My friend Wendie had her West Coast birthday celebration a few days ago. Her actual birthday is today. She’s long gone.
Wendie and I met in ’84. She was my friend and my boss. Her husband, Andy, was also a broadcaster.
Wendie’s best friend Jodi was there. Jodi was a producer of that era at Channel 8. She’s now a big deal at a large PR firm.
Helaine and I drove up from Orange County to Wendie and Andy’s hotel.
Hidden in an expensive residential neighborhood, it was a swank place in the fifties, sixties and seventies. Stars would hang out at their bungalow by the pool. It had a name that was dropped.
The place has been preserved perfectly. The hotel still maintains a level of service and elegance befitting its reputation. They truly no longer make them like this. A quiet gem.
We had some champagne in the room, then headed to the restaurant. Very nice. And, it was great to celebrate Wendie’s birthday.
When you’re with friends there’s never a shortage of things to talk about.
Was that Jodi Latina? I have an old list of email addresses at WTNH and her name was on it. I wondered what happened to her?
Nope.
Also trying to remember them Geoff. Back
when you were there you were the reason
we watched that channel-left when you did
and followed you. Can you refresh our memories
as to who they were?
Wendie! I won’t use the last name because you didn’t either. I was Larry’s secretary back then (’85-’87) and knew pretty much every area of the station between scheduling satellite feeds, checking on tapes with Lenny or chatting with friends in the newsroom.
I will always remember her for coming to my mother’s wake with Larry while I worked there.
Geoff,
Might that have been the setting for the movie “High Society”. The shot you have of the pool makes it look familiar, like I had seen it in a film.
That’s not the old Beverly Hills Hotel–is it??