Created by June Morrall
Here’s one of the photos Roger Ressmeyer (http://ressmeyer.com/, http://www.sciencefaction.net/) took of Meryl Streep at the San Francisco Symphony in the early 1980s. I was there to “interview” the great actress (see previous posts!).
L-R: Leon Fleisher, Meryl Streep and Edo de Waart. Photo by Roger Ressmeyer (Corbis.com)
Meryl Streep flanked by Leon Fleisher (left) and Edo de Waart (right) photographed by Roger Ressmeyer (Corbis.com)
A post or two ago I wrote of a long ago assignment to “cover” Meryl Streep at the San Francisco Symphony.
The only physical memory I had of that “many moons ago” nightt was a picture taken by then famous San Francisco-based photographer Roger Ressmeyer. He took a picture of the two of us waiting for the actress to enter the room backstage at the symphony.
I had a lot of fun that night–and you can sense it from the Ressmeyer pix.
Midway through my “Me, Roger & Meryl” post, I asked the skies of the Internet, if Roger should read this, and he still had the Meryl Streep photos from that night, could he email them to me. And, of course I wanted to know where life had taken him. It had been more than 20 years.
Guess what! A friend has a”google alert” on Roger’s name and as soon as my post was up, Roger heard about it–and, attesting to the magic of the Internet, he got back to me (“As you requested, in your blog”, he emailed) and not only updated me on his incredible career–he sent me a “lightbox” of the Streep pix from Corbis.com.
I’d forgotten who was with Ms.Streep–in the photos Roger sent I could see that with her was Leon Fleisher and Edo de Waart.
Much more fascinating was being able to catch-up with Roger Ressmeyer’s life. He has a new business at www.sciencefaction.net (pretty pretty cool) and his portfolio can be viewed at www.ressmeyer.com.
Roger says, ” My complete collection through 1995 was acquired by Corbis in 1995 lock stock and barrel — they’re first major acquisition…. Three years working there, four years as a VP at Getty Images, and I’m back out running my own businesses out of Seattle.”
He and his wife have a six-year-old boy and recently adoped a two-year-old girl from China.
“Life is sweet,” Roger says.
To me, it’s almost unbelievable that my “Me, Roger & Meryl” post–and the hope that Roger Ressmeyer would see it–really happened. And it happened fast, within hours! All courtesy of the power of the Internet.
And thank you Roger!
In 1983 I was assigned to “interview” Meryl Streep–she was appearing at the San Francisco Symphony, reciting verses from The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
There are quote marks around “interview” because Ms. Streep, at least that evening, wasn’t going to do an interview, as we think of interviews. That was the deal. I couldn’t ask her any questions, not one question. It was weird. (I can’t help thinking that’s why I was sent!)
With me was nationally known San Francisco photographer Roger Ressmeyer–the piece, if it ran, would be Roger’s photo of the star with a caption, which I would provide the details for.
Meryl Streep’s fame was soaring, having recently starred in Sophie’s Choice and Silkwood. I can’t deny I was excited even if I couldn’t ask her any questions.
Meanwhile Roger and I waited for the star to arrive. We waited in a special room with a lovely piano backstage at the San Francisco Symphony’s Davies Hall. There was also a couch. (That’s Roger and me waiting in the photo at the top of the page).
To forever remember the unusual occasion ,Roger set his camera on a timer so he could have a picture of us waiting together.
Roger! If you see this, do you still have the photos of Ms. Streep?
Well, the moment finally came. Meryl Streep swept into the room, (accompanied by someone), she sat down on the couch and sang a little and chatted, all to herself. I was mostly there to observe. I think the famous actress was diappointed to see me, not the viper-type, ready to sting, but a harmless-looking stringer-reporter.