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Justin E. Schutz's avatar

Parallel universes, I saw Elephants Memory at the Fillmore East around 1968, All those show billings remind me of taking acid, tripping all day and then listening to that music on FM radio to help chill the crash. Lived in Tuscon around 1997 working at Canyon Ranch as the Demonstration and Teaching Chef.

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Manuela Thiess Garcia's avatar

Well, you certainly make me want to watch this film as I have never seen it. Gracias!

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Bret Primack's avatar

I have a copy of the film if you'd like to watch it.

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John G. Singer's avatar

Nicely done Bret. Like a mini “What Went Wrong”.

Did you just happen to come upon the plaque?

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Bret Primack's avatar

A friend told me about it. Film is out on Blu-Ray, location shooting is amazing.

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Justin E. Schutz's avatar

As a frustrated musician turned Chef I worked for a time with Patrick Terrail on various projects including his West Hollywood restaurant

Ma Maison (where Wolfgang Puck became America’s first Uber Chef). It was a “who’s who” sort of place with a distinguished crowd (at least for the moment) who received distinguished treatment. Known for the fine automobiles outside and beautiful women inside. I was doing the Friday lunch when a ten to twenty year old Lincoln Continental pulled up alongside the kitchen entrance. A very large, certainly in circumference, emerged from the car with a little dog under his arm. I shockingly, if there is such a thing in Hollywood, recognized him as Orson Welles. Kitchen staff were not surprised, it was his usual routine. The Maite’d told me that Mr. Welles would be ordering an entrecôte (NY strip) trimmed of all fat as his doctor had told him he must moderate his diet, but Mr Welles would start with a double order of Foie Gras! Hilarious! Mr Welles would also be sitting at the Proprietor’s table, somewhat hidden from the see and be seen crowd in the main dining area. Joined by the Proprietor, the two ounce renowned men who were faded and fading from the elite and powerful of that city of stars and “Angels” could commiserate with each other over had been and had become. A little long,(i apologize) but one of my many stories in the dinning theater of people in the spotlight.

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Bret Primack's avatar

Great story. Did you get a chance to speak with him?

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Justin E. Schutz's avatar

only an introduction, to say hello Mr. Welles. Even when you’re fading or rejected in Hollywood It still fells good to be recognized. I have been in the presence of a lot of “stars”but him I was in awe of and I am glad if it made him feel good for a flash moment. For me the “Greatest”person I’ve ever met and spoken with, privately, was Duke Ellington, but that’s another story.

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Linda Stefkovic's avatar

Thank you for the backstory. I'm a huge Welles fan but in reality, I know very little about him. I have a favorite greeting card with a photo of him and that famous quote about working his way down. Loved "The Third Man!"

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