Hollywood at Four
~ a memory of Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys ~
I
was four years old and visiting Hollywood for the first time, reality and
dreams blending in my young imagination until I could no longer distinguish one
from the other. To this day I am sure I saw an angel sing while playing an
electric organ in a restaurant. She wore a white organdy gown that billowed
about her like a fluffy cloud, and she sat on a revolving pedestal high above
the mortals below. She sang with a voice high and clear, playing melodies from
an electric organ of glistening white, perhaps bedecked with jewels. Her hair
was white too, as white as her gown, with light shining through it so that it
looked like starlight in cotton candy. I remember this in great detail as if it
happened yesterday.
When
we first arrived at the restaurant, my mother led me past the musical angel to
a plush velvet booth set with sparkling crystal and large quantities of
silverware. The white linen napkins were folded in a way that made me wonder if
they were party hats.
Our
family group of seven wound its way into the wrap-around booth, wearing our
best dress-up clothes to celebrate a special family occasion --- the operatic
debut of my 23-year-old aunt Czerna Faubion at the famous Hollywood Bowl.
Shortly before arriving at the restaurant of angels, I had seen my Aunt Czerna
standing inside a giant seashell singing to thousands of people. But for now, I
remained mesmerized by the singing white angel, my eyes wide and mouth wider
still. I was wondering: could I climb up on her pedestal and sit with her as
she played and sang her music to the people eating their dinners and drinking
their cocktails with clinking ice cubes? Would she like to see me wear the
napkin party hat?
My
thoughts were interrupted by something happening near the restaurant entrance,
a buzz of excitement spreading through the air. I stood on my feet to see what
the commotion was about, and to my great surprise, I could see Roy and Dale.
And I mean, "THE" Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, my heroes! It seemed
right that they would be here before me in this magical Hollywood restaurant,
except that one thing was totally out of place. I had never seen Dale and Roy
without Trigger before. Where was Trigger, Roy's horse and constant companion?
Because this was Hollywood and magic was all around me, nothing could surprise
my four-year-old self for long. And now Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were here to
make my dreams come true, with or without Trigger.
Roy and Dale slid into the booth next to ours, laughing and talking with
their friends. And, as children will, I popped right up on my feet and stared
over the back of the bench, eyes and nose just peeking over the edge where I
could get a good look at Roy and Dale. I had something on my mind I wanted to
ask Roy.
When
I spoke up, I felt brave and yet comfortable with my familiar heroes inches
away.
"Hi,
Roy. Where's Trigger?"
Roy
turned and looked over his shoulder towards me, and answered kindly, eyes
twinkling, "Oh, Trigger's outside, Honey. They don't let horses inside
restaurants, though he's a bit better behaved than most people I know."
I
agreed. Trigger was a very well behaved horse.
"Hey,
Roy," I said. "Here's some sugar for Trigger. Can you give it to him
later?"
I
handed Roy six sugar cubes from a little glass dish on the table, their white
crystals glowing against his brown gentle hands. He accepted them with a grin,
saying, "Thanks, Honey, I'll give them to him after his supper." Then
we smiled at each other. And I smiled some more as Dale flashed a big smile
directly at me, and then Roy smiled at her and she smiled at him. We were a
very happy bunch by now. Then he added, "Bye now, Honey. Thanks for the
treat!"
With a
little tug from my mom, I turned back to our table, plopped down on the bench,
and contentedly pictured Trigger nibbling on his special treat from me.
I felt good. My aunt had sung inside a seashell, there was an angel singing above me in plain sight, and Roy Rogers was going to give Trigger six sugar cubes as a gift from me. I liked Hollywood just fine.
And later, when I asked the angel to sing my favorite song, she did.

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