the New York Dolls

The New York Dolls were playing the Victory theatre for 2 weeks. They came to my bar every night. they came with a first a phone call to meet there limo at the door. I don't know how they heard of my place. They breezed in like they owned the place. they pushed their way to the front of the line at the bar. Big shots from New York. then they met my marvelous bartender Laura.
Laura was also from New York. In minutes she had their attention and respect and they meekly got in line like everyone else.
On their last night they were really celebrating they were a big success. I meet the limo at the door to whisk them in still glittering. In the crowd is a wino. I stop him and the band says he is with them. No way I say. Apparently the limo just about ran over him. They beg plead to buy him a couple of drinks, they are exuberant and flushed with success and celebrating. So just once I relent. Big Mistake. Soon wino is bouncing off the walls shadowboxing at everybody and yelping too. The band apologizes, I escort him out.
He hammers at my door for awhile, then screams police at the top of his voice at 3:am.
I go out flag a cab and send him to Baldies club in cabbage town.

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Elway Yost

My sister Gaille was Elway Yost's secretary for a few years at TV Ontario. "I had the incredible opportunity to meet and engage in conversation with the talented Elwy on multiple occasions. On two separate occasions, I was even asked to be a stand-by guest for his show, Magic Shadows. Though I never had the chance to step in, just being considered by Elwy himself was an honor I will never forget. As a devoted fan of Magic Shadows from the very start, these moments were truly unforgettable.

Keenan Wynn

This is me with Keenan Wynn during the shooting of 'The Ballonist' a "Littlest Hobo" episode shot in my parents home in Uxbridge Ontario in the Summer of 1980. It was directed by Allen Eastman (Alien) and Keenan enjoyed tormenting him a bit. Keenan and I spent the breaks talking about movies like 'Dr. Strangelove' etc. it was a fun afternoon. Keenan had the shakes a bit and didn't want to sign autographs, he always had the continuity girl around to take poloroids and gave out pictures instead .

Roy Payne

I first met Roy at the Horseshoe in the summer of 75 The horseshoe was across the street I was a regular and a good friend of Morty Starr the manager. Morty pointed to Roy setting up on stage. Morty told me that Roy owed him 3000 dollars so he had hired him for the whole month of August so he could get his money back. He told the waiter and the bartender not to let Roy have anything to drink until the last half of the show that night. Morty went off to the office. I was sitting in a booth opposite the bar with Morgan Vice who was leader of the usual house band. suddenly I felt something grab my ankle. it was Roy he had crawled under all the empty booths going back to the stage so that Morty or the Bartender couldn't see him. Get me a beer bye he croaked. I ordered him a beer and we became fast friends. He was at my bar pretty well every night for the month. At the end of the month Morty told me Roy owed him 6,000 dollars. One night Roy found a water pistol somewhere and squirted me...

Gary'sGlimpses

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