The time: 1973. The place: NYC. I had just moved there and was doing hair on 57th street at a tony salon. The art director came over to me asking if I would go to The Carlyle Hotel to do a hair styling for a customer of his because he couldn't go. I went. I was met at the door to the penthouse by a frumpy old maid who brought me into the main parlour to set up my curling iron and wait for " madame". Forty-five mins and three cups of tea later in walked the amazing Dietrich. I gagged. I hadn't had much experience with celebrities then and it freaked me out completely. I was so nervous that i burned her ear with the curling iron. She yelped and then admonished me for my clumbsiness.
I was shaking like a leaf. She loved what I did with her hair and apologized for snapping about the ear burning. She also tipped me a whole dollar. I will never forget the perfume she was wearing though I don't know the name of it. I only wish I had taken my camera along at the time. I adored her so much. She also reffered Liz taylor to me about a week later. Liz was a gas! Funny and with a dirty mouth. She was very gernorius and tipped me twice what i charged for the hotel visit. But I didn't get any false teeth out of the deal like Dee Finley. Bless!