RITA MORENO 1981 INTERVIEW

In 1981 I was privileged to interview Rita Moreno. She was doing a benefit performance for the American Heart Association in Birmingham, Alabama.This is only the interview portion of the show; in the full half-hour program we included several of her song/dance numbers. It was such a big deal for me as I had always admired her and she was very gracious and friendly. This interview aired on UPTOWN & COUNTRY, a weekly series produced by The University of Alabama Center for Pubic Television and Radio. It was broadcast in January 1981 on Alabama Public Television.
For some reason, we did not have time to go back and re-shoot my questions, something I really regret. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have had this wonderful opportunity.

[@savedfaves]

I find her so attractive.

[@Tessa-vz1qb]

Me too

[@lucindasanchez3803]

LOVE YOU RITA!!!!!!!!!!

[@Alma-999]

She's such a Class act, The Betty White of Puerto Rico 💖 We truly do love her, a Sincere, Stunning, Living Legendary ICON!! Thank You Mr Sharp for this wonderful rare interview. What a jewel to behold 🤗

[@rhsharp]

I am so glad you enjoyed the interview. It was a wonderful experience for me.

[@aubreycaraballo8761]

great interview, she made me laugh at the end, What a great llady,

[@bitcoinjedi2276]

She was 51 years old when she did this interview. Pretty amazing looking!

[@gabbyb7347]

I love her hair. I love how she embraces her identity and is not adraid to look "ethnic". I am 1/4 boricua and with that exact same hair style.

[@rhsharp]

I remember her saying on stage that night that since she was performing in Birmingham, she got her hair all straightened and Protestant. The she added, “...but after one dance number, my hair goes home,” referring to her Puerto Rican heritage.

[@Miriam-fk9wr]

Rita is such a gifted woman, through her I began to embrace my Boricua culture, which I didn’t at one time, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and my life was only the American way which I am also proud off, as time went by I started doing research of the culture Rita was there through my research and was inspired by her, Gabby nice to know you are 1/4 Boricua, sending you a warm hug 🤗

[@patbulfin5459]

How did she get her hair protestant?

[@rhsharp]

Me too, This was a major life event for me!

[@abrahamvasquez3958]

WAOOOO, this interview is so good, that when it finished I was expecting much more to come!!! Bravo!!!

[@rhsharp]

Thanks, Abraham! This really makes my day. Here's the link to the full episode which includes Rita's benefit performance for the American Heart Association: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWqvnmZ9h7iIaZo

[@otistherigger]

Rita Moreno = one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Still so beautiful and talented even well into her 80s.

[@jumpyourbone]

she's the loveliest

[@redandbluebulldog1508]

Omg, The Four Seasons!!! Would’ve LOVED to hear her give some behind the scenes stuff on that movie, as it is one of my favorites!! Especially so soon after filming!! She is hilarious in it!! So good!! Can’t wait for Spielberg’s West Side Story coming out the day before Rita’s 90th birthday!! She is so amazing!! If anyone hadn’t seen The Four Seasons, find it, and watch it asap!! Excellent!!

[@rhsharp]

“I wonder what other people do on their vacations.”

[@iantawashington-allotey9913]

Love her.

[@monicachuidian-riveracalde9554]

Greatest living legend

[@gregariojones]

thanks, Robert, figured it was something like that, but couldn't guess

[@MrDanielBrisk]

Anybody know what her singing voice (and Tamblyn's, too) was dubbed in West Side...? Was it industry standard to dub singing back then?

[@boink345]

She was dubbed in "A Boy Like That" because it was too low for her. But she sings herself in "America".

[@OneLoveRSR]

MGM (the studio that filmed WSS) had it as a standard that Saul Chaplin (who was MGM's associate music producer) could have anybody dubbed if he deemed it necessary. He used the original Rita and Tamblyn voices in some songs (America, Quintet, Officer Krupke), but he used vocal dubs for other songs (A Boy Like That [Betty Wand], Jet Song [Tucker Smith, who played Ice in that very scene]).

[@RuinsOfConscience]

It was meant to have the same effect as "Does a bear shit in the woods?".

[@rhsharp]

I think she used the city of Houston because she wanted the sentence to have alliteration: hookers, Houston, honey all begin with the same sound. It's sort of like "Debbie Does Dallas." It's not a slight against Houston.

[@kristinlambert8811]

At first I didn't know Rita Moreno was Latino I thought she was white

[@eliezerberrios9521]

That pillow looks weird

[@TransVangal]

The dude is sitting there all creepy 😆

[@rhsharp]

I’m glad I creeped you out.

[@TransVangal]

@@rhsharp was that you? I was joking 😆

[@rhsharp]

@@TransVangal Of course you were. 😁

[@TransVangal]

@@rhsharp how is that guy you? This was filmed so long ago..you still look young in your pic .i don't get it

[@rhsharp]

@@TransVangal It’s me. I’m 64 now. And hopefully less creepy. Perhaps not.