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Bette Midler’s day of wine and roses . . .
Certainly success has been no stranger to the likes of American singer, BETTE MIDLER. But even with the best can come too much of a good thing, which was the case of BETTE’s popularity during her recent European tour. 

The fact that BETTE gained popular raves among the European critics and sell-out performances at each stop were enough to handle, but then came the extra ticket requests. That meant, of course, extra performances added to each night and more hours of work, which could have been hours set aside for sleep – of just rest! 

It wasn’t just the overwork and under-rested crew that created some tension.  According to BETTE, Munich had been nothing less than a bummer, starting with the band’s equipment being held up at the German border.  When the equipment finally did get there, the sound system were off-key and the lighting equipment was able to focus on no more of BETTE’s body than the lower half! 

Once the concert was over, BETTE was officiating at a backstage birthday party for the band’s drummer and all seemed to simmer down.  It seemed as if everybody was grasping for anything to bring them away from the bummers of the concert. 

Already a little “on edge,” BETTE later received an abundance of roses from the German PR, something not only unexpected – but evidently unwanted.  Reportedly, for no apparent reason, BETTE dropped the roses – on AARON RUSSO’s face! The thorns jabbed AARON right below the eye, and in a quick reaction, AARON then threw a full glass of champagne into BETTE’s face!

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OH, BOY, A HOUSEBOY FOR BETTE!
Women Libbers are proud of Bette Midler. Now that the songbird's a superstar, it's only fitting that she start to live it up like one. What better way than with a little live-in help. A maid? Don't be silly! Her live-in love Aaron Russo ran an ad for a "Houseboy!" It ran! "Houseboy for Major Recording Star, must be able to cook and serve and take care of personal business and clean Bel Air House. Must be bright, well mannered, good looking, preferably body builder or sports-minded." For this, she would pay $500 a month and room and board. And within a day of its running in the Advocate (which happens to be a "gay" newsweekly - and we don't mean happy!), Bette had hired her superboy. Hmmm! We still don't know what kind of sports Ms. Midler has in mind!

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Q: Are the rumors true that Bette Midler has found real love at last with an off-Broadway actor?  -C.K., Boston

A: Bette has been living with Peter Riegert, who was appearing in an off-Broadway play, "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," when they met last winter." Currently they are holded up in a Beverly Hills estate leased from the Consul General of the Ivory Coast, while Bette tries to find the right movie property to launch "her movie career." They seem to be particularly camera-shy, and one reason may be that Peter can best be described as a Woody Allen personality. Bette, in the meantime, is busy glamorizing herself; starting with a new set of caps.

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Bette scalps the scalpers 
The Divine Miss M ­ Bette Midler – has struck back at Sydney ticket scalpers who were asking and getting $150 each for tickets to her show.  She has agreed to do four more Sydney concerts, bringing the total to an astonishing 14.   

Patti Mostyn Publicity says she was horrified to learn how much the scalpers were charging.  So she postponed a Hawaiian tour to fit in four more Sydney concerts at the State Theatre. Bette will give one concert in Adelaide at the Apollo Stadium Saturday.

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And Bette Midler adds, "I always wished that my chest was smaller, that my hair was thicker, and my eyes were bluer."