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darkstar

(5,826 posts)
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 04:07 PM 17 hrs ago

My Linda Rondstadt story

In St Louis area we had a thing called the Mississippi River Festival that was a big deal in the 70s. In what I’m guessing was 75, Linda Rondstadt came through. My crew and I would typically get there early to be up front in the GA of the gently sloping grass bowl. With some of our large bunch holding down our blanketed territory, my buddy and I started tossing frisbee around as the place was filling up.

As we were doing so, Ms. Rondstadt was walkingg in on the far side of some of that orange lattice style fencing that marked the edge of things from backstage to trailers that served a dressing rooms. We saw her and she saw us, somehow, and then clapped her hands together and held them up to indicate “here, throw it to me.” Which I, of course, did. She had a legit throw back, but it died just on the other side of the barrier. That meant she had to approach me to pick the thing up and hand it back over the fencing to me. She was perhaps just you might be picturing her: cutoff shorts, tshirt, no make up and just as darling and affable as can be. She handed it back to me with a girlish giggle like “I’m such a clutz” and headed on her way.

***I tell this story because I have a buddy here area who has heard the story before and just yesterday for Fathers Day he received a recently published book on the history of the festival itself. And there in the introduction, and I’m paraphrasing, was “The laid back atmosphere was known to artists and fans alike, so laid back that you might even be lucky enough to play some frisbee with Linda Rondstadt before the show.” How this was known to the authors is a mystery; if there was a photo to this effect it is, sadly, as per my pal, not in the book. Oh well. At least I know it wasn’t some 17 year old’s fever dream.***

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My Linda Rondstadt story (Original Post) darkstar 17 hrs ago OP
Sweet Alice Kramden 16 hrs ago #1
Great memory!! Nittersing 15 hrs ago #2
Well that's cool! KPN 15 hrs ago #3
You made history Figarosmom 15 hrs ago #4
Fun Story ProfessorGAC 15 hrs ago #5
I've got plenty from my playing days as well. darkstar 12 hrs ago #8
I saw her in 1969 SCantiGOP 15 hrs ago #6
Wow. In a dorm cafeteria? darkstar 12 hrs ago #9
Yes, Stone Ponies days SCantiGOP 11 hrs ago #11
My Ava Gardner story ... oldsoldierfadingfast 13 hrs ago #7
That is so awesome! darkstar 12 hrs ago #10
Nice story! red dog 1 10 hrs ago #12

Figarosmom

(14,585 posts)
4. You made history
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 06:31 PM
15 hrs ago

With just one little toss of the Frisbee.

How friken cool is that?✌️ ❤

ProfessorGAC

(77,656 posts)
5. Fun Story
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 06:44 PM
15 hrs ago

I've met several rock stars over the years.
Some, we opened for. A few, we knew before they were stars.
Plus, I had breakfast with Frank Zappa at the Frankfurter Hof atrium back in the early 90s.
We walked music, guitars, synthesizers &..... wait.....
|
|
|
|
...baseball!

darkstar

(5,826 posts)
8. I've got plenty from my playing days as well.
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 09:01 PM
12 hrs ago

Why don’t you share some of these here in the lounge from time to time? I’d love to hear them.

And you must have a good memory re: some of the baseball questions I’ve posed here with you “wait for it” comment.

At the very least, let us know how the Zappa thing came about.

SCantiGOP

(14,786 posts)
6. I saw her in 1969
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 06:44 PM
15 hrs ago

She wasn’t well know, and it was a part of free concerts the University put on. She played in the cafeteria one of the girls’ dorms.

darkstar

(5,826 posts)
9. Wow. In a dorm cafeteria?
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 09:03 PM
12 hrs ago

That pretty incredible, eh? Was it the Sone Ponies “Different Drum” days?

SCantiGOP

(14,786 posts)
11. Yes, Stone Ponies days
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 10:20 PM
11 hrs ago

September or October of 1969. I remember someone commenting that her jeans were so tight that if she had a dime in the back pocket you could tell if it was heads or tales. Every guy in the room was knocked out.

7. My Ava Gardner story ...
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 08:13 PM
13 hrs ago

Nursing school roommate thought I looked like AG, who was from her hometown and was a close friend of her mother.
Roomie invited me to an overnight with her when AG was going to be in town; but did not tell me about that. We met at roomie's mother's beauty salon. I was in total awe. AG thought we looked alike too - asked if I wanted to come out and learn to be a stand-in. Had to say "No, I could never learn to walk with such grace!" She never forgot her small NC town roots!
She also asked where I was from - when I told her, she asked if I knew the Blanks. I told her that knew Blankety Blank. She asked how I knew him. Told her that we went to the same school and that he was my first ever date. He was her nephew!

Over the years, I've had chance meetings with many famous people and some who should be famous but aren't - Among my favorites are Sir Issac Stern, Burl Ives, Kay Ballard, Tim Kaine and William Kinard.
Some of my stories are funny, some aren't. You should hear my least favorites! Elizabeth Taylor, John Warner, Mickey Rooney ...

darkstar

(5,826 posts)
10. That is so awesome!
Mon Jun 22, 2026, 09:09 PM
12 hrs ago

I’ve been getting interested in old Hollywood these past few years. I didn’t really care for my mom’s “old timey movies” when I was a teen in the 70s, but I’ve been watching more of the old black and whites (gateway drug of Hitchcock initially) and starting to read up some on some of the stats and directors of that era.

Like I told Prof GAC above, share some of your stories with us here in the lounge if you are so inclined. I can’t be the only one who’d love to hear ‘em!

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