by Sally Morem

Created on: July 26, 2009

She Made it After All

"Who Can Turn the World On With Her Smile? Who can take a nothing date and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?"

Mary Tyler Moore can. Moore was on hand on May 8, 2002 when the city of Minneapolis unveiled a life-size bronze statue of her created by Gwendolyn Gillen. It captured a key moment from the opening of her popular 1970s sitcom, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," as she was just about to release her tam.

A memorable thing happens. TV history is made in that opening shot. The film editor freezes the scene right at the point when the tam is high in the air and Mary's arm is stretched out as high as possible. She is grinning. Everyone who has ever watched the show remembers that instant of pure joy.

On that morning, I took a little walk from my bus stop to watch the unveiling of that statue. I figured there would be a nice, friendly, Minnesota mob of people gathered at the intersection, looking at a draped object next to Dayton's.

Wrong. TV Land, the sponsor of the statue and the unveiling, had that entire intersection cordoned off, a big TV Land tent facing the IDS Building, and a smaller tent next to Dayton's on 7th Street. I was standing in the City Center entrance trying to see something, anything. Nothing.

I walked the skyway from the City Center to Gaviidae Commons, but still couldn't see a thing with that darned tent in the way. Obviously, that was the idea.

I had to get to work. I couldn't hang around to witness the Great Event. Plus, it was a cold day for May, even for Minnesota. If I wanted to see something, it would have to be outside. No need to shiver in a cold spring wind to see something I can look at later in nicer weather.

I learned later that Mary threw tams again and again for the cameras while 2,500 of her devoted middle-aged fans cheered and waved signs, while jamming the Nicollet Mall from 7th to 8th Streets. Some had staked out viewing spots as early as 1:00 am. Fans then participated in a "group tam toss."

TV Land hosted a news conference starring Mary. Reporters asked silly question, which she promptly lobbed back with appropriately silly answers.

Fans of Mary can find the statue at that same intersection on the Nicollet Mall. They have often searched, in some befuddlement, for her lost tam at that site over the years.

My friends and I had arguments about where precisely that tam was thrown. One thought it was in front of the old Donaldson's department

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