Columnist Joe Delaney: Meredith gave us Mostel on stage

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 9:14 a.m.

BURGESS MEREDITH was in his 89th year when he took his final bow last week. ... We saw his performance on the stage in Maxwell Anderson's "Winterset" and later in the 1936 film which made Meredith a star. ... Most people today remember him as the Penguin in the TV "Batman and Robin" series or as Rocky's trainer in the Stallone films or, recently, as Jack Lemmon's dad in the "Grumpy Old Men" films.

Our personal memory was an early evening in the late 1950s. ... The Delaney apartment was on the rooftop of the Belnord, 86th and Broadway in Manhattan. ... There was a rap on the door. ... It was Meredith who asked if he might use the table and chairs on our part of the roof for a chat with Zero Mostel who lived two floors below.

Burgess added that Mostel insisted I not be present as he was certain I would support Meredith in his efforts to get Zero to return to the stage in "Ulysses In Nighttown."

What happened

My function was to put in a supply of Piels Beer, at least four six-packs. ... Bob & Ray did voice-overs as Bert and Harry Piel for the brewery's cartoon commercials. ... It was Mostel's favorite beer. ... I did as bid and an hour later, the two actors were ensconced in the Delaney rooftop terrace area. ... The first six-pack was on the table.

As they finished each six-pack, Mostel would take his cane, rap on the kitchen window and bellow for another. ... Meredith prevailed after some six hours and three of the four six-packs.

Were it not for Meredith, the world might not have had "Ulysses In Nighttown," based on the James Joyce book; Zero becoming a rhinoceros in the Ionesco play; "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" or the definitive Tevye in "Fiddler On The Roof." ... Nor would we have had "The Front" or Mel Brooks' "The Producers."

Pre-'Fiddler'

Actor Howard DaSilva was narrating "Tales of Sholom Aleichem" in a tiny theater in the Barbizon Plaza Hotel on Central Park South in NYC, circa 1948. ... He was so impressive that I was able to talk Jack Kapp, my mentor and founder of Decca, now MCA Records, to come back with me the next night. ... He was even more enthusiastic.

The next afternoon, DaSilva was recording his performance in Decca's 50 W. 57th Street studios. ... Kapp's comment: "Someday, someone will take these Sholom Aleichem stories about Tevye, add music, and have a big success on Broadway and all over."

Jack concluded, "Tevye is Everyman. If they do it right, it could surpass even 'Oklahoma'." ... "Fiddler On The Roof" did surpass "Oklahoma" and was a world-wide success. ... Unfortunately, Zero Mostel never got to perform the part of Tevye on film but that's a story for next Thursday.

Jazz update

Marv Koral's All-Stars will be featured on the Fifth Annual Summerlin Celebration of the Arts at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in addition, the All-Stars will do their regular Sunday session, 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Manhattan Restaurant. ... They are also playing Wednesdays, 7-11 p.m. at Rob Roy's. ... Trombonist Carl Fontana is back. ... See you next Thursday.