Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Thursday, February 9, 1961, page 41 (of 80)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
WITH NICHOLS AND MAY of polite society
BY CHRISTINA PAPPAS arranged to audition for agent Jack Rollins at the Russian Tea Room. He was so impressed he booked them into the Village Vanguard. From there they moved to the Blue Angel, and the rest is history, with chapters on night clubs, hit records, Town Hall, TV, and the theatre. NOW, WE THOUGHT, the day we sat down with them for a quiet chat, we will find out a lot more... but they were having none of it. This is how it went: We: Do you own a car? Elaine: Several. I have a maroon Rolls Royce with puce upholstery. I use it for marketing. I have a Porsche for pleasure. I like my chauffeurs in white uniforms with a maroon accent to lend them a touch of color. Occasionally, I like a custard uniform with warm green accents as a contrast. Mike: I used to drive but no longer own a car. We: Do you own a fur coat? Elaine: I have seven fur coats—an ocelot, two beavers, two chinchillas... We: Two chinchillas? Elaine: Yes. It was raining one day, and I wanted to have something to throw over my mink. I have only one mink. I feel that mink is gauche. And, oh yes, I have one coat made entirely of unborn hamster pelts. Mike: Yesterday I tore the lining in the knee of my pants. We: What is your apartment like? Elaine: My home is done in lipstick red, everything is lipstick red, including the furniture, the walls, the linens, and towels. Mike: My apartment is white, beige, and wood. We: Elaine, we read somewhere that you have an organ in your home. Do you play? Elaine: Actually, I don't, but my maid is a brilliant organist. She originally planned a career on the concert stage, but the training was too costly, so she quit Juilliard and went to work. She plays Bach and some of Handel. We do not allow her to play until the house is clean. We: Do you have any hobbies? Elaine: I like to fish. Mike: I do not believe in planning ahead. We: Mike, do you still have that St. Bernard we've heard so much about? Mike: No, Maggie is now living quietly in the suburbs, in New Jersey, with two or three children and other large dogs. We: Is there any truth to the story that you write in your spare time, Elaine? We hear that you want to be a writer. Elaine: Yes, I have written Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, The Assistant, and The Red and the Black. We: Did it take you a long time to write The Red and the Black? Elaine: No, I wrote it quickly, and then I left it pretty much alone for six or eight months. It needed no revisions. We: Do you have a clothing philosophy? Elaine: I do not believe in sport clothes. I dress very formally. I have clothes made for every conceivable occasion by Enrico Caruso. When my maid plays the organ, I like to wear a simple at-home outfit in lipstick red. We: Are you planning any new skits about the suburbs? Elaine: There is nothing new to say about the suburbs. To do scenes on the suburbs is like doing scenes on Madison Avenue. They have been mauled and worked over enough already. We: Do people recognize you on the street now? Elaine: No. Mike: No. We: Do you get much fan mail? Elaine: Mostly about Michael. Mike: Elaine does not use a typewriter. She is one of the last believers in the personal note. We: Thank you very much Elaine. Elaine: Hasn't this been a wonderful, productive interview? We (dizzy): Thank you very much, Mike. Mike: Isn't the truth dull?
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