And much more about Didi Conn, his erstwhile colleague.
It all started when our friend Pat Lyons, eulogizer of record, posted the announcement of George Carlin's untimely death to our college radio Yahoo group. (Is there ever such a thing as a "timely" death? I wonder.)
In Pat's words, "George Carlin has died at age 71" are the seven words he wished you couldn't say on the radio. Pat correctly identified Carlin as the greatest stand-up of the last 50 years, bar none, and the wry wellspring to whom everybody from Jon Stewart to Jerry Seinfeld to Robin Williams to Whoopi Goldberg to Penn Jillette owes a deep debt.
That caused Donna Rubenstone to recall George Carlin's role as the narrator of and "Mr. Conductor" character on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the early nineties, as the show was her daughter's favorite during that time of toddlerhood.
Which sparked the following reminiscence on my part.
My son Justin goes to camp and is friendly with Charlotte Maltby, one of Richard Maltby's daughters. (For the rest of the universe that is just slightly less theater-geeky than my family, Richard is a Tony Award-winning writer/director/lyricist and occasional collaborator with David Shire, ex-husband of actress Talia Shire, and current spouse, since 1982, of actress Didi Conn.)
It all started when our friend Pat Lyons, eulogizer of record, posted the announcement of George Carlin's untimely death to our college radio Yahoo group. (Is there ever such a thing as a "timely" death? I wonder.)
In Pat's words, "George Carlin has died at age 71" are the seven words he wished you couldn't say on the radio. Pat correctly identified Carlin as the greatest stand-up of the last 50 years, bar none, and the wry wellspring to whom everybody from Jon Stewart to Jerry Seinfeld to Robin Williams to Whoopi Goldberg to Penn Jillette owes a deep debt.
That caused Donna Rubenstone to recall George Carlin's role as the narrator of and "Mr. Conductor" character on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the early nineties, as the show was her daughter's favorite during that time of toddlerhood.
Which sparked the following reminiscence on my part.
My son Justin goes to camp and is friendly with Charlotte Maltby, one of Richard Maltby's daughters. (For the rest of the universe that is just slightly less theater-geeky than my family, Richard is a Tony Award-winning writer/director/lyricist and occasional collaborator with David Shire, ex-husband of actress Talia Shire, and current spouse, since 1982, of actress Didi Conn.)
A couple of summers ago, Justin was invited to Charlotte's bat mitzvah, the service portion of which was taking place at the Maltbys' synagogue on Saturday morning, with the party to follow much later that evening at a posh restaurant/club downtown. Being of the belief that the service IS the bat mitzvah, there was no way we'd consider having Justin eschew the synagogue in favor of simply attending the party that night, so it fell to me to drive him in.
The plan was for us to attend the service (with me sitting FAR AWAY from him and his friends, of course), enjoy the kiddush luncheon that would follow, and return home until he needed to be delivered to Meatpacking District that evening.
All went swimmingly. The service was lovely, Charlotte did a wonderful job leading prayers and reading her Torah and Haftorah portions, and it was very enjoyable seeing the friends and family get called up for honors. Among them were David Shire and Didi Conn, longtime bffs of the Maltby family.
So it wasn't surprising when I looked a couple of tables over at the kiddush to see Ms. Conn sitting with their young son. I looked over at MY son, and all I could think of was -- Stacy Jones, Manager of Shining Time Station. Because Thomas the Tank Engine was also Justin's favorite toddler TV fare, and I don't think he would have made it out of those years without it. (I know I wouldn't have!) I can't tell you how many 5 AM videos I popped in to keep him quiet and happy while I took my pillow and blanket to the den floor trying to catch just a few more minutes of sleep.
So it wasn't surprising when I looked a couple of tables over at the kiddush to see Ms. Conn sitting with their young son. I looked over at MY son, and all I could think of was -- Stacy Jones, Manager of Shining Time Station. Because Thomas the Tank Engine was also Justin's favorite toddler TV fare, and I don't think he would have made it out of those years without it. (I know I wouldn't have!) I can't tell you how many 5 AM videos I popped in to keep him quiet and happy while I took my pillow and blanket to the den floor trying to catch just a few more minutes of sleep.
I KNEW I had to say something. Before I could think, before I could let my easily-mortified teenager talk me out of it, I walked over and said something along the lines of "My son and I wouldn't be here today without you." (Hyperbole much?) I quickly explained my lasting gratitude toward Thomas the Tank Engine and thanked her for being such a wonderful and cheerful presence as Stacy. I told her that as a mom, I just wanted her to know what an important role she played in the happiness and well being in my family.
And, well, I don't think I could have said anything better or more meaningful to her. A HUGE smile broke out on her face and she asked me to point out the charming creature who thought waking up while it was still dark out was perfectly acceptable behavior (and now, ironically, rarely sees anti-meridian hours at all).
We chatted amicably for a couple of minutes and I left her to her son and her lunch.
And I swear it was only on the car ride home that I remembered she was Frenchy in both Grease movies, starred in You Light Up My Life, and spent several seasons on Benson. Sheesh.
For me, she was and always will be Stacy Jones. And I was -- and always will be -- eternally grateful.
RIP George Carlin, Mr. Conductor and so brilliant and groundbreaking a comic mind.
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