Happy Birthday Bette Midler !
MargOH Channing
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It was 1978 when I got a call from my old drinking buddy Mark Rydell to meet him at the Whiskey A Go Go. I had a small part in one of Mark’s films Cinderella Liberty back in 1972. He said he needed my assistance on a new film so I ran down there.
When I arrived Mark informed me he was directing a new film called “The Rose” but was having a bit of trouble with its star Bette Midler. He told me Bette was great but she wasn’t a drinker and a couple of her scenes weren’t hitting the mark. He offered me a large sum of money to coach Bette on how to be a raging out of control drunk… I of course accepted and told him get her down here right now. Let’s get started I slammed on the bar demanding a bottle of Jack.
By the time Bette arrived I was completely annihilated. She walked over and exclaimed “Now I got it, the mascara running down her face, very realistic” crossing her arms and shaking her head. I quickly ordered Bette bourbon but she wanted a “Chi Chi”. I explained she wasn’t going to be drinking any girly drinks with me. I put the bourbon in front of her. She knocked it back like a trooper and then another and another….nothing. I said “Are you sure you’re not a drinker?” It took her six shots to start to stagger a bit.
I then asked Bette what her motivation was. She said “Barry Manilow! He’s all pissed off at me for leaving him. I think about pounding in his face”, she added.
I told her she needed to dig a bit deeper than Mandy and suggested she use her being a ginger.
She looked shocked and said “What the fuck are you talking about?” Downing another shot falling back a bit. I then called her a “Curley haired carrot top wreck”. She flipped and tackled me onto a table and then onto the floor. A crowd gathered as we had a booze fueled cat fight. I tore her blouse and she scratched my face. We then had a long passionate sexy lipstick smearing kiss. I popped her in the nose and she fell to the side. I got up and tossed a drink in her face to rouse her. I grabbed her and dragged her to the bathroom. I pulled her face up by her ginger locks to the mirror and said “Look at you”.
Bette looked and wiped a tear from her eye and blood from her nose and simply said “I’m the rose”.
The rest is history…
Happy Birthday Bette
MargOH Channing
Latest posts by MargOH Channing (see all)
- A Conversation with Singer Jason Morris - January 1, 1970
- In RuPaul we trust … MargOH! Channing’s picks her Drag Race Dream Cast - January 1, 1970
- Happy Birthday Liza May Minnelli - January 1, 1970
- A Book for Karen - January 1, 1970
- A Tribute to Whitney Houston by Margoh Channing - January 1, 1970
