I mentioned in another post that I worked at a place called Capezio, (where a flock of birds had diarrhea on me).   It was on the corner of Vine and Yucca, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, and a lot of celebrities came in there. Just so you know, it’s not there anymore. In fact, the shelf life of anywhere in LA is short, especially clubs. Remember the movie “Night at the Roxbury”? I worked at the Roxbury for about two weeks and then it was gone.

While I was working at Capezio, I had the exciting pleasure of meeting Fayard Nicholas of the famous “Nicholas Brothers”. Of course, by that point, he was practically senile and probably didn’t even know his own name, but to meet him was still exciting.  By the way, if you’re not a tap dancer, but I’m assuming most of you are, the Nicholas Brothers were some of the pioneers of tap dancing. They were absolutely amazing. They were main attractions at the famous “Cotton Club” and because of that, they ended up in Hollywood movies.

  AMAZING! You have to watch this video!

While writing this, I just saw a promo for the upcoming show “Smash” and Anjelica Houston is in it. She also came into Capezio one time. She was very cool, quiet and kept her exceptionally dark sunglasses on the whole time, but it suited her. I think a lot of celebrities who act celebrit-y are annoying, but she was just cool.

Where's my jazz shoe?

Anyway, this one time, Katie Holmes comes strolling in, and this was before she was Tom Cruise’s beard, I mean “wife.” Katie was in the market for some jazz shoes. Why? I don’t know. I was fetching shoes for her and if I remember correctly, she has pretty big feet. She’s tall, about 5’9, very thin, very pretty… and I’m not saying she’s dumb, but she did leave the store without one of her shoes. I mean, how do you come in to a store with the intention of buying a pair of shoes, and only leave with one of them? After she tried the shoes on, I went over to the cash register to ring her up and it wasn’t until she left that I realized she had left one of the jazz shoes behind. She had the box, but only one shoe. Who does that?

Katie Holmes Cruise, that’s who.

She never came back to get the other one either. Do you think Suri seems happy? I’m concerned for her .

help!

Renee Zelwegger came in once too, and this was while she was dating Jim Carrey. How do I know this? Because I read the rag mags in line at the grocery store like the rest of you. She bought Jim Carrey a pair of Jazz shoes too (and I’m sure he was grateful for that Renee). She was really nice though, even though she looks like she’s eating a lemon and looking at the sun at the same time.

Halle Berry came in while she was filming the Dorothy Dandridge movie, and she is as beautiful in person as she is in movies (in case you didn’t know, Dorothy Dandridge was married to Harold Nicholas.) Beautiful skin, really sweet, and possibly unstable. At least that was the vibe I got. We sold dance videos at the store, including ballet, salsa, jazz, tap, etc. She spotted a video called “I Love To Tap” by Bonnie Franklin. If you’re not a child of the 70’s, Bonnie Franklin played the mom on “One Day at a Time.” Who knew she was also a tap dancer? They should have worked that into the show. Single mother by day, burlesque tap dancer by night. Anyway, when Halle saw Bonnie Franklin’s video, she said, “Oh, I love Bonnie Franklin. I loved One Day at a Time.” I said, “Oh really?” because I liked it too way back when. Then she said (in a whispery, nostalgic, weird, dreamy voice) “That was my reality. A single mom, without a father, raising two daughters and trying to make it on her own.”

Whoa! Okay, settle down Halle, this isn’t a therapy session.

I found it so odd that she would just tell a stranger at the cash register some personal info like that, but hey, that’s me. I keep my weird shit to myself…unless of course, I’m on stage or writing a blog. But aside from seeming on the verge of a nervous breakdown, she was really sweet. Remember when she lost it when she won the Oscar? I love award season.  Well, I couldn’t find that clip but this is when she won for Dorothy Dandridge. Beautiful and ummm….stable? You decide. (fast forward to about the 1:04 mark)

Have a maniacal Monday!