Suitcased Memorabilia: Bette Davis

In 1973, myself — a pimply, long haired adolescent with my buxom girlfriend named Mary McGlade went off to see ‘Bette Davis in Person and on Film’ (live) at the Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne.

I will never ever forget asking her (over a microphone) during the show: “Did you get you first name from Balzac’s book ‘Cousin Bette’?” She replied waving her cigaretted hand: “Of course, darling — where else? Next question!..”

I was dumbfounded as the next fan pushed past me with a next question and autograph book in hand. My, was she memorable.