Natalie Portman |
JEWISH
NATIONAL FUND
Tony Randall
Snubs Tony Awards
Story
and Photos By Tim Boxer
 HERE
was a conflict of scheduling between Tony Awards and the Jewish
National Fund – and JNF was the winner.
Tony Randall
came to Manhattan’s Center for Jewish History on to emcee a JNF
party honoring jeweler David Saity.
The actor was the only one
in black tie. He explained that he planned to go to the Tony Awards
at Radio City Music Hall later.
Tony Randall |
“Judgment at
Nuremberg,” which he produced together with philanthropist Earle
Mack, was up for two categories: best featured actor in a play
for Michael Hayden and best featured actress for Marthe
Keller.
“We got only two
nominations,” Randall said. “I was so angry that I decided not
to attend the Tony Awards tonight. I’ll be here all evening.”
Singer Lenny Kravitz,
actress Natalie Portman (who just returned from a two-day
trip to Israel), comedian Mario Cantone of HBO’s Sex and
the City and others were glad Randall stayed. He entertained
with several amusing stories.
One concerned three men of
the cloth on the golf course. They became angry as they watched two
men ahead of them play excruciatingly slow.
They complained at the
clubhouse where they were told that the two men were blind. The
clergy were quite embarrassed.
Lenny Kravitz |
The minister raised his
hands: “Lord, forgive me for my murderous thoughts.”
The priest clasped his
hands: “Forgive me, too, for I have sinned.”
The rabbi shrugged his
shoulders: “Why couldn’t they play at night?”
Saity has been collecting
jewelry from the Zuni, Hopi, Navajo and Santo Domingo tribes in the
American Southwest, which he offers for sale at his Park Avenue
store.
“I’ve been exploring
American Indian culture for many years,” he said. “It resembles
my own Jewish heritage. Both have been fascinated with nature and
environment.”
Mario Cantone, a featured
player on Sex and the City, revealed that he used to work for
Saity in 1983 at Trump Tower.
Sex and the
City’s Mario Cantone and
Lifestyles editor Jeanette Friedman. |
“I was the worst salesman
in the country,” he said. “But David was like a father to me.”
When his father died six
years ago, Cantone told Saity, “You’ve moved into the No. 1
position.”
The comedian claims he
overheard a lady ask Kravitz what he does.
“I’m a rapper.”
“Oh, do you work at
Bloomingdale’s during Christmas?”
|
