Bette Midler came, she saw and conquered the press
Bucks County Courier Times - March 5,1976
John Fisher 

DEVON - In the face of a plethora of inane questions, Bette Midler showed, prior to her opening at the Valley Forge Music Fair, that she has a wealth of patience as well as talent.

Suffering from a case of bronchitis, the most recent illness in a sickness plagued concert tour, Bette still braved the massed troupes of journalists Monday afternoon.

With a table set up on the then barren white stage, 50 or so assorted writers lined up to face the lady who brought a theatrical flair to the world of pop music. Bette entered for the conference, simply, clad in a loose fitting blue shirt, jeans and striking red shoes reminiscent of Dorothy's from the "Wizard of Oz."

Bette settles in
It appeared as if the almost continuous ailments had taken their toll on the singer, as she took the stage. An effervescent personality topped off with orange-sherbet colored red hair, Bette settled in to face the press. Any illusions, either imagined or presented, between the Christians and the lions are intentional.

In this case, Bette would have to be put in the Christian camp, a category she may challenge if she ever sees it, but the journalists definitely were the lions, better yet, sharks, they detected a scent of blood and they were going in for the kill.

This was one of those rare interviews, when it was more interesting to sit back and watch and say nothing. But then again, many of the questioners were talking and still not saying anything.

A prime example was the lead off question.

Journalist: Miss Midler, I notice when you came out that you are very thin. Do you like to eat?

Bette: I eat, I love to eat.

Journalist: What do you like to eat?

Bette: Meat.

Keeping in his intellectual vein, the same journalist later asked Bette if she liked sex. Fortunately he skipped such questions as do you like singing and do you like living but then again fortunately he was skipped for most of the conference.

One of the questions raised was whether Ms. Midler intentionally tried to sound like Patti Page on her rendition of "Old Cape Cod," from her newest album.

"On 'Old Cape Cod' it was my impression of Patti and I think it was pretty good," Bette said.

When she was asked if it would cause a resurgence of popularity for Miss Page, Bette jokingly said she hoped the original song was re-released.

Another song, which has been released as a single and is selling well, "Strangers in the Night," also was the target for many questions. 

"If you have ever been to a disco, it's just like that - 'Strangers in the Night' - discos are just like that and I thought it was going to be a good song to do disco," Bette said.

Journalist: Do you like to go to discos and dance?

Bette: I am a dancer. I love to move. I love the dance, every aspect of the dance.

Journalist: Do you think it's entertaining?

Bette: I think it's just as entertaining as sitting home and watching TV and more healthy.

Bette said although her record company picked "Strangers In the Night" for the single release, she felt there were better songs and her personal favorites were on the second side of the album. 

"I think the second side of the album was fantastic. There were no mistakes on the second side as far as I'm concerned."

She said one of Her goals for the future would be to go back to the theatre in a dramatic play. Bette said she didn't think she would like the restriction of doing a musical. She didn't even like the restrictions a large show, such as her "Clams on a Half Shell
Review," placed on her. 

Picks material
Miss Midler revealed she picks some of her own material. "I found that song ("Stranger in the Night") and I decided I wanted to do it.

"That's the only reason I came back to work. I got an idea from it. I originally did it as a ballad.

That's the reason I put on 'Clams On a Half Shell.' I had a hook."

She said she didn't consider her act "camp." 

"I don't consider it camp in the least. My definition of camp has to do with a certain type of joyousness. I think most people misuse the word. They use it in a negative instead of a positive sense. What I do is positive and light.''

Back to clubs
Miss M said she, like Bob Dylan, is considering going back to the small club circuit. "I'm going back to that - back to the clubs. Conceivably, I could go to the stadiums but what I do is very small and intimate. It's supposed to be done on a one to one basis."

Question: Does she like the material she uses? 

"I have to do it night after night no use doing something I hate."

Question: On homosexual support of her career?

"I think there are members of my audience who are gay. There are members of any entertainers audience who are gay. I have no idea what the state of affairs are in the gay community, I'm not gay."

Question: On success?

"I think not having bad dreams is success. Being at peace with who you are. I don't know how anybody achieves that, I think most people go all their lives being unhappy."

Question: On going into show business?

"Don't bother. The nature of this business eats you up. It eats you alive. Talent has nothing to do with it. It's the qualities you have to have in order to succeed - great anxiety, violent insecurity. 

"The very nature of the business breeds fear. Everywhere there is bitterness and jealousy. The worst part of having success is to try finding someone who is happy for you. You don't really find that, not in this business.

In the gutter
"What success breeds is fear. One day you're on top and the next day you're in the gutter. It
happens all the time. 

Question: Do you know any normal people in your business?

Bette: No. Do you know of any normal people in your business? The rock writers they all become show business personalities.

Question: Why is show business bad?

"The public is tickled. What you do might have been grand two years ago but then suddenly the public is looking for something different and you're completely forgotten.

"So what you end up with in this business is bitterness, anxiety and fear."

A few of the questions raised gave Miss M a chance to show she is more than a piece of show business fluff. Other questions showed she has a sense of humor and a low boiling level. The lump sum showed that Bette Midler probably would have been a success at any field she would have chosen.