(Genie the Tailor got her first break when she designed the new Raider costumes, and now she designs for all the top stars.)
I looked at the clock and realized how late I was! Time for the Monkee concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and here I was dreaming again. Always dreaming. I must get back to reality, I thought, as I tried to find something to wear. The dogs were sleeping on the costumes, and the white cat was rolled up in the suspenders. Fine thing, I thought, white hairs on black suspenders. What will the Sundowners say? I had just finished making the Sundowner’s costumes for the Bowl show.
I ran downstairs into the garage, and thought, Morris, don’t fail me now. I’m late, and I must get to the concert! Morris made a special effort and when we got into the very heavy traffic with millions of people all trying to get into the Bowl, I pushed my special airborne button, and Morris sailed over all the cars right to the stage. I was very embarrassed, landing right on the stage like that. Good thing nobody’s in the theatre, yet, I thought. Heh, heh, heh. Very funny.
Just then a voice called out over the loudspeaker, “Genie the Tailor, what do you mean by landing your helicopter right in the middle of the stage? We’re trying to set up the instruments!” I was so embarrassed, and Morris turned pink instead of green, because he was embarrassed too. “He’s not a helicopter,” I said, “he’s a car!” and I parked him on the side of the stage near the water. Hah, I thought, I’ve got the best parking place in the whole theatre.
The Sundowners’ costumes were made of satin and they kept swooshing and sliding all the way down to the dressing room. I just couldn’t keep a grip on them. That’s the last I’ll make of satin, I thought, unless I put them on a leash.
I was walking the costumes downstairs, and trying not to the trip on the long sleeves, when who crossed my path but a very friendly gentleman with eyeglasses. “Ho, ho, Genie the Tailor, how are you?” It was Bob Rafaelson [sic], one of the Monkee producers. “I’m just fine, thank you,” I said, “but I’m trying to keep a grip on this satin.” “Just keep a grip on yourself and you’ll be all right,” he said. “Here’s a ticket to the concert, by the way.” Ooooh, I just couldn’t believe it. How lucky can a girl be? Now I could sit outside and watch the concert like a regular calm normal person at a concert.
But first, I had to dress my boys. They looked so cute in their suspenders. They looked even cuter in the rest of the costume. I went upstairs and Micky rushed out of his dressing room, all dressed up in cranberry velveteen. “What do you think of our new costumes, Genie the Tailor?” said Micky. “Oh, they’re beautiful,” I said, and thought to myself, “Oh, I wish I had made them!” Mike Nesmith came out of the dressing room and played his guitar and sang to himself. “Gee”, I thought, “I wish I could sing like that.” Of course, that would really be strange, wouldn’t it, if I sang like Mike Nesmith? Oh well.
Realizing I had an actual ticket in my hot little hand, I ran out to the front of the theater to watch the concert. I never saw so many people in one place in my life! I was filled with horror as I imagined what it would be like if I had to make all their clothes for that night! Work, work, work. My, my.
Just then the concert began. The boys were so beautiful I couldn’t believe it. And then Micky sang “Randy Skouse [sic] Git”, which he wrote, and played the kettle drums, and then he smiled. All the lights went out but you could see everything because his smile was so bight it lit the whole theatre and all the countryside around. I never saw such a smile in my life.
Peter sang “Auntie Grizelda” and looked like a little clown and Davy sang “I want to be Free” and Mike sang “Sunny Girlfriend” and they played up a storm and everybody was so happy because they were so beautiful! And then Micky jumped into the water that separates the audience from the stage! I ran backstage in time to get him a towel, but too late, he was dripping wet and ran into his dressing room to change. They all came out on stage to do their final number, and as they came off, my mind was reeling I was so excited, I practically jumped up and down!
I was packing all the Sundowners’ costumes in my bag to have them cleaned, and counting suspenders, when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turned around, to find a golden god standing next to me. “Why, Peter Tork”, I said. “Genie the Tailor”, said Peter, “I’ve seen the costumes you made for the Sundowners for tonight’s concert, and I just want to say, could you make me a pair of pants?”
I just couldn’t believe it was real. My dream had come true. Am I dreaming or not?
