Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” with Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Evans, had a VIP screening. So VIP that Chris came late, had no time, left early. So VIP that organizer Andrew Saffir offered to bring me something. Like what? “Like Gummy Bears.” Gummy bears?! What happened, run out of caviar?

And then, who cared, because in came Samuel L. Jackson, who said: “All the work I do, I do nothing wild, don’t drink, I care only about providing for my wife and family.

“Growing up, a poor kid in segregation in Chattanooga, Tenn., who knew all this could happen to me? No idea. Never thought I’d be anything. No doctor, lawyer, nothing. I was a dreamer. Lived in my head. I imagined I’d go places. I thought maybe I’d be a pirate.

“I signed up for the merchant marine. Then, it was Atlanta and civil rights.

“Considering last week I was in Tiananmen Square, it still amazes me. I marvel at my life. But see, luck’s a bad practice. I had determination. I found what I wanted to do and things happened.

“I did improv. Children’s theater. Repertory. Auditions. Not figuring to be a movie star. Just excited about being an actor. That was my direction. I got sober. Stopped being a bad boy. God didn’t want me to do all those bad things.

“My first movie role, when I got my first SAG card, I was in Morehouse College, working with the head of the drama department. First show was ‘Ragtime,’ 1980. First time in London I had lunch with James Cagney. I figured I was off and running.”

Then, he was off and running to this Marvel comic book series of superheroes, Avengers, the Falcon, the Black Widow, cataclysmic events versus the modern world, assailants and conspiracies where he’s wearing an eye patch, and he asked, “Coming to see the movie?”

NO!

He laughed. He kissed me. He was off.

Ninety-two years of Nederlander

1922, when James Nederlander was born, John Barrymore was in B’way’s “Hamlet,” Eddie Cantor in “Make It Snappy,” Will Rogers in “Ziegfeld Follies,” Fred Astaire in “For Goodness Sake.” SRO was “Abie’s Irish Rose.”

Stars were Helen Hayes, Tyrone Power Sr.

Today, Jimmy owns the Palace, Brooks Atkinson and many of those houses. His hits include “Fiddler,” “West Side Story,” “Phantom,” “La Cage.” He knows exactly what “If/Then” with Idina Menzel — now better known than Travolta’s hairpiece — clocked that day at his Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Monday, all B’way came for his Harmonie Club birthday party. Said Jimmy: “I couldn’t have met this many people in 92 years.”

One tall Tune

Opening the Carlyle April 22, for two weeks — nine-time Tony winner Tommy Tune. “My first cabaret act. I’ll do 75 hot minutes. A Gershwin suite, stuff from Cy Coleman, Carole King, Green Day, Cole Porter, Lieber & Stoller. It’s great. I tested it in Tahiti.” Tahiti? This was odder than gummy bears.

A problem, says Tommy, a ringlet over 6-foot-6: “The Carlyle has a platform stage under a low ceiling. I can’t fit in. Testing it out, I couldn’t stand upright. They’re having to remove that stage and platform, and I’ll just stand on the floor.”

Odds & ends

Pay attention. Singing the anthem at the Rose Bowl, John Legend wore Versace jacket, Balenciaga shirt, and Jimmy Choo oil slick-patterned glittery high-top sneakers for $1,025 . . . PRODUCER Roger Berlind reprising “My Fair Lady” for B’way.

Our towners always find a way. 67th and Lex. Toyota windshield sign reads:

“Officer, please don’t ticket. Meter broken.”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.