HughE Dillon: Betty White at Convention Center

Betty White made an appearance Saturday at the closing session of the Public Library Association Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Speaking to well over 3,000 people, White had the audience in stitches with her quick wit, telling tales about her career, as well as some of the wonderful actors she’s worked with, including Mary Tyler Moore. Regarding her days on the Golden Girls, she said: “Rose wasn’t stupid, just wonderfully naive.” Currently she co-stars on Hot in Cleveland; her role was only supposed to be for the pilot, but when they asked if she’d like to be a regular on the show she “failed to say no,” she told the crowd with a laugh. Betty also talked about her favorite subject, animals and zoos. She said these days, zoos are the best conservations in the world … where else can young children see animals and learn about their importance in the world? Many natural habitats have been encroached on by man and destroyed. She also gave a shout out to the Philadelphia Zoo, and regretted she didn’t have enough time to go see the new baby snow leopards.