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Legendary Palm Springs Journalist Gloria Greer to be Remembered at Nov. 30 Celebration of Life at Camelot Theatre

Nov. 23, 2015

Gloria Greer, the legendary local society and entertainment journalist who covered the “Stars of the Desert” for more than 50 years, first for Variety and then for a host of local news organizations and feature publications, will be remembered at a special Celebration of Life on Monday, Nov. 30 in Palm Springs.

The 6 p.m. event will be held at the Camelot Theatre, 2300 E. Baristo Road. Speakers will include Greer’s long-time friend actress Ruta Lee, Frank Jones, publisher of Palm Springs Life Magazine, Ric Supple, the long-time owner of RR Broadcasting, KESQ-TV news anchor Karen Devine and her two daughters Norma and Ann.

Greer passed away Oct. 30 after a long battle with cancer. She was 87.

Greer began covering the Coachella Valley society and entertainment scene in 1961 and quickly became a glamorous fixture in the community; becoming fast friends with the celebrities who helped put Palm Springs on the international stage. In fact, Greer has interviewed almost every Hollywood icon and politician who played a role in the evolution of the city, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, President Gerald R. Ford, Ambassador Walter Annenberg, Mayor Sonny Bono and many, many more.

Greer, who most recently served as society editor for Palm Springs Life Magazine, also worked for the Desert Sun and had three public television shows seen throughout Southern California on KVCR and Time Warner Cable. She also worked for the Riverside Press- Enterprise and perhaps most notably for KMIR-TV, the Coachella Valley’s NBC affiliate, where she had a much celebrated segment called “Stars on the Desert” which covered the celebrities who lived here and the Coachella Valley charitable scene.

Greer is also well known for spearheading ACT for MS, which she founded after her daughter Norma was diagnosed with the disease. She and local resident Merv Griffin co- founded the organization’s annual Christmas Tree Lane Celebrity Tree Auction which is still going strong some 15 years later. She also received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in recognition of her many accomplishments.

“Gloria Greer was a true Palm Springs one-of-a-kind original who played a tremendous role for more than 50 years as a journalist promoting our city as the premiere resort destination in Southern California,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “The City’s renaissance could not have taken place without Gloria’s undying belief in our brand and we will miss her indomitable spirit and incredible skills as a journalist who played a major role in the evolution of Palm Springs. She was an important part of the magic that makes our city like no place else.”

Greer is survived by her daughters Norma and Ann along with two grandchildren.

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