Zale Kessler

Zale helped me to develop a wonderful Vaudeville character in a musical, Chick, that I was writing for Michael Callan - they were close friends. Zale was so entertaining, so very clever and naturally funny and imaginative. He so inspired me! I was thinking of him tonight, and was shocked to see how long he has been gone. I hope he's up there making everyone feel good in Heaven. He was truly one of a kind.

I still miss Zale being alive in this world. It is a smaller and less funny place without him.

Now, every time that I drive down La Brea Avenue near Pink's Hot Dogs, I say "Hello, Zale. I hope you're doing well, and thank you for all of the beautiful memories you left me with".

I had the privilege of performing with Zale in our high school senior play Liliom back in 1956. He lit up the stage even then.

Good Old Zale: Rest in Peace, my friend. Too many of us miss you. I hope that it means that your spirit is not gone. You were hilarious. So talented. And I got to see your 'Major General' in "Pirates of Penzance" at San Mission Gabiel Light Opera. (I think it was??) And your work lives on. And so does the Memory of you. It was hard to say good-bye from afar. It's much easier to now say 'Hello!'