Celebrity Story, Flushing Pot

This is an unusual celebrity story in that, due to the subject matter, the celebrity must remain anonymous. I promise that should I identify him you would know the name, having seen him play leading roles in many movies. When the incident I’m about to relate took place he was not yet famous, just another working actor in New York City trying (and succeeding) to get work. (It’s also yet another story I forgot to include in Three Stages.)

Back story: In 1966, shortly before my friend Stan (Pseudonym for my friend, I must protect the guilty.) and I went to Toronto for the first out of town tryout of the ill fated Broadway Musical, Pousse Cafe, Stan and one of his soon to be famous roomies’ loft was burglarized. Among the stolen items was an expensive camera belonging to the anonymous soon-to-be-celebrity roomie, hereinafter referred to as “Anon-soon-celeb” (A-s-c). After the burglary but before we left for Canada Stan and A-s-c bought a pound of Acapulco Gold plus several tabs of acid. In case you forgot, this was even more seriously illegal in 1966 it is now. People actually went to real jail in those days. Somehow Stan, either bravely or stupidly, had brought enough of the Gold with him to see us through our six weeks out of town.

Posse-Cafe Playbill

While we were in Toronto, Stan called A-s-c a couple of times a week to check in, as it were. The backstage pay phone was the communication device most often used – usually after the show – so I was standing next to Stan having a smoke (tobacco) while he made this particular call. After the opening howdy-doos Stan listened intently, the expression on his face morphing gradually into a look of a concern. Finally his face went white and he said something – I don’t recall exactly what – indicating serious alarm. I was eager to find out what had happened but I went outside to wait, knowing that all would shortly be relayed to my eager ears.

When Stan joined me to walk through the snow back to our hotel he was torn between laughing and crying. Here’s what his roommate had told him on the phone.

A-s-c was sitting at ease reading when there was a knock at the door. He went over and asked who it was. The answer: “NYPD, are you A-s-c?”. He freaked out, answered in the affirmative and told them to wait as he was just out of the shower. He took off his clothes and while flushing the expensive contraband down the toilet splashed water on himself and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Returning to the door, A-s-c opened it to see a Cop who held up a camera saying, “Is this yours?”

I don’t even remember if it was his or a different camera but that’s not the point of the tale. I’m not even sure what the point is but I know it ain’t the camera.

Many celebrity stories – not including this one – will be found when you click here and get Three Stages.

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