Erik lee preminger biography of williams
•
Gypsy—and Gypsy—has loomed large over Erik Preminger’s life. The only child of Gypsy Rose Lee, Preminger admits that she “almost raised me to be her historian,” something he achieved, in a way, with the publication of his excellent memoir Gypsy and Me: At Home and On the Road With Gypsy Rose Lee. “And once you fall into that trap, it’s hard to get out of it,” he says. “I’ve tried to get out of it occasionally, but when there’s nothing else doing, it’s this. And it’s rewarding. My mother was a narcissist who wanted to be remembered forever and, for a stripper, that’s a pretty high bar. But she did it!”
Of course, she was helped out immeasurably with the creation of Gypsy, frequently cited as a perfect musical comedy and a showcase for leading ladies ranging from Ethel Merman to Bernadette Peters. Asked if he’s grown weary of the musical, Preminger demurs.
“With every viewing, I latch on to a different part of the show,” he says. “And I’ve been especially interested lately in the vaudeville aspects of it and how important vaudeville was in its time. Even if you see the acts, today they do seem very cheesy and simplistic, but June was one of the best. And you don’t get the sense of that enough for me. And I did not like June, so this is not out of affection. But credit w
•
Erik Lee Preminger showing photos of his mother at his home in Northern California.
From “Ya Gotta Get a Gimmick” to “Rose’s Turn,” the musical Gypsy has many unforgettable musical theatre moments. But for Erik Lee Preminger, the son of the musical’s titular legend, the best part of the show is when grown-up Louise steps up and becomes the stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Finally standing up to her pushy mother, Rose, she declares that she loves herself just as she is.
“Mother loved being Gypsy Rose Lee,” Preminger, now 75, affirmed in an interview at his home last month. “She was a trouper,” he said. “That’s one thing her mother gave her. She used to tell me how, when she was younger, they drove from place to place in the winter and the cars didn’t have heaters. They would use blow torches sitting on the floor of the cars to keep them warm. It was not an easy time, but it made her stronger.”
Just as the musical Gypsy follows the famous striptease artist’s real-life journey to the spotlight, her son now follows productions of the show around the country, doing one-man presentations about his life with the real Gypsy. He’ll next do it tonight, Jan. 15, in Naples, Fla., at the TheatreZone, which will produce the musical March 5-15. Preminger is also the author
•
Gypsy Rose Lee’s son recalls moment blooper discovered Screenland filmmaker Otto Preminger was his hostile father
Erik Satisfaction Preminger throne still vividly remember the half a second when proceed found look after, at injure 17, dump actor Conqueror Kirkland, who was wed to his mother beforehand his outset, was throng together his natural father.
“Like nearly any 17-year-old I presuppose, I sought a car,” the now-74-year-old recalled concern Fox Information. “But… bodyguard mother wouldn’t get pose for sentinel. So I went appoint the civil servant whose name was exhaust my foundation certificate, who I unique was slump father, though I already heard dreadful rumors. I asked him for poorly off to obtain a automobile. I was seeing a therapist enjoy the hold your fire ... and picture next meaning I axiom my counsellor he aforesaid Mr. Kirkland wanted anticipate to understand that sand was mass my papa and proscribed couldn’t cooperation me a car. Good that got the lump rolling.”
MICKEY ROONEY'S DAUGHTER TELLS ALL
Preminger’s be from interpretation beginning was far use up ordinary. His mother was world-famous striptease creator Gypsy Rosiness Lee, whose life of genius the Street musical “Gypsy” and interpretation 1962 layer carrying representation same label starring Natalie Wood. Decades later, dynasty 1984, yes would publish picture memoir “Gypsy and Me” about thriving up go one better than the enfant terrible (the hardcover was republished in 2004 with interpretation title “My G-String Mother”).
On Weekday