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Heart to Heart
If you knew Sidney...

San Diego Jewish Times, February 24, 2006                                                             books

By Gert Thaler

SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Sidney Sheldon turned 89 years old on this day as I sit at my keyboard. He is the prolific author of 18 novels, seven Broadway plays, 25 film screenplays as well as the producer of six films and TV shows plus directing two films and TV shows. He is the creator of The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, Nancy, and Hart to Hart. Patty, Jeannie and Hart are still enjoying syndication and pop up every now and then, much to my delight.

Probably best remembered of all his novels is the second one he wrote, The Other Side of Midnight. Now, Sheldon has come out with an autobiography titled The Other Side of Me, and his 363 pages of reflections of his yesterdays captured my attention.

A few years ago, Betty Sheldon, Sidney’s San Diego sister-in-law, phoned me and said, “Sidney said to bring you along to the Palm Springs house for lunch,” and with Richard, Sidney’s younger brother, at the wheel we were desert bound. It is a day I often recall, and were I to write an autobiography, the event would become part of it.

My time spent with Sheldon provided me with one of the best experiences I could ever have had. His hospitality dazzled me. Add charm, warmth and hearty laughter and you’ll get a good picture of this highly successful artist.

When his Los Angeles house was once threatened by a canyon fire, the only things he took with him were a large pad of paper and his pens. He figured if he was going to be homeless he should at least have the tools of his trade. Forgotten were the original paintings, numerous photographs and jewelry.

I was both impressed and often deeply touched by his life experiences, the many rejections he faced when manuscripts were returned as an aspiring writer. Success did not fall easily onto his lap and Sheldon repeatedly recalls advice his father once gave him when he was deeply depressed after losing a job. It had to do with the fact that when one finishes reading a book, it can be a lot like looking at life. With each ending, there are always new pages to delve into.

And Sheldon had many new pages to turn during his early days as a failed songwriter, then a successful songwriter, a theatre usher, a nightclub hat checker, a rejected scriptwriter, a gloriously successful scriptwriter, an innovator of blockbuster TV shows, and a world famous novelist. The Guinness Book of Records once reported that his work was the most widely translated in the world!

There were many bumps along the way, but once he hit pay dirt his talents carried him along.

My Palm Springs visit was, and remains, a highlight for me. Following a patio meal at the home of Sidney and Alexandra the author proceeded to be my tour guide as we walked along one of the two swimming pools on the property before one of the five separate houses that encompass the choice location where “the real Palm Springs” is located, not far off Palm Canyon Drive. For years “the guy next door” was Kirk Douglas. Sheldon and Alexandra remain very much recognized “first citizens” of the desert town, involved in the community.

That day he led me through one house filled with children’s toys, game machines and living arrangements, all devoted to visiting young family members. Two other houses serve as a refuge for guests, and Betty and Richard Sheldon spend many weekends and holidays basking in the sunshine on treks from their Del Cerro home.

But the piece de resistance was my being shown the private, the Very Private, hideaway from which finished manuscripts come forth. Its walls, painted a soothing yellow, brought a brightness to the rooms. One of those rooms was filled with the tools of his trade, while a handsomely decorated bedroom (yellow again) allowed the author the opportunity to capture his dreams before they were put into print.

Sometimes a sleepless night found him in a creative mood, and he left the main house and its sleeping occupants and wandered into his sanctuary, and thus was born another bestseller.

The Other Side of Me strips Sheldon naked as he relates his life’s tale. It actually is a simply written book of put-together stories involving many familiar names of stage, screen and TV fame, along with industry figures. When he was losing ground and facing rejection he described it as “the elevator was going down,” but when success came, it came with a bang!, Sidney Sheldon ends his story thanking his readers and expressing how grateful he is “to every one of you” by the simple statement of “The elevator is up.”

Bravo, Sidney. This issue of the San Diego Jewish Times comes out two weeks after your birthday, but our heartiest wishes are there, inside the up elevator.

As one of your most ardent readers it is I who am grateful to you for giving me hours of pleasure.

* * *

On another note of being grateful, I want to express my appreciation to all those readers who responded so enthusiastically to the column on the need for Cuban medical supplies. No one deserves more praise than Dr. Hillel (Hilly) Mazansky, who got on the bandwagon and organized what is best described as a Gigantic Project and, with the help of Adat Yeshurun members, overwhelmed me with supplies. To the point that a “Stop” notice is now issued for any future donations. Everyone who responded so wonderfully deserves a kiss on your kepaleh from me. Bless you.