Rest in Peace Beatrice Arthur -- and Bernice Frankel Too
For better or worse, I spend most of my life around celebrities, and at this point in the game I rarely feel that intense combination of shock and awe when I have to introduce myself to somebody who I've known from the other side of the screen all my life. It's happened every time I met a President -- even the first Bush -- and strangely even when I was seated next to Spiro Agnew at a Frank Sinatra show in the early Nineties.
A few years ago, I felt that same strong feeling when I introduced myself to Beatrice Arthur at a TV show I was working on - I think it may have been the TV Land Awards. To some the thrill would be meeting Dorthy Zbornak from Golden Girls, but for me Beatrice Arthur was Maude, the strong centerpiece of one of the first adult shows I was allowed to watch with my parents. The show was a very bold comedy for its time that introduced me to lots of the issues of the day, at least the ones I wasn't learning about on All In The Family, Norman Lear's earlier masterpiece from which Maude was successfully spun off. Arthur and Bill Macy were just fantastic together, and the presence of Adrienne Barbeau as Maude's daughter helped make a man of me well in advance of my eventual bar mitzvah.
Years later, I would get to see Beatrice Arthur -- born Bernice Frankel -- up close in her natural environment, starring onstage in Woody Allen's play The Floating Lightbulb. Even before Maude made her a major star and an Emmy-winner, Beatrice Arthur was already a star of stage, appearing in the Off-Broadway premiere of Fiddler on the Roof, and winning a 1966 Tony for her performance as Vera Charles in Mame.
All I remember of our brief backstage conversation is this: I told her that she was fantastic, and she said with that famous deep voice, "Thank you, David."
Thank you, Bernice.
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I was fortunate enough as a teenager in the mid-1960s, to get to see Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur in "Mame". They were great. When they sang the hillarious vaudeville-style duet "Bosom Buddies", they literally stopped the show. (Talk about mugging and comic timing!!!) I had never seen an audience go wild like that, and it made a huge impression on me. Of course at that time, only theater enthusiasts had any idea who either of them were--but when each of them later got their own successful TV shows (Murder, She Wrote and Maude/Golden Girls), I always felt like I was watching old friends.
A buddy and I went to see Bea in her one-woman show just a few years ago. She was going on 80 at the time, but she was still the same old Bea. She sat and talked about her career, told stories, and periodically got up and sang. She had the audience alternately in tears from laughing, then in tears from crying. She was a consummate performer, and her delivery was so spontaneous, it never once occurred to you it was all scripted. Once again, I felt like I was visiting with an old friend.
So it was very sad for me to hear the news. I've been one of Bea's "Bosom Buddies" for over 40 years (even though she didn't know it). Rest well, old friend.
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Hearing all these memories, it makes me think it's a shame that so many older artists seem to go off the media radar from a certain age until they pass away and people remember how significant they are in our hearts and minds. Even as a fan, I had no idea she was doing a one woman show, and I'm sorry I missed the chance. Unlike with sports, in the arts, old timer's day performances can be even more impressive.
Bea actually did several versions of her one-woman show, both touring the country and on Broadway, between like 2000 and 2006. Sorry you missed it. The version that was on Broadway was up for a Tony Award, but she lost it to Elaine Stritch's one woman show, called "Elaine Stritch at Liberty".
Coincidentally, I believe that Elaine Stritch was originally envisioned for the role of Dorothy on Golden Girls, but she improvised too much with the script during pilot rehearsals, opening the way for Bea to ultimately land the part. Funny how things work out.
I remember being strangely drawn to Bea Arthur in "Maude" as a kid, and watched it often with my parents. I was very young and much of the show's humor went over my head, but I loved it anyway.
Later, when I was in college, I caught the show in reruns, and of course the humor was a lot more meaningful to me and I've been a huge Bea Arthur fan ever since. The woman was brilliant: I can't think of another actor--with the possible exception of her original TV nemesis, Carroll O'Connor--who could bring down the house without saying a single word: that look said it all.
Rest in peace, dear Bea. We will miss you terribly.
i agree with you certainly!. i cried when i heard the news about her death.but she brought alot of joys for everything that she accomplished as an actress.R.I.P bea!
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Indeed charlot, Norman Lear really cast some remarkable actors -- including some who might have a hard time getting cast in prime time today. And think about how many people were watching "All In The Family" and "Maude."
Loved that Maude....R.I.P. lady............You and Lucille Ball and party like rock stars now:-)
Maude yelled @ her husband after his company award banquet: "You introduced ME as 'the little woman?" Hilariously delivered at a time when women were supposed to be svelt, smiling and silent.
Maude and Archie arguing is a scene that every political science major should be required to see in college.
It so applies to today too by changing some of the main names of the argument. Archies view today would be Nixon would equal Bush and Roosevelt would equal Obama. Eleanor Roosevelt and the "colored's that magically appeared" according to Archie would be replaced with Michelle Obama and the "gays magically appearing".
Check out the scene - it is classic and hysterical TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qPM0rxpV-4&feature=related
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Great stuff -- thanks for sharing
i've been very quiet and contemplative today because of bea's passing. i can't say i've ever experienced this before from the death of a famous personality.
How sad to see my childhood, teen, and young adult celebrities pass away. Now I am feeling old, and I'm not 50 yet. I guess I really am seeing the effect of being a Baby Boomer.
Rest in peace Maude!
I was surprised by my own sadness at Bea's passing....I guess it's because she was in my living room so much during adolescence and beyond... Wasn't one of her classic lines "God will get you for that"...or something similar... I'd LOVE to see her wit going head to head with St. Peter or whomever met her at whatever Gate she passed through....I put my $$ on Bea!...right on Maude!
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Good point Halsey -- as a forty something, she was a taller mother figure to me too.
Maude was great. Nice to see your memory of her here.
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Thank you Grulg!
What a wonderful tribute, simple and elegant just like the lady. The ensemble on Maude was perfection, and the bawdiness was just plain funny when delivered in Bea's deadpan style. Down the road, Golden Girls was an immediate favorite of mine, and a pattern to be followed as I entered my golden years. Every episode makes me laugh even harder now that I understand the dilemmas of the over-55s. The deep-throated delivery of those snappy comebacks rings in my mind: "No, Rose, I'm upset that Michael Jackson wasn't allowed to buy the Elephant Man." Bea, we are now upset that you've personally delivered your last snappy comeback. God speed on this new adventure. There will certainly be laughter on the other side. By the way, say "hello" to Estelle for us! We love you all!
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Thanks so much MissingAmerica
I jotted something down because I thought perhaps her passing might not get much notice coming during the weekend, but it seems as if she touched a lot of people with her talen, and I'm glad to have been one of them.
As usual, David-very well done. Thanks! Growing up a second generation Appalachian transplant, sneaking and watching Maude really showed me a different kind of woman that I could aspire to be.
Strong, independent, yet loving. The acting communities will miss her dearly, as do her fans.
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Thank you takingbkourcountry.
It took such a wonderfully strong actress to play such a strong women and have such impact.
"Lady Godiva was a freedom rider....Joan of Arc with the lord to guide her...Then there's Maude." There was only one Bea Arthur. Peace and light always
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Nice lyrical call back
Yes, Peace Bea with her!
This is certainly sad news :( she lived a long life and had a great career :)
I wish they would show Maude in re-runs. I remember watching that show as a very young girl and thinking that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Bea was a great lady, may she rest in peace.
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How cool that someone named isleptwithjoeyramone loves Bea Arthur too.
Actually come to think of it I think she grew up near "Rockaway Beach."
Ya just know somewhere on cable/air they are going to put the reruns of Maude on.
It'd be a kick to see em again.
I hope they do! I think season 1 is available on DVD, I hope Sony decides to release the rest soon. I watched some clips on you tube yesterday, and the humor on Maude still stands up well. Bea was great!
FYI, the first season of "Maude" has recently become available on DVD. It holds up really well and, of course, Bea Arthur is the force of nature that all of us remember so vividly. R.I.P, dear lady.
I don't remember Maude too much although I liked it. It would be great if they reran it. I've watched a lot of the Golden Girls and Miss Arthur is funny, sometimes just the look on her face as she reacts to someone without saying anything. She was the best. Sorry to hear that she's gone.
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