Joan Kron celebrated both her 90th birthday and the digital release of her new film, Take My Nose… Please! with a champagne brunch at Michael's restaurant Sunday. Guests were greeted by a Joan River's look alike (the real Rivers appears in Joan's film). Bill Scheft, former writer for David Letterman and a cousin of Joan's, lead off a series of heartfelt and hilarious toasts including this tribute to Joan's 25-year span covering plastic surgery for Allure magazine: "Michael's has dedicated the menu to Joan. You have your choice of entrée: Breast Augmentation of Chicken, Beef Implants , and Pasta Primavera-Plasty."
This was followed by tributes by friends and fellow journalists including Terri Agins, Nancy Newhouse, Linda Wells, Nancy Novogrod, Randall Rothenberg, and Joan's children. Comedian Julie Halston, who also appears in the film, performed a brilliant stand-up routine which included a reading from Joan Crawford's autography and wisecracks including, ""Everyone woman should have a face lift. It's as expensive as a car, but I live in New York. I don't need a car, I need a face!"
"Take My Nose Please," a history of comedians and plastic surgery, is funny and poignant by turns. It won the audience award at the Miami Film Festival and the Berkshire International Film Festival. Distributed by The Orchard, it is widely available, beginning tomorrow, January 9th, Joan's actual Birthday, On Digital and On Demand—including on ITunes Prominent Movies, Amazon Featured Movies to Rent and Buy, and FandangoNow New Releases. It is also available on most Cable and Satellite TV platforms, including Comcast, Cox, Verizon, Charter, RCN, Time-Warner Cable and Dish, to name just a few.
Guests at the bash included MoMA curator Paola Antonelli, Sheila Nevins, Judy Bachrach, Bina & Walter Bernard , Louise & George Beylerian, Mario Buatta , Gina Chiu, Judy & Jerry Della Femina, Jamie De Roy, Dr. Roy Geronemus , Cathy Hardwick, Tracy Jackson + Glenn Horowitz, Janet Kardon, Fern Mallis, Grant McCracken, Sheila Nevins, Virginia Postrel, Susan Roy, Suzanne Slesin and Michael Steinberg , and Shirley Young –plus Joan's children, grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Joan Kron is already working on her next film.