Bob Hope Wasn't The Only One Who Used Idiot Cards

Written by Stephen Schochet


When Bob Hope moved into television, he lostrepparttar opportunity to hold his script in his hand , something he had gotten used to working in radio. The presentation would look too stiff to his audience. He tried to memorize his monologues, but that proved to be too cumbersome of a task and it took away from his golf game. The solution was cue cards, or idiot cards as they are known inrepparttar 118236 industry. This worked well forrepparttar 118237 performer, but was hazardous for others. On one of Hope's early NBC broadcasts a well meaning assistant director held uprepparttar 118238 cards so his star could read them, then tossed them back over his shoulder almost decapitating several members ofrepparttar 118239 studio audience.

Idiot cards are a way for performers to loserepparttar 118240 respect of their co-stars. James Caan, Robert Duvall andrepparttar 118241 rest ofrepparttar 118242 cast ofrepparttar 118243 1972 classic, The Godfather , were thrilled to meetrepparttar 118244 star ofrepparttar 118245 movie Marlon Brando. Actor Lenny Montana, who playedrepparttar 118246 thuggish character Luca Brasi was so in awe of Brando he kept fumbling his lines when they both sharedrepparttar 118247 same scenes. Director Francis Ford Coppola made it work by havingrepparttar 118248 character of Luca nervously rehearse what he was going to say prior to meetingrepparttar 118249 Don, makingrepparttar 118250 situation appear seamless. But if Montana was willing, if unable to learn his lines, Brando was not. In his scenes there were cue cards everywhere, causing Duvall to yell at him," Marlon, why don't you learn your lines you fat #*^%*@!"

Can I Have Your Autograph?

Written by Stephen Schochet


Can I Have Your Autograph?

By Stephen Schochet

Being a celebrity means dealing with fan demands for autographs, ranging from polite and appropriate to rude and overbearing. One time Katherine Hepburn was performing on Broadway and tried to exit backstage through a crowd of jostling autograph hounds. Bodyguards helped her to her limo and once safely insiderepparttar very private star rolled downrepparttar 118235 window and shouted," Run em down! We'll clean uprepparttar 118236 blood later!" The crowd scattered andrepparttar 118237 limousine sped away, pausing long enough for Hepburn to roll downrepparttar 118238 window and wave goodbye to her fans, accompanied by an evil laugh. Strangely enough, when she lived in Beverly Hillsrepparttar 118239 seclusion loving Hepburn developedrepparttar 118240 habit of sneaking into her neighbor's houses as a hobby. She became expert at climbing trees, avoiding alarms and dogs, and revealing herself just before her nervous neighbors calledrepparttar 118241 police.

Walt Disney hadrepparttar 118242 strange experience inrepparttar 118243 1930s of having his name famous aroundrepparttar 118244 world when his face was not. Often he would forget his identification and that combined with his casual attire sometimes kept him out of fancy restaurants. Later inrepparttar 118245 50's he became a recognized figure because of his television hosting duties. The lack of anonymity made it increasingly difficult for him to walk through Disneyland without being badgered for autographs. Disney struggled not to be brusque while explaining he didn't have time, he was trying to makerepparttar 118246 park a better place. Inrepparttar 118247 60's whenrepparttar 118248 company was trying to purchase Florida marshland for a second amusement park, he was warned by his advisors to stay away fromrepparttar 118249 state,repparttar 118250 real estate prices would go up oncerepparttar 118251 identity ofrepparttar 118252 buyer was known. But Disney couldn't resist. Eating in a Orlando diner Walt was approached by a curious waitress,"Pardon me. Aren't you Walt Disney?" Walt who was known for being brutally honest, replied," Hell no! And if I see that sob, I'll give him a piece of my mind."

Stars making movies at Universal Studios often try to avoid tour guides leading autograph hounds. One particular fellow became ingenious at tracking down Michael Caine, who toyed withrepparttar 118253 idea of havingrepparttar 118254 young man fired, then decided, "Whatrepparttar 118255 hell, I'll just sign" and was gracious. It turned out to be a good move,repparttar 118256 tour guide was Mike Ovitz who later becamerepparttar 118257 most powerful talent agent in Hollywood.

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