What was it like working with the Marx brothers?
They were totally insane. When I first met them, I had my mother with me, because I was quite young when we worked on Room Service. I think I had just turned 16 or was about to turn 16. (Mother) came on the lot with me, and the first thing when I met the Marx brothers–the director was standing there and introduced me–Harpo dropped his pants and chased me around the whole soundstage with that horn. Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Well, I was petrified and I ran like a scared rabbit! Room Service was one of Lucille Ball’s first films as well. Lucille Ball, years back when I was a kid, she walked in one night with (comedian) Benny Rubin when I was working in a nightclub. I was only 13. I lied and said I was 18; I had to because they served liquor. Lucille Ball was the one that told this talent scout, “You better give that girl a test because she’s a great dancer. She’d be a great competitor to Eleanor Powell.” That’s how I got my (screen) test at RKO and got my contract. So I really owe that to L
