Kyle Branche Posted a Blog Post

Kyle Branche posted a blog post

The Eastwood Moment

I’ve been bartending at the famous Gardenia Room in Hollywood for close to 22 years now, in various time capacities; full-time, part-time, on-call, etc., During this time I’ve also worked in a number and variety of other bars, clubs and venues throughout L.A., to the point where I can barely remember them all anymore. One week the Gardenia had a four-night performance booking of Cabaret shows of Cynthia Sykes. She is the wife of producer Bud Yorkin, who’s credits include the TV show “All in the Family” and the cult sci-fi movie thriller “Blade Runner”.The shows were basically packed every night with a who’s who of Old Hollywood, and as a note, to this day the club has avoided the radar of the paparazzi, who would have had a field day with these shows as well as many others. The room is styled after a classic Cabaret venue, which is small, holding about 70 people. I work alone behind the bar, taking care of everyone, many a time at warp speed. There’s dinner and a two-drink minimum, and the show starts at 9:00 pm. I met Bud earlier in the day, during lights and sound check, before the doors opened at 7:00 pm, when I was there to set up and prep the bar.He handed me a selection of red wine bottles that he brought in from his cellar at home, mentioning to me to be ready during the night for when he needs one uncorked and breathing in advance, as a special guest and friend of his was too arrive at some point in time during the night. He then told me who it was. About a half hour before show time, Clint Eastwood walks in the door of the club, alone, very casual and relaxed, and easy going, as is his nature. The bar is about six feet from the door, so I pretty much notice everyone coming in, even when I’m buried with drinks.Many celebrities young and old frequent the club on a regular basis, to the point where it’s not a big deal anymore, or at least no longer intimidating. The actress Ann Rutherford (Gone With The Wind) still comes in to see shows today, and she’s 90 years old. She started acting in film at the age of 15. Barbara Bain from Mission Impossible comes into the club as well. But when you know a little in advance that a legend and true Hollywood icon like Clint Eastwood is about to come through that door, it hits you for a moment to the point where you wish you could put seatbelts on, as it can be a touch of overwhelm.We said hello, and as soon as I was about to gently point to Mr. Yorkin in the room, Bud noticed him at the entrance and bar, and came over to greet him. That was my signal for his fine bottle of Cabernet to be poured for two at the corner of the bar, where they stayed and chatted for quite some time. That was a good thing, as I was too busy with a full bar and waiter drinks for the floor to hang close by for long, but I kept an eye on the levels in their stemware, and always caught the right times to pour without requiring an assisted nod from either of them, though I did leave the bottle on the bar nearby, in case of self-serve emergency, or if they chose to take the bottle to their table.The club in general draws a crowd of all ages, but at times can be predominantly older, depending on who the performer is. Therefore, I’ve been making not only the basic drinks and specialty cocktails behind the bar, but many classic cocktails as well throughout the whole time I’ve been there. Who said classic cocktails were old and a thing of the past? Not here at The Gardenia!Clint is the ultimate cool cat, just like in the movies, not interested in bringing attention to himself. Because of him, it was easy for me to remain smooth behind the bar. Bud had used a valet service for the run of shows, so when I caught a moment just before the show was starting, I went outside for a breath of fresh, and to see what Clint drove to the club. The valet mentioned that he saw him park his super-charged Ford Bronco across the street in the Thrifty parking lot, and then walked across Santa Monica Blvd. on La Brea, made a left and walked over to the front door of the club.Imagine seeing that when you’re waiting in your car at the signal light, or walking alongside him for that matter. What a moment, especially when you consider that Clint knew what that area of Hollywood looked like back in the 50’s and 60’s, when he was shooting the show “Rawhide”, not to mention the current circus variety of streetwalkers hanging around in the area today. He owned the street. He had no fear.A small venue like this on the tight boulevard, you can blink and miss the club while driving by. But for a few precious hours, Old Hollywood can let their hair down and enjoy each others company, for the most part preferring to be called by their first names. That can take a bit of getting used to.When you see it all happening early on, as I look over the packed room of guests at their tables dining, it’s like a bunch of friends in the business gathered in a hidden living room, peach-colored and dim lit. The epitome of a club night. Norman Lear and his wife were there. Henry Mancini (who co-wrote the songs “Moon River” and ”Charade” with Johnny Mercer, to name just a couple of the many) and his wife were in attendance. Chevy Chase was in. Ann Margret was in. I picked up the phone when Raquel Welch called to say she was running a bit late and to let her friends know for her, that she was joining. She then comes into the club, stops right at the corner of the bar and says “Hi Kyle!”  The lucky seven sitting at the bar were stunned!! But I won’t tell you all of what she said to me over the phone.  Many others I may chat about in other blog episodes of these nights.The show went well. Though Cynthia wasn’t the most seasoned singer, she gave it her all, which is impressive in itself, in a room full of your peers. She had a great 3-piece band backing her, including pianist Paul Smith, who was Ella Fitzgerald's pianist and conductor from 1952-1978. I remember him coming to the bar and asking for a club soda to take over and sit it on an old floor speaker next to the piano. When we initially greeted and shook hands, his hand was so big that I couldn’t see my hand in it. What an incredible player he was on the keys, though. Sensational tone and feel for the notes.At the end of the show, they both came up to the same corner of the bar, and I set them up with another bottle of red and two fresh wine glasses. Once Clint knew my name, mainly by Bud calling out to me, a slight grin appeared on his face when he glanced over, likely due to the fact that his son is also named Kyle.In the end, Clint was the last one to leave the club, hanging with us as we were cleaning up, looking at the inside corner wall calendar listing of upcoming performers, next to the bar. He asked Ernie and I about the performers and who’s really good. We mentioned a couple to him, including Stephanie Vlahos who was popular at the time, and he nodded silently.Maybe he was thinking of transforming his Hog’s Breath Inn up North on the coast in Carmel to host some Cabaret of his own. A place where the song “Misty” would be a perfect fit, given his love of Jazz and the Great American Songbook. But the place would need a substantial makeover to fit the musical theme.A few more minutes went by as he was reading some of the performer’s bios, he put one of the club calendars in his coat pocket to take with him, said goodnight to us, and slowly walked out the door and into the midnight of Hollywood, maybe as he once remembered it . . .See More