tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post4941759426899546147..comments2024-03-15T22:00:36.095-07:00Comments on Dr. Kathy McCoy: Living Fully in Midlife and Beyond: Remembering Cyril RitchardDr. Kathy McCoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-15016891878389000172014-12-09T06:29:28.648-07:002014-12-09T06:29:28.648-07:00cyril ritchard remembered and loved during the wee...cyril ritchard remembered and loved during the week Chris Walken plays Capt Hook on NBC Peter Pan Live...Cyril is truly missed....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010069573361492167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-4839629881460962272014-12-05T05:15:44.541-07:002014-12-05T05:15:44.541-07:00enjoyed your comments and stories about one of my ...enjoyed your comments and stories about one of my favorites. a true tribute to a unique talent, being so remembered after so many years. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-8516584041806394492014-02-12T12:25:34.679-07:002014-02-12T12:25:34.679-07:00Wasn't he the absolute best?? I just read Sond...Wasn't he the absolute best?? I just read Sondra Lee's (Tiger Lily's) memoir (I've Slept With Everyone!") and she says that he was the dearest of souls and that all the kids in the cast just adored him -- along with all of us who saw him on t.v. Isn't it amazing, some 36 years after his death, he is so warmly remembered by all of us?Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-36924189002572677982014-02-11T20:14:45.833-07:002014-02-11T20:14:45.833-07:00Wow, so many still remember Cyril Ritchard and man...Wow, so many still remember Cyril Ritchard and many of us who wrote to him at 135 Central Park West (Phone number: Murray Hill 4545). He played at Starlight open air theatre in Kansas City in "Around the World in 80 Days" and was a delight also to my two younger sisters and the rest of the neighbor kids who played at "Peter Pan". Thanks. Great memories!cieocomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966519342747141584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-47291411068321459722013-12-08T12:54:34.585-07:002013-12-08T12:54:34.585-07:00I love reading your accounts of your childhood cru...I love reading your accounts of your childhood crushes and various encounters with this lovely man! Isn't it interesting that, even as children, we knew that underneath that campy villain was a very kind man? Thanks so much for sharing your feelings and experiences!Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-15679800133895223742013-12-07T14:26:54.861-07:002013-12-07T14:26:54.861-07:00We are probably around the same age and I also had...We are probably around the same age and I also had a crush on this older, dignified and delightful gentleman from the age of about 7 or 8. When I was in high school, I discovered he lived at the Dakota--steps away from my high school. He was actually listed in the phone directory and, one afternoon, I gathered up the courage to take my coins to the local library phone booth and call him. I was not sure what in the world I wanted to say--maybe just to connect with my idol. He sounded a bit perplexed as I stammered something (I cannot recall WHAT I said) before I admiitted I liked him and thanked him for being Captain Hook. Boy oh boy, do I envy you your correspondence and visit with him!.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-83939440851818028752013-11-29T19:14:49.147-07:002013-11-29T19:14:49.147-07:00Just came across your wonderful recollection as I ...Just came across your wonderful recollection as I was looking for biographies of Cyril. I, too, had a crush on him growing up. And when I found out that I shared a birthday with him AND Mary Martin, I knew I was lucky!! Because of our shared birthdays, I've always considered myself a cross between Captain Hook and Peter Pan!! LOL!! You are SO lucky to have communicated with him and met him!! And, like your aunt, I'm happy he was NOT a disappointment to you!! What a kind, caring, thoughtful man----no wonder so many of us had crushes on him!! We were all attracted to quality!! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-76744115625613347402013-09-17T17:58:14.653-07:002013-09-17T17:58:14.653-07:00When I was a little girl performing at Muny Opera,...When I was a little girl performing at Muny Opera, I had the same great pleasure as you did of meeting him backstage. He came down the long steps in a fedora and black cape. He swept me into his arms and signed my autograph book. Many years later I worked with another actor who was a close friend of his as well. We both agreed Cyril Ritchard was a one of a kind gentleman FOREVER AND ALWAYS.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161030474995313123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-89269607570100540422013-03-06T17:32:16.727-07:002013-03-06T17:32:16.727-07:00I thought I was the only one having this wonderful...I thought I was the only one having this wonderful crush on Cyril Ritchard. I have a stack of letters from him during the course of his career starting with a Visit to a Small Planet. It was then that we corresponded each time I saw him. I went back stage several times and visited with him . He appeared at Valley Forge Musical Festival and I took my husband and childen to meet him and his wonderful poodle. His last letter was from Chicago where he died. Living close to NY, I never missed his shows. He will always be my favorite.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-34013007497132079832012-01-16T02:52:16.940-07:002012-01-16T02:52:16.940-07:00I deeply appreciated your story of your feelings a...I deeply appreciated your story of your feelings about, and friendship with, Cyril Ritchard. I also have had a crush on him nearly all my life and it is so much fun to find someone who felt the same (indeed, as you say, no teen idol could come close). My parents had a copy of his record "Odd Songs and a Poem" from 1955. I was then a small child and, though it was directed at an adult audience, it was my favorite record album and I still have it! It is marvelous, so witty. I loved his "Peter and the Wolf" recording too. His TV performances, "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Peter Pan" are two of my treasured early memories. I saw him on stage in "The Roar of the Greasepaint" when I was a teenager and found my ardor had not cooled. I am so touched that you reached out to him and even more moved by his warm response to you. Thank you so much for sharing this relationship with us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-11252667526825601582011-07-10T11:11:09.822-07:002011-07-10T11:11:09.822-07:00Thanks, Jeanie and Connie! Yes, Broadway and theat...Thanks, Jeanie and Connie! Yes, Broadway and theatre in general was a passion when I was a kid -- and, to an extent, to this day. It's amazing how much it means to a child, to anyone, when a celebrity takes time to be kind.<br />Cyril Ritchard was exceptional in that way, just an uncommonly lovely man. I've done a lot of television in the connection with my books -- most of the major daytime talk shows -- and found even at this stage what a difference it makes when a host is nice off-camera as well as on. One very famous t.v. personality whom many people consider a wonderful person is not only dismissive of, but can be actually mean off-camera to non-celebrity guests. Most are not that way, of course. They are at least professionally polite. But Cyril Ritchard was one of a kind.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-18824086245359639572011-07-10T09:43:18.079-07:002011-07-10T09:43:18.079-07:00This is my first visit to your blog. I enjoyed re...This is my first visit to your blog. I enjoyed reading this post so much. I pictured myself as a young girl writing to a famous actor and getting a response and then meeting and visiting with him...that must have been so exciting! <br />It has been YEARS since I've seen the Peter Pan movie with Mary Martin. What a treat to see the video clip! I must admit, I never knew who played Captain Hook before now. Cyril Ritchard must have been a wonderful man. Thanks for sharing this story.<br />I hope you have a good day.Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00140268328645099689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-73236693101595181472011-07-10T08:37:32.017-07:002011-07-10T08:37:32.017-07:00I still enjoy Ricky Nelson music too!I still enjoy Ricky Nelson music too!Nickhttp://getnickt.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-78509369464339217722011-07-10T05:53:53.321-07:002011-07-10T05:53:53.321-07:00Kathy, I knew I liked you when I first read a comm...Kathy, I knew I liked you when I first read a comment you wrote on another blog. But know that I know you better, I REALLY like you and so relate to this! I had a couple of similar Broadway passions as a teen and in some ways, those never change! <br /><br />But what I love most about this is how it demonstrates the kindness, generosity of spirit and lack of bluster -- I was going to say lack of ego, but you have to have ego of some sort to be in that world of both fame and potential rejection. He COULD have had a secretary reply or simply ignored you. But instead, he took time and care with those replies and in doing so showed not only a part of him that might not be clear to others but also shared something authentic with you. I liked him a lot in Peter Pan (how many of those of us "of a certain age" jumped off our beds, trying desperately to fly?) For that matter, I adored that production of Peter Pan! But didn't know other details about his career. Simply terrific!Jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17482528482559445943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-3281103950992203552011-07-09T17:14:18.078-07:002011-07-09T17:14:18.078-07:00Thanks so much for your comments, Rosaria, Linda a...Thanks so much for your comments, Rosaria, Linda and Ayak! I agree that there is so much to mine from our childhoods in understanding major influences and, yes, daydreaming is such a part of childhood -- at least it was for me! Thanks and welcome, Ayak!Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-22418591333671823032011-07-09T14:15:38.447-07:002011-07-09T14:15:38.447-07:00What a lovely post about a charming man (who I had...What a lovely post about a charming man (who I hadn't heard of either).<br /><br />This is a beautiful blog..I've just discovered it..had a quick glance but will be back to read more of your posts.Ayakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-46676987487128305542011-07-09T11:17:26.155-07:002011-07-09T11:17:26.155-07:00Cool story! How nice that Cyril Ritchard was frie...Cool story! How nice that Cyril Ritchard was friendly right back.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-24717490449637943702011-07-08T10:53:23.852-07:002011-07-08T10:53:23.852-07:00What a beautiful nostalgia piece! There are so man...What a beautiful nostalgia piece! There are so many times and influences in our childhood that are there for the picking, if only we sat down and wrote about them. Funny how, in childhood, we daydream a different life for ourselves, with all the right parents and the right surroundings.Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-34540914206004475722011-07-08T09:50:11.797-07:002011-07-08T09:50:11.797-07:00Thanks, Sally! Yes, I am very grateful to have had...Thanks, Sally! Yes, I am very grateful to have had Aunt Molly in my life -- as are my brother and sister. We called her our third and best parent. And we were blessed to have her many years longer than our parents, losing her in 2004. She was an award-winning poet, successful television writer and had a bread-and-butter job writing speeches for generals in the Strategic Air Command. She was my hero.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-19277085269739949622011-07-08T07:44:32.432-07:002011-07-08T07:44:32.432-07:00This was a beautiful tribute. I also had never he...This was a beautiful tribute. I also had never heard of Cyril Ritchard. I think I was most struck by your Aunt Molly's comment that she was happy that he did not disappoint. <br /><br />I also am so thankful you had your aunt in your life. She seems to have a played such an important role in your life.Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-60958478994739634802011-07-08T07:17:55.157-07:002011-07-08T07:17:55.157-07:00Thanks so much Broad, Perpetua and Patti! He was, ...Thanks so much Broad, Perpetua and Patti! He was, indeed, lovely and a model of civility you don't often find in celebrities these days. Just to clarify, Broad, Cyril Ritchard and Walter Pidgeon were best of friends, having appeared in a show on Broadway together in 1925 and shared an apartment during that time. I never met Walter Pidgeon, but always liked and admired his acting!Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-44920295591417586132011-07-08T04:07:37.395-07:002011-07-08T04:07:37.395-07:00What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man. I onl...What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man. I only knew him as Captain Hook. It was so wonderful was how he responded to a fan letter. You won't find that today. What your Aunt came up with was perfect. Too bad they never met. <br />He had to be a kind, caring man who graciously let you into his life. You placed your adoration well.<br />Arkansas PattiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-50648095143215062232011-07-08T00:06:49.851-07:002011-07-08T00:06:49.851-07:00Kathy, I'm afraid I had never heard of Cyril R...Kathy, I'm afraid I had never heard of Cyril Ritchard until reading this loving tribute to him, Thanks to your vivid description, I can now see why he means so much to you. What a truly lovely man.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754684819908801536.post-11325246615566593432011-07-07T23:41:54.544-07:002011-07-07T23:41:54.544-07:00What a touching tribute and what an interesting re...What a touching tribute and what an interesting relationship to have had with this talented man. And I thoroughly enjoyed the clip -- isn't it marvelous what you can find on You Tube? I'm also fascinated by your friendship with Walter Pidgeon -- one of my favourite actors!The Broadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04976467218216864644noreply@blogger.com