Gloria...We all know how Don Rickles tries to make his comedy work...taking pot-shots at others. Sometimes it just doesn't work! And it didn't with Susan!

During the show, Rickles says to Susan.."Susan, what really bothers me...is...WHY..did you make this film?"
She was actually on the show to promote the film and to promote an orginast that she was fond of from Florida. Ricles had been bad mouthing "Valley of the Dolls" as not being a very good film and now had hit her with this!

She glared across at him and with no hesitation at all retorted..."TO BUY GAS FOR MY BOAT!"

That shut him up really good and the audience was on Susan's side, knowing that she had just CUT DOWN THE CUTTER-OWN OF ALL TIME! (HA)

If you haven't read MY FOOLISH MOUTH..on Ginger's site you might want to check out the rest of this memorable night for me, since the 'Rickels' thing did continue backstage...in a different way!

Errol

I'm sure a comic like Don Rickles knows when he's gone too far. And Susan would have been just the kind to let him know. I had read about your meeting with her backstage. She was probably still ticked at Rickles.

I know she brought an organist there -- was his name Jack Frost or something like that? Since I've not heard of him since, I guess her appearance didn't have the hoped-for result.

Hi Gloria..Yes, his name was Jack Frost. I haven't heard of him either. I may be wrong, but I think I recall her saying on that Joey Bishop show that she took lessons from Jack Frost.

Joey Bishop, Don Rickles, and Regis all seemed to be in awe of Susan that night.. the audience too.. who wouldn't be! It was a very special evening for tv-land.. a very rare appearance.