I was recently called on my cell-phone by a random stranger who said that he had received my name and phone number from a friend (another random stranger), and he wanted to know if I would be interested in playing Betty Boop in the "Burbank Goes Hollywood Parade". At first this random phone call seemed sort of strange (was it a scam or some creepy guy?), BUT then the man mentioned that I would be PAID, so of course I said HELL YES!!!! It might be a parade, and my face might be under a giant mask, but hey - an acting job's an acting job!!!! So, I show up, change in a fire-station -(where I walk in on a firefighter showering, but that's a whole other mortifying story!) - put on a little red dress with my giant Betty Boop head in tow, and get into a shuttle to be taken to the start of the parade.
Now here's where the story turns SOOO L.A.!
I'm riding in the shuttle with a few other "characters" who are going to be in the parade: Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, and Lucy (from I LOVE LUCY). Also sitting next to me is a California Congressman being very friendly considering that he'd been stuffed into a shuttle with a bunch of weirdos. As we're riding along I begin chatting with Marilyn and Lucy. (Charlie doesn't speak of course.) It takes all of my restraint to hold in my giggles when I realize that these two ladies are ALREADY "in character" and speaking to me in the voices of Marilyn and Lucy!!! Was I supposed to be acting like Betty Boop inside of this dark shuttle? I asked the girls if they worked often as celebrity impersonators, and they both told me yes. Then I asked them if they'd ever gone out on Hollywood Blvd. and posed for pictures with the tourists for extra money. APPARENTLY this is NOT a question you want to ask a "professional" celebrity impersonator! The girls took a moment to give each other a shocked (and somewhat irritated) look before Lucy spoke. "Hollywood Blvd.? That's sort of... (eye roll) ...beneath us." Then she looked away. I don't think that the girls had much interest in talking after that.
Oops.
Well, just for the record, I am game to dress up and pose for pictures with tourists ANY TIME!!! I bet you can make a killing up there! If anyone wants to do it with me, send me a message!!!
