After meeting Steve Martin for the first time on the set of "Three Amigos," Martin Short visited his co-star's home and noted his extensive art collection, which included works by Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline and Roy Lichtenstein.
In recounting the meeting, Short told Jimmy Fallon he asked Martin, "How did you get that rich? Because I've seen your work. And, then I noticed how pale he is. It was like I was being haunted."
If you go
› What: “Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life”› When: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8› Where: Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.› Admission: $150 and $250; remaining $65 and $85 tickets are single seats› Phone: 423-757-5580› Website: www.tivolichattanooga.com.
The two have been great friends ever since. Thursday, March 8, they bring their show, "Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life" featuring the Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko, to Memorial Auditorium.
The two said in a phone interview that they spend most of their nearly two-hour show onstage together making people laugh, but there are a few individual moments. They make a good deal of fun of celebrity culture, but Martin also plays banjo with bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers, and Short does some of his well-known characters and celebrity impressions, often with the help of his musical accompanist, pianist Jeff Babko, a member of the house band from "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
The show they will do Thursday night was not originally intended to be a regular gig. It was originally a bit they presented as an interview between the two of them at a Just for Laughs comedy festival in Chicago in 2012. As you might expect, it was well-received.
Don't hesitate if you want tickets. The show is close to being a sell-out, according to Tivoli box office staff. As of press time, there were some seats remaining in the balcony and orchestra sections.
For tickets: 423-757-5580.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
STEVE MARTIN QUOTES
» "The greatest thing you can do is surprise yourself."
» "I believe that sex is the most beautiful, natural and wholesome thing that money can buy."
» "What is comedy? Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke."
» "All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work."
» "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you are an idiot."
» "There's a big difference between the National Book Awards and the Academy Awards. At the Academy Awards, you can feel the greed and envy and ego. Whereas the National Book Awards are in New York."
» "A day without sunshine is like, you know, night."
» "Be so good they can't ignore you."
- Source: imdb.com
MARTIN SHORT QUOTES
» "What's great about being a character actor is you know that you can survive forever. It's not about the gloss of your eyebrows ... One of my great influences was Don Knotts as Barney Fife."
» Asked why he remains in show business: "Two words, sweetie: balloon mortgage. And the need to be loved."
» "I'm totally aware of how lucky I am. I have health, family, children. I do work that gives me total joy and allows me to make a living, and maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I'll feel I've fulfilled a little bit of service to society because I brought other people some laughter."
» When asked what judging capabilities he brought to "Canada's Got Talent" in 2012: "My own unique kind of subtle brilliance, coated with modesty."
» "I don't really tour. I'll do three shows here, three shows there. I like to not go too long not being in front of an audience. It's like the Tin Man in 'The Wizard of Oz' not being oiled. The more you don't do something, the rustier you become. If you do a show once a year, you're going to walk out there and just worry about lines."
- Source: imdb.com