Rich & Famous Tours

---Celeste Holm passes away at 95 years young--- I met Celeste Holm a few years back because we were both members of the American Theatre Wing (the people that give out the TONY awards). The Wing was run by the (now late) Isabelle Stevenson, a lovely woman who had one foot in the world of the theatre and the other in the world of "high society." Isabelle herself passed away in 2003 at age 90. Celeste had appeared on Broadway many times (as well as classic movies) so of course she was a member of the wing. Celeste lived in a huge, classic old New York apartment at 88 Central Park West (where the Robert DeNiro's currently live but don't want anybody to know about it). The Theatre Wing would have cocktail parties every year leading up to Tony Award time in June so that everyone could meet the nominees and potential winners. I had heard that Celeste was beginning to be "confused" a bit and perhaps had the beginngs of Alzheimers or Senior Dementia. I experienced this first hand at a ATW pre-Tony cocktail bash in Times Square. I was chatting with the lovely Miss Holm, when suddenly her face changed and those gorgeous, big expressive eyes which looked so wonderful in her many movies, looked at me with a touch of panic and confusion and she said "Jim, where are we again?" I said "Celeste we are at a Tony award hosted by Isabelle and the American Theatre Wing." She seemed OK for a minute and then said "Why are we here??" Isabelle was near my elbow and I touched her and said "Isabelle, dear-- Celeste wants to know why we are here...." She looked a bit concerned and then said: "I'll take care of it..." and she drifted over to chat with Celeste and give her some undivided attention. After that, the stories about Celeste going in and out of reality were scattered around New York and then she married a man YOUNGER than her own two sons, which became the subject of talk, especially when her sons hired lawyers and obtained the rights to her money and estate, fearing her young husband might have other ideas. Celeste Holm died this week....1917-2012. We all remember her from her Oscar-winning role in Gentleman's Agreement and of course ALL ABOUT EVE with Bette Davis. She was also the original girl who "cain't say no"...Ado Annie on Broadway in OKLAHOMA in 1943. She will be missed. Jim Dykes is an actor and a private guide in New York City. He gives tours of history, architecture, tidbits etc. for private groups and individuals.