera so the audience would know -- in no uncertain terms -- it was he they saw under the plane. "Boy, I love this business," he grinned ... Crew members patted him on the back ... "I knew my life was in their hands," McQueen told us. "But I wasn't worried. Everybody in this company cares" ... It's his initial Solar pic at W7 ... In the above scene, McQueen, chasing a suspect per script, was forced to duck under a plane in takeoff. He hit the ground as the huge craft came toward him, the 240-degree heat blast from the jet pods passing over him - the ground shaking as in an earthquake. "The vibration tweaked my neck a little," he admitted. "You've got to open your mouth and hold your ears. It blew me around a little bit. But I'm OK" ... "Couldn't they use a dummy?" we asked. "They did," McQueen laughed. ... In addition to the first plane, a second 707 from Pan-Am and a 727 from PSA formed a trio of the most expensive props we've ever seen in a film scene ... One of the planes' wings came within two feet of the camera truck ... It's part of the realism exec producer Bob Relyea and director Peter Yates were hoping for in the film, we were told. Later in the pic, McQueen will race across the Golden Gate Bridge at 100 mph. It's lucky he's the boss of his company. Who else would OK such risks for his star?

Oct. 3, 1973

"It's the best production of 'Summer and Smoke' I've ever seen," said Tennessee Williams after Huntington Hartford opening. "I never realized it had that much comedy in it. I'd give it * * * * ½!" ... He seemed more relaxed than at the "Streetcar" bow at the Music Center earlier this year. "I've had a rough summer," he admitted. Howcum? "I've been writing a play" ("The Red Devil Battery Sign") ... At the Cave des Royal supper honoring Tennessee and the "Summer" cast, Jimmy Doolittle brought Williams up for a bow. "When the Saints Go Marching in" was tooted as Eva Marie Saint and director-husband Jeff Hayden arrived at the Sheila Barbera-hostessed bash by the founder patrons ... Williams allowed he didn't realize Eva Marie "had it in her." He predicted a future for costar Ronny Cox.

Sept. 29, 1975

Cary Grant has his attorneys investigating suits vs. People mag and the Associated Press, the former for printing he has false teeth. "I have to get into court and open my mouth," said Grant. And the AP suit involves their quotes from a Red Book yarn which Grant claims doesn't exist), saying he never loved any of his wives. The wire service yarn brought him a flood of international calls, sezze -- none from his ex-wives. Grant recently won $10,000 from Esquire for printing his head on a fake body, he gave the dough to charity.

Dec. 9, 1977

The dance-hards finally quit at 3 ayem yesterday at the "Saturday Night Fever" disco party on stages 14-15 at Paramount after the preem at the Chinese. Michael Eisner, looking over the scene of 1,000 bodies jamming the floor, crowding the Chasen's boards, and shouting above the disco sounds, said, "It's Paramount's new image."

Dec. 13, 1977

GOOD MORNING: "I made a vow never to talk about money any more," Joe Levine vowed, noting his $27,000,000 "A Bridge too Far" has passed the $17,000,000 ($16,000,000 in nonrefundable guarantees) mark after three months with just a few play dates abroad opened. And he hesitated to mention the $7,000,000 budget of his next film, "Magic." "Every time I talk about figures," he added, "people say I'm talking about a bank instead of a movie."

Dec. 23, 1977

In the name of Elvis Presley, Tom Parker donned Santa suit and was busy giving away toys to retarded children in Las Vegas. He then returned here to his offices at RCA to busy himself with Presley business. The Cuhnel is not handling anyone but Presley tv shows. "The spirit is still here with us," Parker told us, "and I'm just trying to go on like Elvis was here" ... As for the Presley imitators, he smiles, "None of them is playing 10,000 seat theatres. But I wish them all a lot of luck." He added, "And where were all of them who are 'paying tribute' to Elvis when he was alive to pay tribute to?"

Dec. 28, 1977

George DiVerdi recalled when Chaplin was shooting on that lot one hot August, he sent home 300 extras -- with pay, two days in a row because of the unbearable heat. On the third day of the heat spell, Chaplin called back everyone to work at night -- paying them for both day and night work ... When we spoke to Chaplin on his last film, "The Countess From Hong Kong," he said, "There's no theme to a picture. That's a lot of baloney - it's what you develop with your characters that counts. Then, if there's a good theme, it comes out. The story hopefully will show the motives for love and for sex. It shows today's mores."

Jan. 20, 1978

Despite all attempts to get Robert Blake to return to "Baretta" next season -- even in a coupla two-hour shows -- he says, " 'Baretta' will rest in peace, I'm here to tell you. If there's gonna be any 'Baretta' -- someone else will have that bird on his shoulder."

Feb. 6, 1981

Maybe an answer to some of the ill$ of the film biz could be found in Irving Lazar's talk to the L.A. Bar Association about pix, and the agents' role. "In the old days," he said, "you'd talk to men like Louis B. Mayer who once told me, 'You're not leaving this room until we make a deal.' Or you talked to Zanuck, Cohn, Warner, or Goldwyn. Now you're dealing with computers. The last thing they worry about is - the story."

Feb. 18, 1981

GOOD MORNING: Goldie Hawn, Oscar-nominated for "Private Benjamin," plans to keep the same production team on her banner's next film, "Protocol." Goldie will again be exec producer and star with her "Private" writers and producers Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer and Harvey Miller. (Howard Zieff directed.) Goldie, now off on a European, African, Aussie tour for "Benjamin," says, "Those were exciting times -- the two years I spent working on that film." You may recall that Ray Stark had taken out ads pitching Goldie for Oscar consideration on his film, "Seems Like Old Times." "I told him," Goldie frankly admitted, "if I'm going to be nominated I want to be for 'Private Benjamin,' my movie. So I asked him not to advertise any more on 'Seems Like Old Times.' " And Ray, much as he thought just as highly of Goldie in his pic, confirmed he agreed to her request. With all her professional happiness, about-to-be-divorced Goldie sadly admits, "I still have the crushed delusions in my (private) life."

Oct. 6, 1982

GOOD MORNING: "There are more black actors working in soaps today than all year in features," claimed Sammy Davis Jr. yesterday after completing a "General Hospital" seg. The first of his nine hours guesting starts airing Oct. 14. He plays the recovered alcoholic father of Todd Davis ("Bryan Phillips"). We viewed a highly emotional reconciliation scene with the two of 'em yesterday and Davis noted, "This is a 'people story.' There is nothing 'race' in it. You can't find this kind of story in movies without someone saying 'nigger.'"

Dec. 14, 1984

GOOD MORNING: "I'm glad I grew up fast enough to work for him," said Kathleen Turner between takes of director John Huston's "Prizzi's Honor." Huston, looking -- and sounding -- fine, had his regular director's chair perched just off -stage where his quiet strength is felt by everyone working on a Huston film. It's their fourth pic together for producer John Foreman and Huston, while Meta Wilde, script supervisor, goes back to "Maltese Falcon," Huston's first directorial stint ... Wearing a natty, Fila warmup suit, Huston looked ready to play tennis rather than put players through their acting paces. "This is a very different picture for me," he smiled. How different? "It's got humor -- a lot of humor." What kind? "Richard Condon's." Black humor? "More opaque," he laughed, giving comedy credit deliverance to his players, Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner.

Dec. 20, 1985

GOOD MORNING: "I've been '86'd in '85, so I'll start with 1987," Bob Evans. Last week was to have been the planned opening date of scuttled "Two Jakes." The closing line of the pic had Jack Nicholson saying to Kelly McGillis, "When will I see you again?" The answer: "When it snows in Los Angeles." In last week's unusual cold snap (before this heat wave!) and DID snow in the Valley.

Jan. 12, 1988

"If they make a movie of it, I'm too young to play me," says Kirk Douglas of his autobiog, just delivered to Simon & Schuster. Kirk and son Peter (who teamed on "Inherit the Wind") were dining at Nicky Blair's when a woman came up to their table and thought they were brothers! Kirk and older son Michael are still talking a teaming. But, as a result of Michael's $ucce$$ with his salary and percentages of "Fatal Attraction" and "Wall Street," Douglas pere laughs, "He now costs so much there's nothing left for me!"

Feb. 18, 1988

GOOD MORNING: "It's amazing the police didn't come -- I screamed so loud," exclaimed Sherry Lansing on getting word at the crack of dawn yesterday about the six nominations for "Fatal Attraction," which she and Stanley Jaffee produced. "I woke up the entire neighborhood! This is the best day of my life." Lansing had dined the night before with longtime friend Henry Kissinger (his wife, Nancy, is also a friend) at Jimmy's -- Kissinger was on the board at 20th when Lansing was production chief, you recall, and they've remained good friends. "He brought me good luck," said Lansing -- who canceled one of her own board meetings yesterday to enjoy the day with the pic's nominees.

Feb. 19, 1993

GOOD MORNING: "Larry once told me, 'You're never really a success until you're a success in America.'" Joan Plowright revealed her late husband Larry Olivier's words to me yesterday.

March 1, 1993

GOOD MORNING: "Variety is the spice of life," smiled Denzel Washington, who just wound playing "a conservative, homophobic member of the NRA" for director Jonathan Demme in "Philadelphia." Washington, who plays the attorney who represents Tom Hanks, a gay AIDS victim, had just segued from "Much Ado About Nothing," playing Don Pedro for Kenneth Branagh in Italy. "It's good to do something (like 'Much Ado') between issue-oriented movies, especially these days," said Denzel.

June 22, 1995

(Michael) Jackson again insisted his purpose was indeed to preach tolerance; again, he said, "From the bottom of my heart, I am not a racist." And once again, he enumerated for me all his friends and neighbors (by name) who are Jewish -- as well as his advisers. So I asked him, "Didn't any of them hear you record those lyrics -- or read them before you recorded them? Didn't they tell you how counter-tolerance they are? And what damage they would do when they'd become part of the vocabulary of young children who never heard them before?...And what about the promo ad so reminiscent of Nazi storm troopers?" He again said how much he loves and is loved by his Jewish friends and how some, whose names he would not give me, "heard it (the lyrics) over and over. One made me play it over and over again for him." When I gave Michael my opinion of how wrong they were, he responded with, "I

didn't realize what I was doing." As for the storm trooper-like sequences in the video, he said he wasn't there when it was filmed. And he told me he would never want to have people think they were "those" troops. Jackson said, "I cried for weeks after I visited the (Wiesenthal Center's) Museum of Tolerance," not thinking this, too, would have a destructive connotation. "I didn't realize the damage," he said even more softly. The apologia, which was to go out in the second shipment of albums, but now may not be necessary, would hardly be noted, read, or seen by anyone, mostly children, I told him. "If I could erase them I would. Haven't you ever done something that you wish you had never done? I do. So, now I'll change it," he said.

April 16, 1999

Coincidentally, a few minutes later we got a call from Christopher Reeve, who had testified Wednesday before the Congressional budget committee to pitch for more funds for the National Institute of Health for research. He said it went "very well." Reeve reminds, "If we spend the money for research it will eventually lessen the burdens of health care in the future. It's a win-win situation." (The Christopher Reeve Foundation and the American Paralysis Assn. have merged for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation). Without more funding for research, Reeve notes, "I'd be in a wheelchair another 15 years; with it (the funding's results) I could be out in three-five years."