The year was 1963. I was 19 and working as a receptionist in the main lobby at CBS Television City in L.A. My job included buzzing in and out the executives and the producers and directors of some of the most iconic shows of that era. My desk turned out to be the hot spot for young, beautiful, wannabe starlets hoping to be discovered. Almost every day one of them would show up, portfolio in hand, to pass the time chatting with me while posing when she heard the buzz!
The date was November 22. A gorgeous and very sweet starlet and I were chatting when we heard breaking news blasting from the television near the back of the lobby. We both literally ran to the tv, hoping we’d somehow misunderstood Walter Cronkite. There on the lobby sofa the still undiscovered Raquel Welch and I sat holding hands and sobbing for what seemed like 2 hours as we watched the assassination of JFK unfold.
I never saw her in person again. It was not long after that fateful day when she was discovered and the “let” was dropped from starlet. I was so excited for her. RIL Raquel.
