Call it the biography of a place, a collaborative memoir, a
history-but whatever you call it, The Persian Room Presents will
transport you to the most elegant and magical night spot New York has
ever known. In this dishy, personal, and compulsively readable book,
dozens of celebrities reminisce about their experiences performing and
partying at the Plaza and they all agree on one thing: there's never
been anyplace like it. For more than forty years, from 1934 to 1975,
the Persian Room was the place to be in New York City. An unparalleled
array of performers graced its stage. And, though more than three
decades have passed since the final ovation, there are many from both
sides of the footlights who remember its charms. Among the many stars
who spoke for the record are Andy Williams, Marge Champion, Polly
Bergen, Diahann Carroll, Connie Stevens, Lesley Gore, Patti Page,
Carol Lawrence, Jack Jones, Michele Lee, Lainie Kazan, Julie Wilson,
Tony Butala, Tony Sandler, Celeste Holm, Kaye Ballard, and Roslyn
Kind. Don Dellair regaled the author with humorous tales of both
Hildegarde and Liberace. Hilary Knight-the legendary illustrator who
brought Eloise to life-spoke wistfully of Kay Thompson and Lisa Kirk.
Just a taste of the great stories Farmer collected once she got the
celebrities talking, include:
*** Carol Lawrence relives the chills she felt when Cary Grant marched
up to the stage and gave her a kiss (during an act proclaimed by Ed
Sullivan to be ”the best nightclub extravaganza he had ever seen”).
*** Andy Williams talks about his time as a member of Kay Thompson's
quartet-before he became the suave, solo crooner we all know and love.
*** Leslie Uggams reminisces about the rollicking New Year's Eve party
she threw after her show.
*** Constance Towers reveals the time she accidentally insulted Joan
Crawford (and the revenge Joan took-in front of a paying audience).
*** Barbara Van Orden recalls how Frank Sinatra helped safeguard her
virtue with the “word.”
*** Tony Butala of the Lettermen recounts the group's groundbreaking
use of a “camera song.”
*** Diahann Carroll remembers taking one sleeping pill and a bottle of
Champagne up to her suite to mount a half-hearted suicide attempt.
