Post updates by email:


Yes, Elizabeth Taylor's eyes were truly violet. And at the end of this post, I'll tell how I know that.

Both my mother and father adored Elizabeth Taylor; therefore at a very early age I was exposed to every movie she ever made up until that point. Thus, I also grew to adore her.

I mean come on, how could anyone not?

Not only did she take your breath away with her beauty, but she also contained an extraordinary power that emanated from within. Her beauty was a combination of voluptuous sensuality and a child-like innocence.

Yet, I think it was her eyes that were the most striking feature of her beauty.

Here are some photographs I found online that give you a very clear idea of just how special Elizabeth Taylor's eye really were.

And what I find incredible is that whether she was photographed in black and white or color, her eyes were equally captivating.

Please enjoy...











Back in 1975 when I was pursuing my acting career and living in New York City, I was so fortunate to attend a performance of one of the most popular and Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals at that time, A Chorus Line, at the Shubert Theatre. It was also one of the rare Broadway shows that I saw with the original cast. 


A Chorus Line was a Broadway musical (much like Hamilton) in which it was next to impossible to purchase tickets because it was that popular. However, back in the 1970's, they had something that was called "standing room only", in which the theater would sell a certain amount of tickets that allowed you to stand in the back of the house and watch the show at a discounted price. Now back then, theater tickets for a Broadway show were only $25.00-$30.00 a seat. And standing room tickets were $5.00. Yes, you heard me right....FIVE dollars.

On the night that I saw A Chorus Line the show was delayed for its 8:00 curtain, which is unheard of, because Broadway shows always start exactly on time. So if you're late to arrive at the start of the show, too bad. Broadway holds its curtains for no one. 

That is, unless, it's Elizabeth Taylor.

I attended this performance with several other actor friends of mine who were all wondering, "What's up with the delayed curtain?!?!" In fact, you could sense the energy throughout the audience who were starting to get restless and agitated that the show hadn't started on time. 

And then guess what happened?

All of a sudden the doors in the rear of the theater opened, and through them walked an entourage of people surrounding a woman in a fur coat and a turban. 

Now, it just so happened that I was standing in the rear of the theater at the top of the left-hand side row, which is where the entourage walked past me. 

And for a very brief second, I spotted her....Elizabeth Taylor!

*I gasped*

And for another very brief second, she quickly turned and looked in my direction. And although she didn't look directly at me, I could clearly see her eyes.

*I gasped*

Holy shit and oh my gawd, yes, they were in fact, violet!


Now here's the really strange part of this story.

Last week while I was constructing this post, I suddenly got the idea to google elizabeth taylor at a chorus line in new york city in 1976 (which was the year I saw the show). And as I scrolled through the various images, I spotted this one, which was labeled - Actress Elizabeth Taylor photographed near her beloved Audrey Hepburn during a performance of the play “A Chorus Line” at a Broadway theater in New York (USA), on April 09, 1976.



And although I can't be 100% sure that this photograph was taken on the night that I was at the show, I think it's ironic that Elizabeth Taylor was wearing exactly what I saw her wearing that night.

And also...I had NO IDEA that the exquisite actress, Audrey Hepburn, was also there that night

Holy shit and oh my gawd!!!!!!!!!!!


Have a faaaaabulous rest of your week everyone!
X

26 comments:

  1. I adored Elizabeth Taylor, and agree with you about her eyes. Whenever I saw her I almost drooled.... seriously! She was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. Ooooh those eyes, and those lips, were to die for when you're an impressionable girl.
    How lucky you were to get so close to her. It is a long time ago since I heard her name let alone saw pictures of her so thank you for sharing.
    I tried your links but was denied access because, apparently, they were classed as risky and access was denied. Shucks, what have I missed?
    Hope your week is how you want it to be x

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG, that is CRAZY that that photo could have been taken on the night you were there! I'm wondering if you remember the day of the week you went to the show and then look up April 9, 1976 day of the week??
    Her eyes are amazing, and I didn't realize it was due to them being violet. My favorite photo that you posted is the one with the hood up in the taxi because it truly shows how beautiful her face was. Thanks for sharing a great memory with us!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ron, I can't believe the prices of Broadway tickets back in the 70's. 25-30 dollars?!? That sounds unbelievable. The last Broadway show I saw was Phantom and we paid close to two hundred dollars per ticket!

    Elizabeth Taylor was the most beautiful woman in Hollywood at that time. And not only beautiful, but she also did a lot of charity work and was quite the activist. Wow, amazing you got to see her at the show and I bet that picture was from that night. It's uncanny.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ron, I love that first photo of a young Liz that you included here! The expression on her face reminds me so much of the ones Vivien Leigh used to portray Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. I, too, was always captivated by Miss Taylor's violet eyes -- the combination of jet dark hair, creamy skin, and violet was unbeatable!


    How interesting that you were so close to both Liz and Audrey! You know, when you wrote about Googling that occasion, I half-hoped you'd find yourself in the photo, too -- wouldn't that have been amazing?!?


    Do you realize how fortunate you were to have scored Broadway tickets for those prices?!


    Happy week to you, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience! She was certainly one of those rare, classic beauties. Yes, her eyes are captivating....and captivated eight men to be her husband over her lifetime!! And, Audrey Hepburn?! Another queen of the silver screen and iconic favorite! I would have stood for A Chorus Line any day of the week for $5! I love that production and used to know every song by heart. I have seen the stage play and used to own an album of the music.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Holy crap! What a great story, Ron. I doubt Liz Taylor would ever wear the same outfit two nights in a row, so I'd bet that photograph was taken the night you were there. For a second I thought you were going to say you could see yourself in the background.

    It's amazing just how beautiful she was in her youth. I sometimes forget!

    ReplyDelete
  7. "Whenever I saw her I almost drooled.... seriously! She was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. Ooooh those eyes, and those lips, were to die for when you're an impressionable girl. "

    You're absolutely right, Valerie! She truly was the most beautiful woman. And what amazing is that many people in the industry who either worked with her or knew her outside of the studio's, said that she was very modest when it came to her looks. In a documentary I once watched, actress Maureen O'Hara said that Elizabeth Taylor was never one to look in mirror and think that she was beautiful.

    After seeing her at the Broadway show, I immediately called my mother (who adored her) and said, "OMG...I actually saw Elizabeth Taylor in person and she really DOES have violet eyes!!!"

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a great rest of your week!

    X

    P.S. I went back and tried the links you were denied access to and they worked. I honestly can't figure out why they didn't work for you. Sorry about that.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Isn't that CRAZY? And I don't know what made me google that, but when I saw the picture with the date, I thought, "Holy shit....could that have been the night I saw the show too?!?" No, I can't recall exactly what day of the week I went to the show because it was so long ago and no longer have the theater program.

    Yes, her eyes were actually violet, which were a combination of purple and blue. And they said that if she was wearing something that was lavender or purple, it brought out the violet in her eyes even more.

    "My favorite photo that you posted is the one with the hood up in the taxi because it truly shows how beautiful her face was."

    Yes, one of my favorites too! She looks so beautiful in that pic!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic rest of your week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  9. HA!....I know, isn't that incredible, considering HOW expensive they are now? I remember many years after leaving NY and then going back to visit, I saw how much Broadway tickets rose ($65.00) and thought that THAT was expensive. However now, they're WELL OVER $100.00!!!

    "And not only beautiful, but she also did a lot of charity work and was quite the activist. "

    Yes, you're absolutely right, she was a strong activist for many causes and charities. She also LOVED animals.

    I feel so lucky that I got a chance to actually see Elizabeth Taylor in person that night. It was such a brief but glorious moment.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a grrrrreat rest of your week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello there Debbie!

    Isn't that photograph simply beautiful? I wanted to include at least one photo of when she was a young lady to show just how beautiful she was even then.

    "The expression on her face reminds me so much of the ones Vivien Leigh used to portray Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind."

    Yes! Yes! Yes! You are so spot on about that, she DOES resemble Vivien Leigh! Who, by the way, was another actress of that time who I thought was also stunningly beautiful!

    "...the combination of jet dark hair, creamy skin, and violet was unbeatable!"

    Incredible, was she?

    "You know, when you wrote about Googling that occasion, I half-hoped you'd find yourself in the photo, too -- wouldn't that have been amazing?!?"

    HA! OMG...yes, wouldn't that how been AMAZING? When she entered the theater and walked down the aisle to her seat, the entire audience starting to applaud.

    I know, those were the good old days when Broadway tickets were AFFORDABLE.

    Thank so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic rest of your week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, you're right, Lisa....a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience! When I got home that night, I immediately called my mother and screamed, "OMG...I saw Elizabeth Taylor and her eyes REALLY are violet!!!!"

    "Yes, her eyes are captivating....and captivated eight men to be her husband over her lifetime!! "

    HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes! And TWO of those marriages were to Richard Burton. She did not have the best luck with men, did she? HA!

    "I love that production and used to know every song by heart. I have seen the stage play and used to own an album of the music."

    Isn't it such an amazing show? I've seen it many times, but for me, the first will always be the most memorable because it was with all the original cast members. My favorite song in the show is, "At the Ballet." It makes me cry every time I hear it.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have an awesome rest of your week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  12. "I doubt Liz Taylor would ever wear the same outfit two nights in a row, so I'd bet that photograph was taken the night you were there."

    Mark, like I said, I can't be 100% sure that is was taken on the night that I was there, but I have this inner knowingness that it was.

    "For a second I thought you were going to say you could see yourself in the background."

    HA! OMG...I wish!!!!

    Yes, she was a stunning beauty!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a fantastical rest of your week!

    X to you and Tara

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ron, what a beautiful tribute to such a beautiful lady! I adored Liz Taylor too! When I was a teen, I would try to duplicate the way she wore her hair, her makeup and even the way she dressed. To me, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. For all the glamour and success she had in her life, she also had a lot of tragedy and pain. She was such a survivor.

    I'm so jealous that you got to see her in person. I think it's pretty amazing that picture you found online matches the same clothing she had on when you saw her that night. I bet it IS from that same night. And how incredible that Audrey Hepburn was there too! She was another beauty

    Thank you for sharing this story, Ron. LOVED it!

    Did you see that we might be getting snow this weekend? Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh Ron, I love this post!!!! No one today can match the class, glamour or beauty of Elizabeth Taylor. Did you ever see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? She was amazing in that role. I also loved her in Father of the Bride. She was such a natural actress. I follow a makeup artist on You Tube who did an Elizabeth Taylor makeup look on a model and it was incredible how much she looked like her when she completed the makeup. Makeup back then was so classy!

    I am in awe that you saw her at the show A Chorus Line when you lived in New York! How lucky! I bet it was on the same night you spotted her there, especially since she was wearing those same clothes. Incredible!

    Thanks so much for sharing your memory, Ron. This was so cool!

    Have a wonderful week X

    ReplyDelete
  15. That right Ron, she was. She loved horses and was said to ride like a pro!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yup! And that's one of the main reasons she was cast in National Velvet, for which she won an Academy Award.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hola Denise!

    I agree, they don't make them like this anymore - class, glamour and beauty! Yes, I've seen Cat and also Father of the Bride and loved them both. Her 3rd husband, Mike Todd, died in a plane crash while she was in the middle of filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

    Yes, she always said that when it came to acting, she had no technique, she was more intuitive when she acted. Which I think is what made her very natural.

    Can you believe I saw her at the show in the 70's? I was so lucky to have had standing room tickets too, because if I didn't, I never would have seen her up that close.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aw, thanks, Elaine :) It took me a while to construct this post because I wanted to choose great pictures that showed off her eyes. Wasn't she just beautiful?

    "For all the glamour and success she had in her life, she also had a lot of tragedy and pain. She was such a survivor."

    Yes, you said it. She was SUCH survivor. She was like a cat, she seemed to have had nine lives because she had so many health issues.

    I was FLOORED when I spotted that photograph and saw AUDREY HEPBURN sitting there. Who knew?!?!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor. Have a fantastic week!

    P.S. Yup...I saw the weather forecast yesterday for SNOW on Sunday. Yahoooooooo! And I'm off that day, so if it snows, I'll be outside playing in it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ron, I didn't know that about Mike Todd dying during the filming of that movie. It must have been devastating for her.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It was. I saw a A&E Biography documentary on her life and it said the she took weeks off the film after Mike Todd died because she mourned so much.

    ReplyDelete
  21. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comFriday, January 11, 2019

    Wow - you lucky thing! I would have loved to see her up close and personal! She was also a stunner as a young girl/teenager. And my - those eyes! So captivating.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What's ironic is that had I not had "standing room only" tickets that night, I would not have been standing in the back of theater where she walked in. I felt very lucky!

    "She was also a stunner as a young girl/teenager. And my - those eyes! So captivating."

    I agree, even as a young girl/teenager, her beauty shined through. To me, she had the most captivating eyes on the silver screen.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Fiona. Have a lovely weekend, my friend!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow, that's really very cool. She sure was beautiful in her day. And I'd be even more stoked to see Audrey Hepburn, who just seemed like a truly good person.

    ReplyDelete
  24. She was, wasn't she? I felt so lucky that I actually got to see her in person, which was a total surprise, both to me and the audience. As she walked down to her seat, the entire audience began to clap.

    OMG...Audrey Hepburn, yes! To me, not only was she beautiful, but she was also an "earth angel."

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a great week!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow, what a terrific story, Ron! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

    These images of Elizabeth Taylor are absolutely stunning! That woman was a walking work of art!

    And that story about "A Chorus Line" is incredible. It's always a thrill when you see these icons in the real world. Hell, you probably were there on the same night--I doubt Elizabeth Taylor wore the same outfit to the theater twice!

    Btw, I took a theater class at Hunter College in 1975 and I also remember those days of $5 SRO tickets. I saw "Same Time, Next Year" that way--and I loved it!

    Thanks again and take care, buddy!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey there Rob!

    Being a New Yorker, I'm SURE you remember the opening of A Chorus Line and how instantly popular it was. I feel so blessed to not only have seen it with all the original cast members, but also on the night that ELIZABETH TAYLOR was there!!!

    Wasn't she stunning? She was a very special lady; not only in her looks and talent, but also her beautiful inner light that shined within.

    "Btw, I took a theater class at Hunter College in 1975 and I also remember those days of $5 SRO tickets. I saw "Same Time, Next Year" that way--and I loved it!"

    OMG...COOL! I didn't see the live stage production of "Same Time, Next Year", but I've seen the movie (MANY TIMES) and freaking LOVE it! And I totally remember Hunter College from my days living in NYC!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a fantastic rest of your week!
    X

    ReplyDelete

I moderate all comments before publishing. Thank you for stopping by.