This was just on the news...kinda fun stuff...and of course Prince is mentioned...enjoy...

Celebrity secrets of St. Louis
05/14/2003

Reporter: Ray Preston, News 4


(KMOV) -- When big time celebrities blow into town, you might think they do their thing and then they're outta here. But that's not always the case.


Steve Schankman has produced more than 20,000 shows. That means he's backstage where you and I never go. He's dealt with superstars forgetting their belts and just can't go on without one.


"Nobody had a belt his size, mine was too big, my partner's was too small, so we had a 40 minute delay while we went back down to the hotel to pick up a black belt for him," he says of Bruce Springsteen.


At the White Knight Diner, don't be surprised if you run into Don Henley, a fan of the place since the '80s. Henley was at The Pageant for a fundraiser for Jean Carnahan. Afterward, Henley brought his buddies including Sheryl Crow and the crews, to the diner for a late night party. Henley's favorite item on the menu is the cheeseburgers. The owner is a hard-line Republican. Still, he says Henley's a great guy, a regular Joe. The only difference, he says, is Henley's worth millions of dollars and he's worth a few bucks.


Radio stations usually set up what are called "meet and greet" sessions with the stars and their fans. It's pretty much what you think -- fans schmooze with the stars and the stars bask in the glory. But sometimes big stars act like big stars.


"He [Prince] had left about an hour before the time we were supposed to meet him. He just didn't feel like talking with anyone. He stood us up. He stood everyone up," says Greg Hewitt of Y98.


If you want history, check out the Mayfair Hotel.


"It was the tallest building downtown," says Kerri Gwinn Harris.


That was back in 1925. Imagine the surprise one night when the kitchen was supposed to be closed and dark and empty, but an employee finds a guest here.


"One night in the middle of the night, a houseman found her downstairs cooking in the kitchen without the chef without any type of supervision," she says.


That guest was Patti LaBelle.


"It's something she likes to do. She loves to cook. She travels with her own spices, her own hot sauces, her own special recipes, and she loves to cook for people," Gwinn Harris says.


Billy Joel and Elton John played at the Savvis Center last week. Some stars go to great lengths to make themselves feel at home.


"We've had them bring in their own rugs, tables, chairs, artwork. You know, they travel so many days a year and they want to make dressing rooms their home," says Cindy Underwood of the Savvis Center.


Elton John used a dressed up Billikens locker room for his dressing room. One of the best stories about stars in St. Louis revolves around Elton John. It was 20 years ago and he was playing at the VP Fair, which is now known as Fair St. Louis.


"Afternoon show, Elton John, hundreds of thousands of people," Schankman says.


So, how do you get him to the stage under the Arch through a sea of people?


"There's no way you just walk in with Elton John and people don't recognize him," Schankman says.


Some were pretty inebriated because back then they weren't real strict about alcohol.


"They just all want to get as close as they possibly can to the star. They like to get up the next day and say, 'Ya know, I shook hands with Elton John,'" says Lt. Col. Jim Hackett (ret.) of Hackett Security.


Hackett and Schankman came up with a plan.


"So, Jim got one of his sergeant's to give us a uniform about the same size as Elton," Schankman says.


"And we drove him into the Arch grounds. Hell, nobody knew who he was. He loved it," Hackett says.


Schankman says when police pulled onto the Arch grounds; Elton John decided to have a little fun.


"Here comes the car. It pulls in and there are two officers in the front seat but no Elton John," he says. "They get out of the car and start walking the crowd. He finally walks into the compound and I know it's him because he's got red shoes on."


Elton John played the fair. The crowd was never the wiser. But after all these years, the story still isn't over.


"Now, the other catch to the deal is guys, if you ever see Elton John, see if you can get my police uniform back," Hackett says.