Tuesday, February 02, 1999
Clark stresses Bandstand staff
BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Rumbles, mumbles and chatter on the weekend party circuit ...
HUFF 'N PUFF: Wellsir, 69-year-old Dick Clark may be American's most beloved teen-ager, but we hear he didn't make many friends Thursday at the American Bandstand Bar and Grill.
The wait staff, for example: “Omigod, he had us nervous wrecks. Made us crazy. He wasn't rude, but he was so abrupt. And please don't use my name. I want to keep my job.”
There was a professional photographer there too.Paula Norton was hired by Clark's Burbank, Calif., office to shoot the visit.
“He was really rough on her. Gave her trouble about the time she was supposed to be there, wouldn't let her take any pictures with anybody his age and insisted on posed shots only. She wanted candids and he said no.”
Clark did pose with anyone who asked, but only for snaps. No professional shots.
Such as with Tricia Macke and a bunch of her Channel 19 colleagues, there to do a morning news segment. They got a group shot with Clark, but on a throw-away camera.
Norton has no comment, other than, “it was a very stressful job.”
Clark, meanwhile, says “Yes, there was a misunderstanding about the time. But it was only an hour. And I never allow candids. They always get you with your eyes closed or mouth open.
“I've be at this long enough to know how to pose and make it look candid.”
One bright spot, our waiter says: “I don't know why, but when he comes in, people tip big. He gets them happy, so we make a fistful of dollars.”
UNBLESSED: Main Street regulars are talking about barrels of beer with no place to go.
That's the problem facing this year's Bockfest organizers. Specifically, they need a place for the blessing of the beer.
For Bockfest's first seven years, the blessing was in Old St. Mary's Church. But the new pastor, Fr. Al Lauer, says not this year, and not because of the beer. It's because “blessings should not be part of a commercial promotion.” Keep blessings away from money making operations, Father Lauer says.
“I think it's odd,” says Bob Schneider, incoming OTR Chamber president, “because St. Mary's heritage is German, bock is German and, and monks made it.”
Still, no go. Bock organizers are now rerouting the annual parade and will line up a priest to do the blessing at the Emery Theatre.
LAUGH IT UP: Here's what they were talking about at the comedy club: A new one, and soon.
Yep, says Diana Gilbert, owner of Cutters All American Bar and Grill, 1005 Walnut St. downtown.
“We've been here since Thanksgiving and looking for something” more to do with the place. Gilbert says. “This place has one large, unused performance area. I thought would be perfect for a comedy club, since there isn't one downtown.”
Soooooo, Gilbert enlisted two of Cincinnati's best known comics. Steve Caminiti, still on the road performing at comedy clubs, jumped in. So did Michael Flannery, who used to be on the road but now is a TV personality.
They helped with details, gave tips on booking, room design, comedians who would fly here and more.
All of which worked. Caminiti is booked as headliner for the Feb. 13 opening; Flannery is booked later, and Gilbert is negotiating with several other name comics.
Great. We need a few laughs (outside City Hall) downtown.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
KNIPPENBERG ARCHIVE