Ray's Ragtime

Thanks for stopping by Ada it's always nice to see you

I used this as a diary when I closed downtown. I had good intensions of writing a book. Don't Look Boys I'm naked was going to be the title. The notes are still unorganized, but if you are interested. They can be entertaiming

My favorite people that came in were the vintage lovers. One Italian woman who delt vintage sports cars jaguars anf Porsches etc. Was a favorite. She came in the first time and was disappointed that she couldn't haggle us down much without feeling guilty. But we insisted that she give us an Italian lesson in return. Too expensive asked Ross. She responded troppo caro. Ross responded then it's, troppo caro mia caro? She was fun to play with. She stopped by with her whole family one time and we told her that we finally figured out she was from Venice not Venus. It was fun watching her translate to her family. She hadn't been in for a few years when this beautiful girl came in and told us her mom said to say hello.

Faye Dunaway was probably my only movie star fan crush. I mean it was Faye. She was one of the only customers I met, that I couldn't just treat as a working actor. I know some of my friends who worked with her said she was demanding. I had fun playing dress up with her. One Fab outfit after another, amazing pre eBay stock. She would try stuff on, come out of the dressing room looking stunning, glance in the mirror and say it looked like a costume. She did however show us how she looked. One time she popped out of the dressing room wearing only panty hose with her hand across her chest to grab something. No one was paying much attention to her till she said "Don't look boys I'm naked". everyone immediately snapped around. She really knows how to get focus. We had fun with her. When they needed her on set we were one of the places they found her.
I did fan out once with her. I took her to a storage room to show her some kimono. I think I paused, looked at her and gushed "I just loved you in Thomas Crown Affair! Now what can I sell you." She laughed, my delivery was flawless.
She came in during the filming of The Temp and also when touring with "Master Class". I loved watching her live, great stage presence.
I helped a photographer get a photo. He said she only handed out photos and refused live shots. I told him to go to the stage door and ask very politely, you don't push her. She did a quick pose, wearing a jacket she bought from me and it ended up in a Phil Stanford column.

One of the first stars that came in after I opened in 1986 was Ben Vereen polished and very nice. He had his assistant get a color photo and signed it "To Ray, thanks for yesterday". I must have sold him something he really liked.
As long as we're talking nice Cheryl Crow. She was even sweet after I yelled at her for climbing in the window. Ross said that's Cheryl Crow. I think I said I don't care, she's going to break something. I think she bought a wonderful 40s leather jacket.
In contrast Meg Ryan. She was in and a little cranky. I'm not sure what the details were but it ended up with her complaining about the price of a vintage Levi's jacket about $200 at the time. She said it was for her son. I asked her if he was cute. She said yes. I told her to bring him along next time and she'd get a better price. Laura Dern who was standing behind her almost fell over laughing. She was so cool.

George Clooney was in town doing a TV movie about the first attempt to blow up the trade towers in New York, maybe 1994. Filmed in Gresham with Charles Durning, can't figure out the title. Ross, fellow actor, was working with me at the time, he turned to me and said "do we give discounts to SAG card holders?" He was fun. We did the what have you been in quiz. He said Roseanne. We did the "we don't remember you" he had the shaggy looking hair for Roseanne. He said he was Rosemary Clooney's nephew. We did the ok. At this point we were just harassing a working actor who was playing along. My impression of him was Fox Terrier. You could tell he was dangerous when bored. The clothes as well as the snappy comebacks attracted him. 40s double breasted suits were really hot on him. He was in a lot. He was staying in the Governor Hotel around around the corner. We asked him if he was married, he said never again. I tried to convert him but he assured us that he was straight, so much for that mail order gay recruitment program. That was $1.98 I'll never see again.

Courtney Love. I first met her in the late 70s. She would come in and I was totally in love with this bright 14 year old light fingered girl. I literally cried when I told her to not come back in.
Time passes and I reconnect with my bright friend. She helped me when both my mom and my best friend died within months. Talked to me for an hour. This was right after Kurt died so all this was also fresh on her mind.
She came in often when she lived in Seattle. Portland had incredible vintage and she liked the stores here.
One trip she bought half dozen cap sleeve eyelet 30s dresses, asked for a pair of scissors and voila, mid thigh. She laughed at my horrified reaction and said as soon as she wore them that look would be on the runways. This was about the time that Madonna was on the cover of Details. I thought Courtney looks different and then realized it was just Madonna in Courtney drag. I must have saved that for 3 years. Tossed it about a week before she came in again. I wanted her write something on it. When I told her, no reaction, glad I didn't save it
She was in with an assistant and band maybe Hole but not sure on another touring visit. She was trying on stuff and we were talking about her new b**b job while wearing underwear and making me promise not to tell anyone. (I saw her on a talk show shortly after showing them off to the world. Secrets just don't last forever) Her assistant came up thinking I was perving out. We both looked at her slightly puzzeled.

Another couple:
Michael O'Donoghue came in, no idea who he was. Talked to him for almost an hour. He was a hoot. Left me with a card that said "Michael O'Donoghue-former mental patient'. He said that he gave it to people who tried to talk to him on airplanes. I think having been exposed to world class wackos has really influenced my sheltered upbringing in rural Oregon.
While I'm on writers Cynthia Heimel! She popped into the store one day. She loved vintage clothing and Bakelite jewelry. We (some of my twisted theater friends) were standing around the beauty bar talking. She kept howling from the dressing room and participating in the conversation. She told us when she left that she was going to put us in her Village Voice column. Our response was probably "yeah right." The column was written and she came in about a year later on a book tour. She referred to us as the "mecca of vintage stores" in her book "When Your Phone Doesn't Ring, It'll Be Me." It always pays to be devistatingly witty, but it takes so much energy.

I have been remembering people that I met along the way. I always thought I would write a book, but honestly I don't think it would get done.
Ron Lowe playing air guitar sitting on the rug while Sheryl tried stuff on. Nirvana in the store, with Dave Grohl lasting about two minutes before he bounced off the walls and out the door. So much energy.
I never really knew who anyone was. That was fun. Not recognizing people began to be a game. Paris and Kathy Hilton wondered in. I had no clue and didn't talk to them. Jennifer looked up from a fashion magazine recognized them and went right back to her reading. We had selective celebrity appreciation.
I think I will make each post about an individual or group. This is just an old crazy man trying to remember what I did for 35 years.

Parting shot over 2 years ago. Got tired of hauling to Goodwill. Sidewalk outside Ragtime for three days of give away.

Parting shot from my store downtown. Doesn't seem like two years ago.