YET ANOTHER MYTH SHATTERED: “What’s Mavis Beacon Up To These Days? Nothing. She’s Fake:”

One day at their office in Beverly Hills, during the creation of their typing program, Crane asked Abrams to join him on a trip to Saks Fifth Avenue. According to Abrams, there at the perfume counter, while shopping for a gift, Crane and Abrams met their typing teacher.

Abrams described Renee L’Esperance as a “stunning Haitian woman,” with “three-inch fingernails.” Crane instantly wanted to put her face on the box for his typing software. They got to talking, and despite the concerns Abrams voiced (“She’s never been near a keyboard!”), they soon made a deal. Abrams told us they paid L’Esperance a flat fee, bought her a conservative outfit that befitted a typist, and rented a business square in Century City on a Sunday, in order to take the cover photo. As for her long fingernails, Crane said “Don’t worry. We won’t show her hands,” according to Abrams.

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Abrams said Crane came up with the first name, “Mavis,” in honor of singer Mavis Staples. “Beacon,” had something to do with a “beacon of light,” Abrams said.

All of Scott Adams’ TRS-80 Adventure programs though were based on his real-life experiences, right? Right?

(Via James Lileks.)