Orange County Jewish Life caught up with Jackie Goldberg, The Pink Lady, who creates shows and seminars that inspire and motivate people over 60 to “get up and get a life.” She was easy to spot – all in pink from the hair down, energetic and upbeat.
Goldberg, who turns 80 on September 3, has an active life and a boy friend she met at Toastmasters seven years ago. Her oldest son will be 60. She has five children, six grandchildren, one great grandchild and one great attitude.
How did you become The Pink Lady? For more than 45 years, I have been in the fashion industry as a Womens’ Wear marketing and sales rep in the Cal Mart and have motivated employees by boosting morale and improving sales techniques. Pink is a positive, happy color. My whole house is pink.
What motivates you? Ten thousand people are reaching 60 every day. By the year 2030 one out of every five persons in this country will be 65 years “young” or more. This group is gaining power politically, economically and socially with each passing day. I reinvented myself after my husband passed away, because I saw what the media and people’s perceptions of seniors are. I’ve reached that age where the world thinks you should be sitting in a rocking chair, not involved in business or entertainment. In the entertainment industry, especially here in Hollywood, talented performers over 60 are overlooked and not being used to their fullest potential. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has indicated to me that there have been a few others who have had ideas to address this issue, but no one has moved forward to make anything happen and that this is a definite need.
How do you conduct your seminars? I’ve presented seminars called “Get Up, Get Out and Get a Life” at medical institutions, adult centers, universities and philanthropic organizations. The idea is that there’s humor in aging and survival after a loss. You can still have relationships, and you can still live a good life when you’re older. This is the most joyous time of my life. I’m a young 80. I was Miss Senior LA County in 2005.
What’s your current vision? I’m an actress, mostly stage and commercials, and I’m a SAG/AFTRA member. My company, Senior Star Power Productions is now a 501c3 company. For the fourth time I’m producing a show in which all of the presenters are 60 and up – baby boomers and seniors. My show, “Rockin’ with the Ages – The Beat Goes On” will open in Hollywood October 4 and run through November 11. This world premiere musical event, a celebration of the young at heart, was written, directed and choreographed by Cate Caplin with musical direction by David O. It has songs you know and love from the decades that produced the richest cavalcade of everlasting hits, all woven into a positive story that will lift your spirits.
Why are you doing it? I want to provide a venue for performers who are 60 years of age and older, so that they can continue to do what they do best – entertaining – and finance the shows using my own personal resources.
What’s next for you? I want to create a year-round destination senior theater in Hollywood to promote the talents and work of baby boomer/senior performers, similar to what is being done in Branson or Palm Springs. This theater would serve two purposes: put this age group back to work and increase tourism in Los Angeles/Hollywood. I want to develop a theater complex to house a professional-caliber theater that would run a program of three or four shows a year. I want to have classes in on-camera television commercial performing, vocal training, dancing, improvisation and others taught by professionals.
Rockin With The Ages –
The Beat Goes On
Thursday, October 4, through Sunday, November 11, 2012
Shows:
Thursday
2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Friday
8 p.m.
Saturday
2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday
1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Running time:
2 hours including intermission
Cost:
$33 General
$29 Seniors
$25 Group Rate (10+)
Ticket sales:
(818) 606-6679
Theatre of Arts Arena Theater
1647 North Las Palmas
Hollywood, CA 90028