'On my twenty first birthday I was working in the restaurant as usual when somebody told me that Kim Novak was dining outside '

'On my twenty first birthday I was working in the restaurant as usual when somebody told me that Kim Novak was dining outside '

Harry Browne remembers meeting Kim Novak, a famous American film actress and star.

Harry Browne

Trinity College Dublin

1962

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Harry Browne

Work and Employment

Life Story

St Mary's Lane, Dublin

1960's

As addressed earlier I did not stay long in London and on returning to Dublin I got a job in Alfredo's Restaurant situated in St Mary's Lane just beside the Corporation Fruit and Vegetable market. This was one of the very few high end Italian, or indeed, any type of restaurant in the early 1960s. The clientele were the A list of the day. There were politicians, racehorse owners, big businessmen and, of course, film stars. The location of the restaurant was somewhat dingy but this added an aura of danger to it which attracted rather than repelled the customers. On my twenty first birthday I was working in the restaurant as usual when somebody told me that Kim Novak was dining outside. She was a mega star at that period and I was totally fascinated by her. She was told by the waitress that I was an ardent fan and sent for me to come to her table. This did not happen often as chefs were not seen front of house as a rule. She spoke to me and said she had enjoyed her meal, then signed her menu for me and I returned to the kitchen on a cloud. Having attained the grand old age of twenty one I considered myself a fully qualified chef and demanded from Alfredo the wages due to a person who was 'out of his time' meaning finished his apprenticeship. The difference in wages was considerable. Alfredo refused, pleading inability to pay so I left in a huff. For a number of weeks I did not take up any further job. This was the longest period of my life before or since that I have been unemployed. There was no particular reason for this hiatus, I simply did not either seek or get a job. I had sufficient money to satisfy my modest wants and just swanned about in glorious idleness. I finally took up a post as assistant chef in Roche's Stores' Grill Bar in Henry Street. This was an unusual occupation for me as the hours were 9 to 6 and a five day week. This was the first time since I took up the occupation of cooking that I was not working whilst all my contemporaries were enjoying themselves.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)