Ann-Margret did indeed wear the “pale pistachio silver backless beaded dress covered by an absolute waterfall of beaded fringe” just as Suzy Knickerbocker predicted. Elton John didn’t wear the rumored iridescent green feather boa and matching lapels; he came in black velvet with the luscious Penny Valentine on his arm. Tina Turner’s white floorlength mink coat duplicated Ann-Margret’s exactly, and Rex Reed wore an emerald green shirt with his black tie. Jewelry designer Elsa Perretti and actress Anjelica Huston danced (at different times) with black security cops, and model Appolonia von Ravensteen danced with that foolish hairdresser Ara Gallant who wore his usual silly hat. Neal Peters - AnnMargret’s Number One Fan, proudly displayed Ann-Margret’s autograph tattooed on his shoulder, and the entire Stigwood entourage (including Pat Ast who they seem to shlep everywhere) was out in full forqg. To say nothing of Andy Warhol’s tiresome gang. Lois Chiles, Mrs. William F. Buckley, Marion Javits, Tony Perkins, Berry Berenson Perkins, Diane von Furstenburg separated from Egon von Furstenburg, Angela Lansbury, Maxime de la Falaise McKendry, Nan Kempner (who is Nan Kempner?), Halston, Heidi Leiberfarb, John & Didi Ryan III ... all in the subway, following the New York Tommy premiere.. Unfamiliar names? Don’t be silly, it was almost the same cast as Sly’s wedding for the Selling of Tommy: Rock Slumming Part II. (And whoever called this bunch The Beautiful People obviously never saw them at a buffet table grabbing for a seafood crepe.) Other invited celebs who had the good sense not to show up at the festivities included Lena Horne, Woody Allen, Peter Boyle, Lillian Heilman, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Cavett, Robert Redford, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Paul Newman, Bette Midler, A1 Pacino, Lee Radziwill, and Simon and Garfunkel who, one assumes, were asked because “the words of the prophets were written on the subway walls . . .”

Quite frankly, I never understood all the fuss about Tommy when it was a record. To me, the concept of rock opera was funny; all that stuff about a deaf, dumb and blind kid who played pinball for god’s sake... even more laughable, despite the fact that Peter Townshend couldn’t be sweeter, couldn’t be more talented. So - when the rumblings began about Ken Russell (a very silly film maker) doing the film, the reaction irr this household was - “so what?” But when the hype began, it was impossible to ignore.