Ruthi's Story -
Hi. I have been a fan of Johnny Crawford since I was a kid. Somehow I even got my parents to let me buy a set of cuff links for him for a high school graduation present. I mailed him the cuff links and got a hand written letter back thanking me for them--wow--well I just got to thinking about him about 3 months ago. I heard something about him on a radio station here in Phoenix--KOY am. They did a trivia question asking who was the child actor on The Rifleman--I'm thinking, "I know that one!!" but I didn't know the number to the station. Someone calls in and say's, "Johnny Crawford"--and I'm like, "Yep, I knew that!" Anyway, here is my story.
I was working at a nightclub--a cowboy bar--in Phoenix, called "Mr. Lucky's". It was the biggest nightclub in the south west. It had been kind of dead but the rodeo was in town at "Rawhide"--it was over so people were starting to come in. A group of guys were coming in--the first man in smiled and said "Hi" and I said "Hi" back. He turned around to see where the rest of his "party" was. He looked at me and smiled and then back at the door, like "Come on guys. Let's get this together. This lady is waithing for us." I kept thinking "I know this guy." I think he knew I knew who he was--but I don't really know--just I had seen this man before. Ok, he is standing there WAITING for the rest of the group--it was sort of weird. He walked back outside and looked around, then came back in. I kept looking at him. It was getting uncomfortable. I think he thought his group was right behind him and they weren't.
Finally they started coming in and I asked him, "How many?" He turned and looked behind him and said, "Umm..." As the people came up behind him he turned to me and asked, "How much?" Then I saw someone else put his hand out and say, "No, Johnny, we got this." Johnny has his wallet out, but the other person said, "Don't take his money. Johnny's money doesn't work tonight." Johnny looked at me, then at this guy, then back at me and rolled his eyes. I'm still looking at him, lik, "I know you." Now it's getting more uncomfortable. More people were coming in and these guys were not moving out of the way. After they finally get all paid and get their stamps, and left, I told the doorman, "I know that first guy." He started laughing, saying, "You mean JOHNNY?" (He was repeating the name he heard the other guy call him.) "Maybe he's an ex boyfriend, or a future ex boyfriend", he teased, "He's old! Do you think he's hot?" The doorman was maybe 22 years old. I'm thinking--Ok, so I'm old (because this guy was only a few years older than me)--Not funny--and yes, he was looking good to me. Then he said, "You know everyone!!" Ok, now I'm not talking to the doorman anymore.
About 30 minutes later--I'm still not talking to the KID--he said, "Hey Ruthi, here comes your future ex boyfriend." I'm thinking, "What?" The kid moved and I could see "Johnny" just standing there. He looked like he didn't want to be there. Then I guess he noticed me "looking" at him. I told the doorman, "If you embarrass me right now, you will be a blood spot on the rug, right where you are standing!" The kid was trying not to laugh--sooo embarrassing. Johnny was standing there for a few minutes--by himself--he smiled and nodded his head at me-- looked around at the pictures on the wall. I have no idea why he was out in the lobby. To me it looked like he really didn't want to be there. He didn't look like he had been drinking. I got the feeling "this" wasn't his "thing". Sort of like "the parent" going out with the "kids" and you don't want to be there. He was very quiet and low key--not bringing attention to himself. Then his group came out and said, "Oh, there you are. We were looking for you. Let's go." Johnny looked over at me and smiled. I was saying good night to everyone as they were leaving like I always do with the customers. As Johnny was leaving I said, "Good night Johnny" since I knew his name from the other guy calling him that. He turned back and nodded his head, smiled again and out the door they went. Of course the doorman was making "stupid" remarks, teasing me with a high pitched mockery of my "Good night Johnny."
The next day I heard on the rodeo that JOHNNY CRAWFORD had been at the rodeo the night before. Then it hit me, that was who he was! A couple of weeks later a good friend of mine, that I've known for years, who works the rodeo circut, came in and I asked him about Johnny being at the rodeo. My friend was with Johnny in the announcer's booth during the show. My friend had also come to the bar THAT night and I had talked to him. He didn't know that "they" had shown up at the bar. He didn't see that party but he heard that they were going out. He said that he looked for them in the bar. I told him that they didn't stay very long. I can't remember if my friend had come in first that night or Johnny's group. He also told me that had he known that I was a big fan of Johnny's, he would have gotten me passes for the rodeo, plus a VIP pass and introduced me to Johnny. I was so disappointed to hear I missed that opportunity!
My friend said that Johnny was a very, very nice gentleman and he was honored to meet him. Ok, that is my story--but I'm not 100% sure that was him. Maybe 85%.
Ruthi
