tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post1132042251381526223..comments2024-03-28T02:36:30.029-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: On puttin' on the Ritz...Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90639397892462595772013-07-11T05:40:10.873-04:002013-07-11T05:40:10.873-04:00I see I'm a little late here.
Jan, if that co...I see I'm a little late here.<br /><br />Jan, if that condo was at 34 Commonwealth Ave, that's where I lived when working in nearby theaters. I used go in the Ritz Carlton all the time, mostly for coffee... somebody had a samovar? Can't remember. I don't know why they gave me coffee, either. I happily took it though. I just remember I went there when the capitol coffee shop seemed too far to walk to. That was my favorite coffee. Don't tell.<br /><br />I remember when Howard Hughes was there. Not that I ever saw him...<br /><br />All these memories. Fun interview, Ken & Reds. So sorry I am late, late, late.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81366832969960000432010-03-18T16:05:07.182-04:002010-03-18T16:05:07.182-04:00Clea: The Ritz kitchen could be a pretty stressfu...Clea: The Ritz kitchen could be a pretty stressful place and I saw some nasty confrontations there, but nothing that probably doesn't happen every day at McDonald's. And I have no stories about guests behaving badly.<br /><br />Hank: People in my job weren't supposed to interface with guests (you'll notice I mentioned I was breaking the rules) so I got no special training and I'm pretty sure there were no entry level waiters at the Ritz, so I don't think training was considered a high priority, as opposed to learning how it was done at the Ritz. I do remember that a room service waiter once tried to open a bottle of champagne with a corkscrew, leading to a very unfortunate outcome, but I'm guessing that any experienced waiter would have been expected to know better than to do that.<br />Can't remember any "alias" stories, either.<br />I was 17-18 years old, coming from a household where nobody drank, so I doubt I knew anything about martinis back then (except James Bond drank vodka ones, shaken not stirred). I do remember that a dining room guest once ordered a Scotch and ginger ale and the bartender refused to make it. Instead, he filled an old-fashioned glass with ice, opened a split of Canada Dry, filled a jigger with Scotch, and told the waiter, "You mix it or let her do<br />it. I just know I'm not doing it."Ken Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412386093052082063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61637683825096633452010-03-18T11:56:17.153-04:002010-03-18T11:56:17.153-04:00Love your stories, Ken--particularly about Howard ...Love your stories, Ken--particularly about Howard Hughes buying you dinner. What an adventure!<br /><br />Robert Preston was so cool. Our local community theater just put on Lion in Winter, but it's such a great play that I couldn't imagine them doing it justice. I bet Preston was terrific.Laura Benedicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08474185786017084327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88078174129971701672010-03-18T08:03:52.318-04:002010-03-18T08:03:52.318-04:00I stayed at the Ritz once, in 1972--with my grandm...I stayed at the Ritz once, in 1972--with my grandmother. And yes, we ordered dinner from room service.<br /><br />She used to tell the tale of spending the night there in the 1920s, possibly the first year it opened, on the way from New Jersey to the summer house on the Cape.Sheila Connollyhttp://www.sheilaconnolly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79609469838581155422010-03-17T16:25:58.787-04:002010-03-17T16:25:58.787-04:00Hi Ken and JR, I lived in Connecticut in the late ...Hi Ken and JR, I lived in Connecticut in the late sixties. A friend of mine was dating a young man from Needham then, and his father owned a beauty salon right near the Ritz. It had private booths so you could have your hair colored and no could see you. I can't remember the name of the place now, but I do remember being very impressed. Looking back now, it would have been a great place for a murder. Hmmm...Ruth McCartyhttp://www.ruthmmccarty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52585251421466963082010-03-17T14:11:38.478-04:002010-03-17T14:11:38.478-04:00Ken, I had NO idea. How absolutely fascinating! A...Ken, I had NO idea. How absolutely fascinating! Amazing. You are a man of many talents and many hidden depths. <br /><br />Did the Ritz do a lot of employee training?<br /><br />And did famous people sneak in with assumed names?<br /><br />What's the secret of the Ritz Martini?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19236161700637012542010-03-17T13:54:35.717-04:002010-03-17T13:54:35.717-04:00wonderful interview--thanks Ken and Hallie for put...wonderful interview--thanks Ken and Hallie for putting us in the Ritz for a day!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7758383550183895532010-03-17T13:36:35.459-04:002010-03-17T13:36:35.459-04:00Hi Ken,
What great memories. Sadly, I've never...Hi Ken,<br />What great memories. Sadly, I've never been to the Ritz, but before we settled on our suburban home, my husband and I almost bought a condo on Commonweath Ave that would have given us concierge privileges there. I remember the condo price just seemed a little steep. I think it was under $200,000 (small and partly basement) -- HAH!!, we are still kicking ourselves.....<br /><br />~janJan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2353132884430790392010-03-17T11:45:13.643-04:002010-03-17T11:45:13.643-04:00What fun! Thanks for sharing your memories, Ken. I...What fun! Thanks for sharing your memories, Ken. I've always heard that Benny Goodman had a HORRIBLE temper - though perhaps he had reason. Can you tell us, did you witness any of the famous tantrums?Clea Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10810838253598050028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84140848306558138282010-03-17T10:44:55.400-04:002010-03-17T10:44:55.400-04:00A really fun interview, Edna Ferber and Howard Hug...A really fun interview, Edna Ferber and Howard Hughes! I enjoyed this.roseduncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146205623848645811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79454359354981124742010-03-17T10:20:18.189-04:002010-03-17T10:20:18.189-04:00OH, the Ritz Martinis! Jonathan and I would sit i...OH, the Ritz Martinis! Jonathan and I would sit in the bar, at a table by the window? If I remember correctly? And have those gorgeous martinis. (In the days when I could stilll drink a whole one, sigh.)<br /><br />It was so--welcoming. And the people were so--honestly charming, it seemed. And the beautiful bathrooms! (Why is it such a pleasure to go into a glowing, shiny, glam bathroom, filled with beautfil soap and fluffy towels and lotion and everyting? Sigh, It just is.)Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.com