On Stage and Off, With Photographer James Meehan

By FRANK RIZZO

 

In the last quarter of the 20th Century, Connecticut hosted some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry as well a colorful array of unique and offbeat performers. To many who were there, it was a golden age of entertainment, with audiences filling venues big and small throughout the state at college campuses, jai alai frontons, arenas, arts centers and nightclubs.

In front of the stage and behind the scenes was photographer James Meehan with his camera at the ready to capture that special moment of revelation.

The Meriden native got his start in photography following a stint in the U.S. Navy in the ‘60s when he took workshops with master photographer Paul Caponigro of Bethel. Until the ‘90s, Meehan worked throughout the state for the New Haven Journal-Courier, New Haven Register, Hartford Courant, NorthEast magazine, The New York Times and Parade magazine, among other publications. He was twice named Connecticut Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association.

Now living in Chester, Meehan has an extensive archive. He recalls the personalities and performances connected to a handful of his favorite images.

It was a challenge to choose just a few from the endless collection of stunning photographs. Among others were The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia and Bob Weil, Robert Redford, wrestler Andre the Giant, Tim Curry, Leontyne Price, Eubie Blake, Peter Tosh, Richie Havens, Muddy Waters, Dizzy Gillespie, Bonnie Raitt, Frank Sinatra, Cloris Leachman, James Taylor, Peter Frampton, Tom Waits, and Allen Ginsberg. The list goes on and on.

Here are some favorites that captured a moment of entertainment history in Connecticut when the stars of the era came out to shine.

 

STEVE MARTIN, actor

Jai alai fronton, Hartford’s North Meadows

“I had his albums and saw him on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ says Meehan, “so I was familiar with a lot of his stuff. But he was even greater in concert. This wasn’t a newspaper assignment but my seat was fairly close to the stage, so I just went up closer to take some pictures for myself. Surprisingly, no one was restricting me so I just shot away. This photo is quintessential Steve Martin doing his ‘King Tu’t bit. Very emotive—and very hilarious.”

 

TINY TIM, performer

Southern Connecticut State University in Hamden

“This was in his dressing room. I knew somewhat about him: singing ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips,’ playing his ukulele and his marrying Miss Vickie on ‘The Johnny Carson Show.’ There were other shots of him laughing but I got this one with him looking off-camera, a rare moment of him seeming more serious. I’m not sure what he was thinking in that moment, but I like it.”

 

GINGER ROGERS, film legend

Ivoryton Playhouse in Essex

“She knew exactly how she wanted to be photographed, and she was definitely in charge. She didn’t want photos of her while she was talking because she didn’t want her mouth to look weird. Here she’s careful to hide any wrinkles in her neck with her hand. She knew exactly what she was doing, where her visual strengths were and how to pose. Smart woman.”

 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, singer

New Haven Coliseum

“This was in the mid-‘70s and I think it was the first time he played arenas and his first time in Connecticut. It was the ‘Born to Run’ tour. I didn’t know that much about him so when I saw him perform, I just stood there with my mouth open. The security people put me way off in the area where the hockey players sat. It wasn’t close to the stage, so I had to use a long lens—I think it was on a tripod—to get this image. It wasn’t long after that he climbed to the top of the piano and jumped off playing his guitar. But I like this shot with his head against [saxophonist] Clarence [Clemons] because they were so close and made such a team.”

 

“STRETCH” (Melvin Burkhardt), sideshow performer with the Cole Bros. 

Carnival at a stop in Bridgeport

“I was taking pictures at the carnival and saw him as part of a side show that included a bearded woman and sword swallower. Stretch’s face was so elastic and he often performed this pose. But I wanted to photograph him in a more controlled setting. We went around to the back of the tent where he had a trailer with his wife. I had a black cloth that I used to carry around with me and I placed it behind him, and he contorted his face into this incredible image. He loved doing it.”

 

STEVIE WONDER, singer/musician

New Haven Coliseum

“The situation was very unusual because the piano was at the edge of the stage and because I knew I wouldn’t be distracting to him because he couldn’t see me. I went right up the stage, even putting my elbows on the edge as I leaned in to take the picture. Because of that closeness, I was able to fill the frame with his face, which was so intimate and full of joy.”

 

MICHU, world’s smallest man as part of Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus

New Haven Coliseum

One of the challenges taking his portrait was how to get perspective of how little he actually was: 33 inches tall. So, I looked around backstage and saw these concrete stairs. I remember that he liked the ladies and of him being a nice and funny guy. I also have pictures of him laughing uproariously, which I also love. But this was a more contemplative shot.

 

MICK JAGGER, lead singer of The Rolling Stones

Hartford Civic Center

This was in ’81 and, at that time, photographers were given just the first two of three songs to get their shots. I remember because of the loudness next to the speakers another photographer, Bob Childs from Associated Press, gave me cigarette filters to put in my ears. There was this runway where he did his solo bits, and this one was one of his crouching poses.”

 

JAMES BROWN, singer/musician

Powder Ridge, Middlefield.

“He did this thing at all his shows where he would be nearly passing out from ecstasy and exhaustion as he staggered back, as if fainting, and his guys would run out to catch him in a flashy robe. He would get off stage and come roaring back, and he would do this again and again. It was brilliant stagecraft, and this shot shows the sweat and energy and why he was called the hardest working man in show business.”

 

ANN WILSON of HEART, singer

New Haven Coliseum

“This was the first show I was at as a photographer when they said I can go wherever I want. No restrictions. So, after they did their first set, they went off stage and so later I went there, too. I came across this door and opened it and there was the band in this little room. They must have thought at first, ‘Who the hell are you?’ But then they didn’t pay much attention to me, and I just started taking pictures. Then Annie started shaking and fussing with her hair as if getting ready to go back on stage. I wasn’t sure if she was doing it for me or not.”

 

TAJ MAHAL, blues musician

Toad’s Place in New Haven

“We were backstage at the club, and he just loved being photographed. I understand that he’s now 82 but he looked pretty buff here and loved showing it off. Obviously, he was proud of his muscles because that was the first pose he did. He was very cool.”

 

BUSTY HEART,  aka Susan Sykes, actress

Studio at The Hartford Courant

“I never went to the strip club where she was performing. She came to the studio at the newspaper. She was very shy and quiet. She was this teenage girl, I think, or maybe just a little older. I wanted to give her a decent and respectful portrait. I had her feelings in mind when I took the picture, and I think it showed her vulnerability.”

 

BOB DYLAN, singer/songwriter

Hartford Civic Center

“From the ‘60s I was definitely a Dylan addict. I played those early albums all the time. For this show in the ‘80s, the security team held back the photographers far away from the stage. I guess Dylan didn’t like having or seeing the photographers up close. I took this with a telephoto lens so it’s not all that sharp but he’s looking right at me. And not looking happy. But, then again, I guess it’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be Bob Dylan.”

 

Frank Rizzo is a freelance journalist who writes for Variety, The New York Times, American Theatre, Connecticut Magazine, and other periodicals and outlets, including ShowRiz.com. He lives in New Haven and New York City. Follow Frank at ShowRiz@Twitter.