Bette FAQ
What was ‘The Lottery’ and why can’t I find it on Amazon?
The Lottery was a mini film in which Bette discovered she had won the lottery whilst at a music rehearsal in an apartment building several stories high. The ticket got blown out of the window and was picked up by a pigeon. Bette then proceeded to chase the pigeon along the side of the building, down a large hill (she had somehow ended up on top of the piano for this part) and all around town. As far as I’m aware, this footage was created for the purpose of being used as an example of how different stunts and effects are created in films, and was shown to visitors waiting to board the Backstage Tour in MGM Studios, Florida. (It is no longer being used).
5th September, 2007: I received the following email off Bubba and have edited the FAQ accordingly. Thank you Bubba!!
I just read your FAQ on your website about "The Lottery." I just have to make one correction. It was filmed to be used as part of the Backstage Tour at Disney World's MGM Studios, not Universal Studios. I know this as I was working at Disney World at the time. My roommate was working at the Grand Floridian Hotel at the time of filming and would see her on a regular basis in the hotel. My other roommate happened to see her as she waved to people from her limo. I, unfortunately, never got to see her until years later when I saw her in concert.
Was it really Bette in ‘The Simpsons’?
Yes! In her own words, she ‘saw it, did it, and loved it’. She is also mentioned in Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson)’s autobiography, “My Life As A Ten Year Old Boy”
(About the episode “Krusty Gets Kancelled”) “…They almost had to pull the plug on the whole thing, but Bette Midler saved the day! Pretty soon everyone else was coming on board. This was right after Johnny Carson had done his farewell on The Tonight Show and Bette, being a real mensch, was willing to do a reprise of her farewell to Johnny on our show. To her credit, this is the one show Johnny ended up doing after his retirement. Mike was pretty overwhelmed in the booth, during the recording session. It is the one taping that I wish I had never missed.”
(Nancy Cartwright, My Life As A Ten Year Old Boy, Bloomsbury, 2000)
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