One of my jobs in respect to my father's memorial has been collecting videos and footage from his years in television. All of his proudest moments on the Today Show (Vietnam anti-war protesters, Chicago Convention of 1968, Duke Ellington live etc). were either lost or destroyed by the time he went looking for footage in the 1980's. His 16mm film of Washington Square Park in the late 60's for the Today Show was chopped up by another producer who needed some of it for something else. That's how it was in those days.
What we do have to work with is The Dick Cavett Show with Sly and the Family Stone, Woodstock Musicians and the famous episode in which Norman Mailer spars verbally with Gore Vidal and Janet Flanner. We also have a Sesame Street bit called "Morty Moot Mope" which is a true rap tune done in the early 1970's for Roosevelt Franklin Elementary School (you can't find this on Sesame St. Old School DVD). We have Robert talking about Barbara Walters for her A and E special. We have Mousterpiece Theater, the show he created for Disney in the 1980's. We have Balanchine from Live from Lincoln Center. We have a photo montage of Robert from childhood on. We have musical selections ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Berlioz to John Coltrane.
People will be speaking at the memorial about my father, including old and dear friends who happen to be "famous". One of the things that has struck me as we all remember my father is how much he connected with people and how they basked in his jovial company. I really enjoy the company of his friends, too. I would love to continue his yearly Oscar Party...if I could get all of his people to travel deep into Brooklyn, I'd have it at my house.
One last note: remember to care for and visit with your elders...they need the company and you'll get there someday, too.
Jill
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