PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — In 1979, Morley Safer did a story for 60 Minutes on Palm Springs from an outsider's point of view.
It played on every stereotype of the desert village as a habitat for the rich and famous.
It quoted Mel Haber, owner of the Ingleside Inn, as saying Palm Springs was the home of the "creme de la creme," so people who dined at Melvyn's in the Ingleside Inn were "the creme de la creme of the creme de la creme."
Safer called Palm Springs "the Krypton of the super-rich."
He said so many people had swimming pools, if someone yelled, "Everybody in the pool!" in Palm Springs, there would be five people in every pool.
The story created a sensation in the desert. Haber made up Melvyn's T-shirts advertising his restaurant as "the creme de la creme of the creme de la creme." I wrote a column parodying Safer's story and, a week later, Safer wrote me back, telling me how much he enjoyed the piece and saying I should tell my editor I deserved a raise.
It was the third column I had written as an entertainment writer for The Desert Sun after having started as a general assignment reporter seven months earlier. I dug it out of the archives after hearing of Safer's death Thursday at the age of 84. Here is the column from Sept. 22, 1979, titled "A letter to Morley:"
To: Morley Safer
From: Bruce Fessier, dining and entertainment writer, The Desert Sun
Re: "60 Minutes" segment on Palm Springs
Dear Mr. Safer
I'd like to thank you for really strengthening an argument I've been having with my editor.
I was promoted to my present job three weeks ago, and since then I've been trying to convince my boss to give me enough money to allow me to enjoy what I believe is the typical Palm Springs lifestyle.
I've told him a dining and entertainment writer does not associate with the same type of people a cityside reporter associates with and he can't be expected to wear the same attire or entertain in the same type of abode as those reporters.
My arguments just didn't seem to get me anywhere. I said, "Hey, this is Palm Springs, the Krypton of the super-rich. I've got to have my own solid-gold golf clubs. I've got to have two Rolls Royces in my driveway. I've got to be able to tip Jose Ibarra $20 a bag at the airport."
But would he listen? Noooo. He'd have me getting hamburgers and hot dogs at those fast-food restaurants while everybody else, as you noted, was getting caviar and potatoes.
But now that you've said exactly what I've been saying, I think my editor has to see the light.
I've already contacted that Cleveland gasket king about purchasing his $3.5 million home. But, I'm not going to rush into anything. I'm going to look around first. Who knows? I may want to buy a house that looks like a TWA airport terminal. Or maybe if I'm really lucky, I can find a home for sale in the neighborhood where Mr. Ed's neighbor lives.
Yes, Morley, I'm so confident that my editor is now going to allow me to live like all the other average folks in "the Springs" that I've given my landlord 30-days notice.
I mean, how can anyone expect me to live in a one-bedroom apartment on Indian Avenue? It's so small, I wouldn't have room for six racks of clothing, as you noted Jeannine Levitt did, even if I put them in my living room.
Thanks again, Morley. And, if you ever drop by Krypton again, be sure to look me up. I'll buy you a creme de la creme at Melvyn's.
Best wishes,
Bruce
PS: Morley: Disaster of disasters! I just talked to my editor and he's not going to give me any more money. He said he doesn't believe the average Palm Springs resident lives the way you described them in your story.
He said he doesn't even live that way and he's got one of the most important jobs in the city.
What am I going to do, Morley? I'm supposed to leave my apartment in 30 days and I've spent my last cent on a down payment on some golden golf clubs.
I've got one idea. How would you like to bail me out of my financial jam in exchange for a story about a city where everything is really made out of gold.
I've never been there, but some Indian friends of mine say they have a map.
Follow Bruce Fessier on Twitter: @BruceFessier
