A Bittersweet Ovation

When I checked in to the small hotel, I was handed a note explaining that rehearsals were to begin at 10am the following day, and Pearl Bailey would be the celebrity for this month. My heart began to thump with excitement. I had admired Pearl Bailey since I was a kid. I’d watched her on the Ed Sullivan show, I’d played hooky from high school to see her at the Chicago theater, and I’d admired her in several films. Now I was going to work with her, and I couldn’t wait to see what she’d be like! The show I was joining was in Covington Kentucky at a beautiful 5 Star resort with a luxurious spa, fine dining and The Spotlight Club, a great room for celebrities to polish their acts. We were to have one week of rehearsal together and then the show would be set. The dancers would open the show, the comedian would “middle” and Miss Bailey would close.

The comic on the show was famous for doing the old vaudeville skit, “Guzzler’s Gin.” The bit is about a guy peddling gin. As he tries to convince the audience how delicious it is, he takes sip after sip, and as he continues, he gets a little tight, then tipsy, then drunk and finally blitzed. It’s really funny and was a great warm up for Pearl Bailey! She loved it! She would stand in the wings each night and laugh and giggle.

After Ms. Bailey’s act was over, the dancers were expected to “mingle” out in the bar area. The idea of that gave me the creeps! There was no way I was going to go out and mix with a bunch of old men! It was the early ‘50’s and women were not allowed in the bar wearing slacks. The “Club Boss” would call backstage every couple of nights and ask me why I wasn’t out in the bar? I would mumble “Oh, I wore slacks tonight and I can’t go out there!”

One nightI answered the phone and he growled at me.“ OK missy! You better listen hard to what I’m telling you….You WILL wear a dress tomorrow night and you WILL be in the bar after the show! Is that UNDERSTOOD?“ And he slammed down the phone. A chill ran up and down my spine. Boy, did he give me the Willies!

After a sleepless night, I decided to confide in Miss Bailey. I blurted out what he said to me and admitted to her that I was scared stiff. Her head nodded understandingly. She smiled at me and gently took my clammy hands into her cooler ones. “Honey, listen to me! They have no right to ask you to do that….. just stick to your guns and do what feels right to you. And if you’d like, we’ll drive you back to your hotel after the show.” Every night Pearl Bailey and I would sneak out the back door together. Thanks to Pearl, I dodged that bullet for the whole month I worked there!

Time passed quickly. All of a sudden It was closing night. Someone came up with the idea to put real gin in the comic’s bottle for closing night and see how he’d handle it. Closing night pranks were pretty standard then, and Miss Bailey offered to buy the bottle. As suspected, he coughed, hacked, spluttered, and spit! He finally gave up and told the audience what had happened. They loved being in on the joke and happily brought their glasses to the stage for free drinks.

Miss Bailey had invited the cast and the band to join her for dinner after the last show. She said it was a token of appreciation. The club was closed when I got to the dining room where three large tables that had been tastefully set for dinner. We all chit-chatted for a bit, then sat down andwaited for Miss Bailey to come………we waited ….. and Waited! ….And Waited!!…. AND WE WAITED!!!

Finally, she came into the dining room. I sensed a different vibe coming from her. She appeared serious and subdued. Her eyes were without their usual twinkle. Then she spoke, her voice steady. “The management has just informed me that because I am a colored woman, and in spite of my ordering and paying for this dinner, I am not allowed to sit in the dining room!!!” OMG! We were stunned!! Horrified! She continued, “I want you to stay and enjoy the dinner. Doing the show with you has been a pleasure and I hope to see you all again.” She started to go. We all stood up and protested “THIS IS WRONG! “, “How could this happen!”

“WE’LL GO TOO!”, This is outrageous.!!!!. She quickly shushed us and said “You know, this is not the first time something like this has happened to me, And perhaps it won’t be the last! Please, as a gift to me, stay and enjoy the dinner. It would be such a waste to leave all that good food!” Then she paused, took a deep breath and then unwaveringly looked at us.

“ You know, I don’t think it’s going be too long before these humiliating situations come to an end. There is a man I know who’s working every minute of every day for change and for equality. I think you’ll be hearing about him very soon. HIs name is Martin Luther King Jr…. and I think he’s going to make a real difference..!!!

She smiled at us, turned around, and left. My heart was in my throat as we rose and gave her a standing ovation.