Ron Walker
I stood looking at the check — “Ron and Orllyene Walker, July 16, 1994 — Five thousand dollars.”
I had been summoned by my former boss and long-time friend Tibor Rudas to Carmel, Calif. I had worked for Tibi for 15 years and we were still strong friends even though I had declared my emancipation from him many years before.
Now, at his expense I flew from Vegas, rented a car, got a room in a fancy motel for a night and then drove over to Tibi’s house on the 19 Mile drive.
It was time to find out what Orllyene and I were to do.
“I want Orllyene to have all the music majors at USC to be the ushers for the “Three Tenors Concert” in Dodger Stadium and I want you to get the Trojan Marching Band to play at the intermission.”
He also negotiated with the San Francisco Ballet to do a ballet at intermission, but the Fire Department wouldn’t approve a portable stage.
A great entrepreneur never knows when enough is enough.
“I also want Orllyene to seat the VIPs, like Bob and Dolores Hope, and Frank Sintra.”
Tibor was very smart in choosing Orllyene. She treats everyone as equals not demi-gods.
She later told me she asked Bob Hope if he wanted to let fans ask for autographs and he said “sure, the more the merrier.”
Sinatra said “no, absolutely not.”
I called the USC Band conductor, and he was happy to oblige.
He arranged for the buses, and they rehearsed on the infield the day before the event.
Three days prior to the concert, Orllyene and I drove to Los Angeles and checked into the Athletic Club where rooms were waiting for us. In the early afternoon of the concert day, I went to the stadium (which now had a portable wooden floor in the infield), made sure the band’s seats were secure, to the right of the stage and had easy access to the aisle so they could march and play at the intermission.
While I was sitting in the bleacher, I saw Tibi walking alone on the stadium floor. The stage was built, the choir section in place, an army of musician’s chairs and music stands, and two monster screens to televise the 3 Tenors and Zubin Mehta. President and Mrs. Bush would be in the front row along with Tibi and Lee Rudas.
I couldn’t wait any longer. I walked down to the stadium field. “Tibi, have you decided how much Orllyene and I will get?”
Right to the point and without the slightest hesitation “Five Thousand,” he said.
That’s what he thought we should get and that’s what we got. For me It was a historical event. Tibi gave me my start as a choreographer and was my friend for life.
His lesson to me was to believe in myself. He tested me time after time, pushed me unflinchingly. What a life I’ve led.
Ron Walker can be reached at walkover @gmx.com
