Between the sportscasting and the concerts, I have crossed paths with some interesting people.

I had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, and the next day, lunch with the late, absolutely great Carol Channing. More about that in a future IMHO ramble.

I was with the Indiana Pacers NBA team, set to play the Knicks in New York, and who was standing at the counter of the little gift shop at the old Sheraton Hotel a block from Carnegie Hall but comedian Henny Youngman.  Of course, knowing Henny as the “King of the one-liners,” that conversation was brief.

There was one of those “brushes with fame” that I shall never forget.  And it was during my stint with the Pacers.  And it involved a woman who played a major role in Mel Brooks’ original film version of The Producers, Lee Meredith.

My first year with the Pacers, the 1984-85 season, the team had been awarded the NBA All-Star game.  Fans were given the opportunity to vote for their favorite players as All Stars, and the fan balloting was sponsored by Lite Beer from Miller.  In those days, Lite Beer was highlighted in TV ads featuring many different celebrities, including the mystery writer Mickey Spillane.

The Spillane character in the commercials was portrayed as part author, part ‘B’ movie detective, part gangster.  And of course, he needed a sidekick.  In this case, a blonde bombshell portrayed perfectly by Ms. Meredith.  This would never fly in today’s PC world, but they were funny and very effective commercials, and she absolutely played her part to the hilt.

I am a HUGE fan of Mel Brooks films, and of course, The Producers became a smash on Broadway some 20 years after his Academy Award winning film.  Lee Meredith portrayed the character “Ulla,” who was fresh off the boat from Sweden, only to become the receptionist for the sleazy Broadway producer Max Bialystock (played magnificently by Zero Mostel).

When introduced in the film, Mostel asked Ulla to answer the phone, and in half-Swedish and half-broken-English, she would answer with something that sounded like, “Good-auhf-oo-day.”

She was perfect in the role, and her gorgeous blonde hair, beautiful face, and stunning figure made Lee Meredith the perfect partner for Mickey Spillane in those beer commercials.  Imagine my surprise when I found out that Lite Beer and the NBA were sending the stars of the commercials to individual teams to push the NBA all-star voting, and LEE MEREDITH WAS COMING TO INDIANAPOLIS!!  And I landed the opportunity to interview her as part of our telecast of a game.

She arrived in Indy; got the limousine treatment and a trip to our offices; and as she made the rounds, she arrived at my office.  Team VP Ray Compton introduced her to me as one of our announcers who would handle the half-time interview later that night.

With a big smile, she said “Hi Ken, so nice to meet you.”  And I said, as best I could in terms of an impression from the film, “Good-auff-oo-day.”  That generated a good laugh, and later, I found out what great actors/actresses can do.

We pre-recorded the interview, and so about 6 p.m. that night she stepped out onto the basketball court at old Market Square Arena, sporting the Lite Beer costume seemingly painted on to her incredible figure, and we were chit-chatting and getting set to cover the salient points in the interview.  I got the cue from my director in my ear-piece; did my usual “Three-Two-One” countdown to cue the start of the interview; and in a matter of about two seconds, she shifted from Lee Meredith to the blonde bombshell.  An immediate transition from the lovely lady to the great character she portrayed in the commercial.  And if you look closely enough, you will note I was a LOT thinner, and I was also laughing hysterically at whatever she happened to say at the time.

I am forever grateful to the Pacers’ staff photographer for snapping that picture as it is one I have held on to all these years.  As of this writing, Ms. Meredith is semi-retired and living near New York City.  And will always be one of my favorite actresses due to that outrageous film, that interview with her in character, and thus, an interesting brush with fame.  She was fantastic!