My Bea Arthur Encounter

Bea Arthur, the actress who portrayed Maude in the 70s, died in April of last year.  I always liked this brash, bold comedienne.  Here is a recounting of meeting her.

25 years ago, when I still lived in L.A., I had a solo gig at a trendy restaurant in the Palisades.  One night Bea Arthur came in with her husband and some friends. On the way out she was smashed, and as she passed the piano she commanded, in her best Maude voice, “Play Lady is a Tramp!” I obeyed and she proceeded, in the middle of this staid, understated restaurant, to belt out “Tramp.”  Her husband was doing his best to get her to leave. “Cmon honey, let’s go…” And she shouted back to him, “Don’t worry, honey, I’ll fuck ya later!”

 Shortly after Bea’s passing I read an article about the seminal two-part episode of Maude where she has an abortion. I actually remember watching this as a kid.  I’m not sure how it registered for me back then, but can you imagine there being a sitcom today dealing with this issue?  Furthermore, this episode aired a few months before Roe v Wade was enacted!