Fulltilt
12-13-2008, 02:24 PM
Van Johnson, a popular movie actor in the 40s and 50s passed away recently at the age of 92.
I met Van Johnson once in the 1980s.
He seemed like a very nice guy.
He was staying at the hotel were I worked as a bellman.
One day when I was standing at the bellstand he came striding through the lobby. He looked over at me with a big grin on his face and said, "I was a bellman once".
I replied, "Then there is still hope for me".
He spun around, purposefully approached me and looking me straight in the eye, with an extremely serious look on his face said, "Son you don't want to go into show business", he turned and walked out.
Two minutes later I looked up to see him once again, standing in front of me. With a smile on his face he said in reply to my questioning look, "Son if going into show business is what you really want, then you go for it", he once again turned and strode out of the building.
I was impressed by the fact that he would take the time to really think about a remark made in passing and the influence it might have had, even though I wasn't really talking about show business with my reply.
Rest in peace Mr Johnson.
I met Van Johnson once in the 1980s.
He seemed like a very nice guy.
He was staying at the hotel were I worked as a bellman.
One day when I was standing at the bellstand he came striding through the lobby. He looked over at me with a big grin on his face and said, "I was a bellman once".
I replied, "Then there is still hope for me".
He spun around, purposefully approached me and looking me straight in the eye, with an extremely serious look on his face said, "Son you don't want to go into show business", he turned and walked out.
Two minutes later I looked up to see him once again, standing in front of me. With a smile on his face he said in reply to my questioning look, "Son if going into show business is what you really want, then you go for it", he once again turned and strode out of the building.
I was impressed by the fact that he would take the time to really think about a remark made in passing and the influence it might have had, even though I wasn't really talking about show business with my reply.
Rest in peace Mr Johnson.