HUNGRY GERALD

HG left out a few places from a recent post regarding literary hang outs. Time to rectify. First off, Harold’s Show Spot was a theater hangout. Ben Gazzara, Anthony Franciosa, Shelley Winters, Mike Gazzo and  many others were regulars at this theater district fixture. (The late Mike Gazzo was a playwright, director, acting teacher and actør. He was Frankie Petanagelli,mobster and noble suicide, in “Godfather Two”.) BSK was going to star in an unproduced Gazzo play.  It was going to be funded by a real estate developer pal of HG. A marital mishap caused him to withdraw. (BSK lost her stardom possibility and the developer became a multi billionaire–he owned Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Hotel for some years). Harold’s was a raucous joint. When  Shelley Winters came in she was greeted by shouts of “Shoiley!!!” (This was Brooklynese for her real name–“Shirley”.) The actors suggested obscene sexual acts with her. Unperturbed, Shelley responded in kind. Cedar Tavern (University Place-Greenwich Village) was the hangout for Larry Rivers and abstract expressionists. Loud and rowdy guys who were rude to women. But, not to five year old daughter, Victoria Freeman (Now an important New York restaurateur). On Saturday walks, HG parked little Vicki on the bar while HG sipped dry Martinis. The artists fed Vicki potato chips (or popcorn) accompanied by orange juice. Grown up Vicki (with a partner and Vicki’s husband, Marc Meyer) owns five New York restaurants—Cookshop, Rosie’s, Vic’s , Shuka and Shukette.  Try them. Food and service are great. The White Horse Tavern (edge of Greenwich Village) was favored by hard drinking poets like Dylan Thomas, Delmore Schwartz—and many others, famous and obscure. Dylan Thomas left there  one night (very drunk) on his way to the nearby Hotel Chelsea. Sadly, he died when he got there.