“There was no question of payment. Marlene would be paying
my fares and hotels, and I would be together with my husband,” Gene later
recalled. “With the enthusiasm of ignorance, I convinced myself that after
years as a dresser helping little girls in and out of ballet costumes, I could
cope with an international star.” Marlene had dismissed the Polish dresser that
had been supplied – “I don’t want a strange dresser round me, they stare so” – and proceeded to show
Gene what would be expected of her.
In 1985, she shared memories of life on the road:
·
New York, 1967: ... at
rehearsals she was very demanding and kept everyone on their toes. A violinist
was ticked off for wearing short socks ... ‘ they come to see my
legs, not yours.’
·
San Francisco, 1968:
She liked her dressing room to be functional and sparsely furnished, but in
San Francisco, it had been furnished and bedecked with beautiful antiques and
rich brocades. She took one look and said to me: ‘Let’s move in next door, honey, who
needs all this!’
·
Paris, 1973: Marlene
excelled herself before one of the most exquisitely-dressed and sophisticated
audiences we had ever seen. Among the celebrities ... who came backstage after
the performance, was a very well-known female singer who, overcome and in tears
at Marlene’s performance, embraced her. Marlene seemed equally moved. A moment
later she turned to me and whispered, ‘Who
was that, honey?’
