Bea Arthur Memorial!

[ratherbwatchinGG]

I posted this on another board so I will just copy and paste it here:
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I just got home from the Bea Arthur memorial at the majestic and it was everything I'd hoped it would be. It's for the most part a sweet blur but I'll try to sum it up.

Angela opened it and when she came out she looked terrific. She was dressed similarly in the style she was at the Tony's.

The following people spoke: Not necessarily in this order:
Adrienne Barbeau
Rue McClanahan
Zoe Caldwell - a friend of hers from when they lived in NY State
Billy Goldenberg
Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller - Anne wrote a play that Bea appeared in.
Sheldon Harnick - composer (Fiddler on the Roof)
Rosie O'Donnell
Charlie Hauck - producer/writer
Chita Rivera - she was with Bea in the Shoestring Revue
Norman Lear
Daryl Roth - she produced Bea's One Woman show
Clinton Leupp - aka Miss Coco Peru who retold the Ladle story that Bea has told.
Robert Spina - he worked on the Golden Girls
Carl Siciliano - from the Ali Forney Center
Bea's sister was there as were her two sons Daniel and Matthew (of course)

Angela sang Man In the Moon
The showed countless clips of Bea's work along with photos many we've seen and some we had not seen before I'm sure. They of course showed Angela and Bea doing Bosom Buddies at the Tony's and clips from her One Woman show. Billy Stritch played Bea's favorite song: Chance to Sing. (I think that's the title). But I'll verify it later. Dom DeLuise's widow read a letter from Larry Gelbhart who was slated to attend but died just recently. Oh gosh there are so many things that I know I am leaving something out. But i'll come back as I recall.

I got there at 8:30 in the morning to secure a spot since it was first come first served and I was able to sit in rear orchestra as I was one of the first 15 people to get there. I quickly became pals witht he folks on line with me and they included a Catholic nun who was a hoot! It made the time go by so much easier. We were let in shortly after 12:30.

I did take pics but they really didn't come out well.

[MikeLutton]

i notice betty white was not listed in the list that is shocking she didnt attend her ol co star n friend funera.wonder what her reason was

[ratherbwatchinGG]

They were co-stars but as far as being friends I don't think their relationship went that far.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by ratherbwatchinGG

They were co-stars but as far as being friends I don't think their relationship went that far.

I think we need to face the reality that Bea Arthur and Betty White were not close, best friends. I, myself choose to believe it wasn't a strong anomosity, but they just weren't tight. I look at it this way, the people that did get to speak and memorialize Bea, like Angela Lansbury, Adrianne Barbeau, Norman Lear and Rue, well, all their words must be genuine, as they are the people Bea must of had been closest to, or had some sort of special relationship with.