By Jan Wahl—
Friend and fellow film aficionado Adam Kent has been dishing with me about movies, celebs, my work over the years, and much more. Here is a continuation of our conversation.
Adam Kent: We got through the Oscars. Didn’t you tell me that you worked on the Oscars?
Jan Wahl: I worked on a couple of Oscars as a Stage Manager/Associate Director in the ‘70s. That meant I threw cues at the stars. For instance, when Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Michael Caine presented together, I signaled them when to begin and end. They didn’t want to stop, so Sean Connery gave me the finger and everyone laughed. All three stars were loaded, and that made it more fun.
Adam Kent: Did you do other award shows?
Jan Wahl: Yes, my favorite was the 1976 Grammys; Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé performed a scat-singing duet. I was standing right in front of them waiting to toss cues, and I literally forgot where I was—their singing was so amazing. But the director was yelling at me on the headset to get Paul Simon for the next performance. I couldn’t stop listening to Fitzgerald and Tormé’s swinging sounds. I got late to a pissed-off Paul Simon and was fired from all the other Grammy shows. But it was worth it!
Adam Kent: Were there exciting moments for you this year?
Jan Wahl: Jessie Buckley’s acceptance speech for Best Actress was better than the film Hamnet. The clothes this year were so boring that there must have been some note going around to dress with taste. That makes me sick. Think of Streisand’s see-through pajamas, Björk’s swan dress, and all things Mackie. Let’s bring back the outrageous!
Adam Kent: You’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry.
Jan Wahl: One change is the #MeToo movement. When I got in, men could come after all of us gals without getting in any trouble. One superstar with his own show gave out knee pads because that was the only way women could get in to see him. But, fortunately, I got into the Directors Guild of America in 1977. I was left alone after that. I felt sorry for the other women who were not protected by a union.
Adam Kent: You not only go to events, you also read about them.
Jan Wahl: One of the best books I have ever read about show business is a book that just came out, Liza Minnelli: Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! This book, as told to Michael Feinstein, takes you on the journey through Liza’s iconic family, beginnings in show business, and drugs. I just started and can barely put it down. The last third almost reads like Step Four if you know AA. She is honest, detailed, and takes responsibility for her addiction. I went to a birthday party she gave at the Tonga Room, and that’s where I saw the struggle in her eyes. The book really is gutsy and quite amazing. I’m glad she survived.
Adam Kent: Yeah, last time you were telling me about growing up with famous movie star neighbors. I wonder what the life of their kids was like.
Jan Wahl: I grew up with children of famous people, and I am constantly in awe of how they survived. One of my distinct memories is Burt Lancaster’s daughter, who had me over to her house when I was 13. We got into trouble, as little girls do, and I will never forget Mr. Lancaster yelling at us from the bottom of the staircase—just like Elmer Gantry. Another girlfriend could only see her mother when announced, to be sure her mom wasn’t being photographed.
But restaurants were the place to find big stars: Cary Grant at Lawry’s, Danny Kaye at Madame Wu’s … . Those two bisexuals should have gotten together. But one of the best restaurant memories takes me back to fashion. I sat at a restaurant next to Geraldine Jones, a sassy Southern woman also known as Flip Wilson. Her outfit was better than what I saw at this year’s Oscars!
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. Contact her at www.janwahl.com
Off the Wahl
Published on March 26, 2026
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