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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Joan Rivers: An unguarded moment

Editor's Note: With the death of actress-comedienne-television host, Joan Rivers (June 8, 1933 - Sept. 4, 2014), Scott Stoneback, President-Executive Producer, The Media People, Inc. and an Alburtis resident, was asked to share this anecdote.

In 1979, I was Chairman of the Board of the Lehigh County Commissioners. Since this was a part-time elected position, I was also running The Media People from my home and studio in Alburtis.

At one of the county commissioner meetings, Pat Mullin appeared with her daughter and asked that we declare Cystic Fibrosis Day in Lehigh County. This was to promote a Cystic Fibrosis fund-raising campaign. Susan Mullin, Pat's daughter, suffered from Cystic Fibrosis and was the poster child for the campaign.

The next month, my wife, Francee Fuller, and I traveled to the Valley Forge Music Fair to videotape a commercial for Cystic Fibrosis with Joan Rivers.

The commercial included Susan Mullin sitting and talking with Joan Rivers about living with Cystic Fibrosis. The commercial was called "Bowl For Breath" and many bowling alleys participated in the fund-raising event. Francee wrote the commercial and I shot it before Joan went on stage.

Joan was very professional, but provided one of my most embarrassing moments in the production business. While trying to attach a lavaliere microphone to her dress, Joan looked me straight in the eye and pulled her gown forward, exposing herself to my view.

She said, "I know you wanted to see what I was hiding there."

I turned many shades of red and attached the microphone as she laughed loudly.

We shot the commercial and it played on Lehigh Valley television outlets to promote the event.

Joan Rivers