I loved Shari Lewis. In my childhood and adolescence I was very into puppetry, making my own puppets and writing little puppet plays. I thought Shari Lewis was just wonderful. She was an extremely talented puppeteer, great ventriloquist, and a sensational singer and dancer. And I thought she was beautifuI. I think she was probably my first celebrity “crush.”

Sometime in the early sixties, Shari Lewis was the guest host on the Mike Douglas Show, which (at that time) taped in Cleveland. Through the generosity of my cousin, Laury Goldstein, who worked in advertising, I got a pass to be in the audience for a taping of the show. I was very excited. My plan was clear. I would skip school, bundle some of my own puppet creations in a bag, and, if the opportunity arose, meet Miss Lewis and show her my stuff. I suppose my fantasy was that she would be so impressed that she would want me to be her apprentice and I would leave my miserable life in Cleveland behind. 

When I was seated at the studio, a member of the production crew addressed the audience, telling everyone that Ms. Lewis had laryngitis. While she was present for the taping, she wasn’t able to do any performing. To boot, she was sequestered during breaks in the taping. Such was my luck.

I did finally, albeit briefly, meet her thirty some years later after waiting in line at a book signing with my daughter.

I still love Shari Lewis.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at themythfits@gmail.com.