A visit from the Mayor of New York
A day came when, seeking new screens to conquer, Thames Television brought seven consecutive evenings of New York viewing time. Among the items shown was The Naked Civil Servant.
Whether or not this wild gamble turned out to be profitable for Thames I have no idea but it certainly made a difference to me. It foreshadowed the moment when my dream of America became a reality. From the moment I heard what had happened, I never for long took my eyes from the western horizon.
For many months no invitation to visit the States was received but an American came to see me. This man was Mr. Lindsay, the former mayor of New York - a position, in my estimation, only just south of God.
He arrived in Beauford Street at the head of his men - Mr. Lindsay and I were placed so close together we must have looked like old time radio crooners sharing a microphone. . . I was too astonished by the entire incident to remember much of my conversation with my visitor but I do recall that he asked me if I was planning to go to the States.
It seemed to me unlikely that this dialogue would ever be heard in New York but I was wrong. My spy for that city has since told me that this interview formed part of a program called Good Morning America. That means that it was seen by eleven million people with half-closed eyes.
Whether or not this wild gamble turned out to be profitable for Thames I have no idea but it certainly made a difference to me. It foreshadowed the moment when my dream of America became a reality. From the moment I heard what had happened, I never for long took my eyes from the western horizon.
For many months no invitation to visit the States was received but an American came to see me. This man was Mr. Lindsay, the former mayor of New York - a position, in my estimation, only just south of God.
He arrived in Beauford Street at the head of his men - Mr. Lindsay and I were placed so close together we must have looked like old time radio crooners sharing a microphone. . . I was too astonished by the entire incident to remember much of my conversation with my visitor but I do recall that he asked me if I was planning to go to the States.
It seemed to me unlikely that this dialogue would ever be heard in New York but I was wrong. My spy for that city has since told me that this interview formed part of a program called Good Morning America. That means that it was seen by eleven million people with half-closed eyes.