Several of you have seen celebrities in person. Several years ago, Ann Peterson thought she saw Whoopi Goldberg on Big Basin Way. Goldberg noted the perplexed look on Ann's face, and said, "It's me."
A Saratogan was once married to Charlton Heston. Jeanne Holst played his wife in the play Trelawney of the Wells. It was in l939 at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill. Holst was also Heston's classmate while they attended Northwestern University.
It was in Style magazine a couple of months ago that Pierce Brosnan's "brand new girl friend, Kelley Shaye Smith" was announced. I reported that news a year ago June. Smith's sister, Aubrey Smith, formerly worked at Preston Wynne's day spa.
Ruth Fox, Carolyn Lettween and Sylvia Katzman were among those who dined at Katzman's home with Dr. Ruth Westheimer when she lectured here recently. They were impressed with the keen interest she showed in others she met for the first time.
Karen Tucker spotted Kevin Costner in an Iowa restaurant. He posed for a picture with her, and she was so excited that she called friends long distance to share the news.
Bill Peck played leads with Annette Bening in three VITA summer plays. He found her to be professional, intelligent and witty.
Bill's father, Willys, recalls playing a duck in Alice in Wonderland. Olivia de Havilland played Alice in l933. Several Saratogans are still friends with former Saratogans de Havilland and her sister Joan Fontaine. Joan was a longtime classmate of Louise Cooper.
The famous sisters have rooms named after them at the Inn at Saratoga. Jack Hinkling, the Inn's general manager, reports that other famous guests who have stayed at the Inn include George Shearing, Yehudi Menuhin,Tom Foley, Steve Allen, Kenny Loggins, Wayne Newton, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Margaret O'Brien, Tony Bennett and Herb Caen.
The latter once stayed at the same time as Menuhin. They knew one another but were both very busy at the time so Caen, who was staying in the Fontaine suite, interviewed Menuhin over the phone while he was staying in the de Havilland suite.
Hinkling says Shearing was the most approachable guest. Newton was the most secretive and kept a low profile.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, Wednesday, January 17, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.