The Miracle Worker 1962
Patty Duke did an incredible job portraying Helen Keller. I've admired Helen Keller since I was very young and seeing her story brought to life this way was so exciting.
She was asked about this meeting during an interview with Mick Du Russel:
MICK: Did you ever get to meet Helen Keller?
PATTY: Yes I did! I was 12 years old and an actress, Katherine Cornell, was a neighbor of Helen Keller's. She came to see the play "The Miracle Worker" on opening night and said "Would you like to meet Helen Keller?".
I was tempted to say "No I am busy" but I didn't! So she arranged it.
I went to Miss Keller's house in Arcan Ridge, Connecticut. We had the most delightful day! It was awesome to watch her come down the stairs in her beautiful blue dress. She never touched the railing. She had a thread on the opposite wall and she would put her pinky on that thread and walk down the stairs in such a stately manner. After the great stately walk down the stairs, she became like a giddy girl! We had the best time. We must have spent the whole day there. She was eager to know how much I loved playing her. She wanted to come to the show but she had recently lost her second "Annie Sullivan", Polly. She was in mourning so she didn't want to leave her house.
http://theshowbizwizard.blogspot.com/2013/01/talking-with-patty-duke.html