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Parks loves his home, where all
is serene. He loves his work, where things
often go wrong. He's sensitive— and
fnn-loving; a dynamo-and a gentleman. AH in all,
Two highly compatible couples: Bert and his wife, Annette; bandleader (and biographer) Bobby, wife Helen.
a wonderful guy!
By BOBBY SHERWOOD
I've spent twenty-five years in show business, but in my work time isn't measured by the calendar. One week with a temperamental prima donna is the equivalent of a hundred years on a torture rack. Like most occupations, show business is as good or bad as the people you work with. Because I'm Bert Parks' orchestra leader, because I do skits with him, sing duets with him, people ask: "What's Bert really like? What's he like when you're rehearsing and after the show? Is he a good guy?"
Bert's a wonderful guy, and it takes some words to describe him. He's intelligent and sensitive, with many sides to his personality. He can clown with the best, or be as serious as an epic tome. He can rollick with his children but, when the occasion demands, take a stern stand. He overlooks someone else missing a cue, yet suffers miserably when he himself flubs a line. He shies away from night clubs and the glamour circuit — yet, get him to your home to celebrate an anniversary or wedding, and he's the life of the party. Bert is a complex individual and you don't get to know him in a day.
A little over a year ago, my manager
phoned to ask, "Do you know Bert
Parks?"
"Know of him but never met him."
"Bobby, how'd you like to work on
his new daytime show on television?"
He told nu I'd bring In ., band, be expected to get in the >C( occasionally with a sons' or inshii mental solo. I told him th.it it rounded fine but, actually, yon never know how a show will work out. I've been railed in the business by vaudovillian parent who set up my stage debut when I five, [*ve seen enough of atari to know they vary as much as tin weather be
tween New York and Miami Nome rant and rave and run their shows with foghorns and a big itlck, Other* are diplomatic, still other! lall "i the earth, friendly types. Everyone'i different and every tin ilk into a show, a little apprehensive, that Brit day.
It was Betty Ann Grove who laid >i on the line first. "Berfl a wonderful
guy. I like and respect him." I s.
found this opinion was shared by everyone on the show.
I was impressed Immediately by the 'way rehearsals were handled and by the way Bert handled himself. Bert was" attentive, brisk and businesslike. I learned something else about him that same day.
Bert and Betty Ann were rehearsing a bit with the quartet. Suddenly, Bert raised his hands. "Hold everything," he called. The music (Continued on page 84)
The Bert Parks Show is seen M-W-F, 3:30 P.M. EST; Break the Bank, Sua, 9:30 I'M GSTj hoih CBS-TV. Stop the Music is seen Thurs., 8 P.M. EST, AltC TV-heord Sun., 8 P.M. EST, ABC
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