Photos courtesy of Jan Wahl and Marc Huestis
By Jan Wahl—
I worked in TV and radio for 22 years and I had many opportunities to meet stars. The reason why I had access is that they all came through town promoting a book, a record, a TV show, or a movie, and they all wanted to be on TV! My friend and colleague Adam Kent asked me about it.
Adam Kent: Do you ever look back on experiences you had and just laugh?
Jan Wahl: One of my favorite memories concerns one of my favorite actresses, Jane Russell. The strong, sultry brunette was the most down-to-earth, tough gal I ever met. By the time we did a series of interviews, she was wearing Birkenstocks rather than high heels. Once, we were at The Castro Theatre doing one of Marc Huestis’ wonderful events, and Jane decided she was a born-again Christian. So, every time I asked a question about one of her glamorous films, she would say, “ … and then Jesus brought me to meet Marilyn, Robert Mitchum … ” or anyone else. It was hard to keep a straight face.
Adam Kent: You often make things that could be awkward look like fun.
Jan Wahl: My advice is: When you have fun, the audience has fun. For example, I worked for Rona Barrett at ABC TV before Barbara Walters kicked her out of the network. Mel Brooks was a guest, and he made us all laugh by taking the microphone and farting into it. It sounds disgusting, but when Mel Brooks does it, it’s funny! Rona was wonderful and wanted an all-women crew; she was ahead of her time.
Adam Kent: I know you are a fan of musicals.
Jan Wahl: I was lucky enough that my father played Big Band drums, so music was alive in our family. I dated two musical stars: Donald O’Connor and Gene Nelson, both amazing dancers. Both were older than me, but old dancers keep themselves in great shape. Marc Huestis did an event at The Castro Theatre with Ann Miller, a wild Texan. I would highly recommend the movie Kiss Me Kate to get a look at this amazing performer. Unlike the crabby Kathryn Grayson, Ann was upbeat and very funny.
Of course, the LGBTQ community comes through with fascinating folks. Jodie Foster was so smart I kept thinking she should leave show business and teach as a professor at Yale. The divine Bob Mackie gave great details on his fashions. For more on this remarkable artist, watch the 2024 documentary Naked Illusion.
Adam Kent: Let’s go behind the scenes for LGBTQ producers and directors.
Jan Wahl: Yes, I met Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. They made amazing films, including The White Countess, A Room With a View, and Maurice. Ismail made me curry. While he was making Rich and Famous, I met George Cukor
There’s a documentary named Hollywood’s Hidden Master: The Truth About George Cukor. And the complicated James Whale, who made The Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. A partially fictionalized look at Whale’s life is 1998’s Gods and Monsters, starring Ian McKellen.
Bisexual Cary Grant allowed me two interviews when he came to town at the end of his life. At his one-man show, women screamed out, “I am young and healthy and I would like to have your baby!” Grant always replied, “I’ll ask my wife!”
Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community. Learn more at www.janwahl.com
Off the Wahl
Published on March 13, 2026
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