Take a Bow, Rose Marie

Rose Marie died this week.

She had an amazing life, but it still makes me sad to see that generation of performers slowly fade away.

Rose Marie Mazzetta was born in New York City in 1923. She began her show business career at the age of three, singing on the radio. She worked in vaudeville, on Broadway, in Las Vegas, in the movies and on television.

Rose Marie's most famous role was on The Dick Van Dyke Show, as Sally Rogers, a wisecracking writer for a TV variety show. Teaming up with Morey Amsterdam, who played Buddy Sorrell on the series, she was one of the first women on a television sitcom whose career was the focus of her life. Ironically, Mary Tyler Moore played the housewife/mom on the show, and would later be lauded as a pioneer for career women for her role on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Recently, Rose Marie came forward with her own #MeToo story. During the making of the film "Top Banana," she was propositioned by one of the producers. She responded, loudly, in front of the crew, "You couldn't get it up if the flag went by." Her musical numbers were subsequently cut from the film, and she had a difficult time for awhile getting roles.

Rose Marie was married once, to Bobby Guy, who was a trumpet player in Kay Kyser's band. He was only 48 when he died of a blood infection in 1964. She was devastated. They had been married for 18 years and had one daughter, Georgiana.

She called Al Capone "Uncle Al." Rose Marie's father worked as an arsonist for the gangster, burning down the warehouse of anyone who crossed Capone -- a fact she wasn't privy to until years later, when she worked in Las Vegas with Bugsy Siegel. 

The signature bow she always wore in her hair was donated to the Smithsonian in 2006. When asked what its significance was, all Rose Marie would say was that it was very personal, and she didn't want to share.

 Rose Marie wrote a memoir in 2003, called "Hold the Roses." And there's a 2017 documentary called "Wait for Your Laugh."  I'm looking forward to reading/watching them both.

Some of the most fascinating people are on the periphery of major stardom.

I think Rose Marie qualifies. What a run, indeed.