GEORGE BURNS
Actor - Comedian
January 20, 1896 - March 9, 1996
He was only 89 years old when he signed The Tablecloth in his dressing room of the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, June 15, 1985.
From the Green Room of the Fox, I watched George Burns walk down the hall to the old caged elevator, get on and disappear upward to his dressing room. Piano player Bill Hulub was supposed to have been there to help me but was not. Just as I had been asked to leave the theatre I heard "Hey Luck, you lookin for Bill?" came the voice of Bob Ceccaarini, orchestra conductor/trumpet player.
"Bill's running late tonight. All you need is for George to sign your Tablecloth, right?" he asked. "Let me have that, got a pen?" Up the steps Bob went with the cloth and returned within about five minutes with a very nice signature of George Burns.
"Wow Bob, thanks." The signature looked really great. Just that quick George Burn's signature was on The Tablecloth. No waiting, no begging, fanfares, bells and whistles but sadly, no pictures. I got Goose Bumps all over again just looking at that signature.
Nine years later I was fortunate to make an appointment to meet with Mr. Burns in his office in Hollywood, May 18, 1994. This was accomplished through correspondence with his personal secretary, Jack Langdon.
"Yes, George is in his office," came the answer from the man in the hall of the office building as he pointed his head upward sniffing deeply. "Two doors down on the left," he pointed. I knew the man was referring to the cigar smoke of George Burn's ever present cigar.
Langdon ushered me to Mr. Burns seated in a director's chair puffing on that cigar. His right hand was heavily bandaged as we gently shook hands. "How does the other guy look?" I opened with. Brought a couple of chuckles from the office staff which included Hal Goldman, George's comedy writer. George gave a big smile when seeing his embroidered signature. "Oh, there I am, that looks good. Did Charlie McCarthy sign this?" he quipped.
George asked all kinds of questions about the cloth, the signatures, my mom, the pictures and the book I was writing about it. Langdon handed my camera to a man seated at his desk nearby. "OK, get down here," George demanded. "You're lookin at me and I'm lookin at you." flash went my camera 6 or 7 times. George Burns was very sharp that day with quips, quotes, one liners and showed a total awareness. He was 98 years old at this meeting and in the picture you see here. In just two years he would make it to 100 and be with his beloved Gracie.
Legend, Oh yes indeed, I think so.