When I am interviewed about the manner in which Reno has changed from the golden ages (1950-1970) I note that in addition to the many structures that have disappeared and the new buildings that have arisen there has been a dearth of worldwide celebrities visiting the region.
Those celebrities came from the world of the entertainment, sports, politics and business entrepreneurs. Among the entertainers the top names included those of Sinatra, Gable, Monroe and Eastwood. For the sports figures the most famous was probably Joe DiMaggio. Prominent among the politicians were Kennedy, Truman, Nixon and Regan. Businessmen would be represented by the inimitable Lavere Redfield whose expertise in real estate and the stock market has never been equal.
Of the many celebrities I interfaced with the opportunity to recapture those moments is by watching two television channels: the Turner Classic movie channel and the Starz western channel. These two stations revel in showing movies of the past. During the last fortnight or so there have been a slew of film in which a number of those celebrities have appeared.
The most recent was a war time drama starring Clark Gable and Bert Lancaster. It was a submarine flick that also listed Don Rickles in the cast. I spent many hours with Gable when he was here starring in the “Misfits”. Most of that time was in the coach room of the Mapes Hotel where Gable was a nightly diner. Often times I would see him sitting there alone and asked if I might join him. At that time his wife was pregnant and suffered from evening sickness rather than morning sickness, hence Gable would opt to have his evening meal at the hotel. During those conversations we would talk about the slow progress of the film, Hollywood stories in general, and the fact that Gable was a frequent visitor to the area having stayed at Glenbrook on south shore and fished at Pyramid Lake a number of times. One comment that he made that has stuck with me was “I am no great shakes as an actor, I am just an entertainer”. One night as we were walking thru the lobby we chanced to look into the adjacent casino and spotted director John Huston. Huston was at the crap table in his usual raucous mood, surrounded by a crowd, and betting heavily. He had a cigar clenched in his teeth, several drinks lined up, and a show girl on one arm. Gable commented “look at John, we are about the same age, but if he doesn’t change his ways he will be gone long before me.” As it turns out Gable was gone a few months later and Huston still alive for several decades.
Rickles and I had a very confrontational meeting when he appeared here at the Riverside Hotel. As it was his modus operandi he had the maître d’ give him the names of several locals who happened to be in the audience so he could level a borough of personal insults to them. He berated me for his small audience since I had booked Sammy Davis Jr into the Mapes show room opposite him. I replied that the only reason I was at this show was because I couldn’t get a seat at the sold out “Davis Show”.
Another couple of movie giants I worked with who appeared on TV recently in their most famous pairing “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” where Paul Newman and Robert Redford. I first met Newman in L.A. when he was making his initial film appearance in “The Silver Chalice”. He noted “my first movie and they put me in a skirt in spite of my legs.” As I was leaving the room he asked me if I knew L.A. very well. I replied I had been there a number of time, he inquired if I knew of a cheap place to take his date to dinner. His date who happened to be Joanne Woodward, who later became his wife. I suggested they go to Steaks-R-Us on La Cienega.
As for Redford I encounter him at a pre-premier party in the Sky Room of the Mapes when he was here for the initial showing of the film “Downhill Racer”. A good ski film that also starred Gene Hackman, who later became my tennis buddy at the Eastwood tournament at Lake Tahoe. One of the more attractive persons in the Sky Room that night was Natalie Wood, wife of the producer of the film.
More about the “Misfits” in a future column.
Barbara says
I agree that Reno has changed drastically over the last twelve years. I appreciate the author’s contact and experience with the celebrities listed in the article during the golden age and found it interesting. My only problem with this article is the comment, ” dearth of worldwide celebrities” visiting the region.” The celebrities listed in this article are either elderly or have passed away. They would not have been likely to visit the area. recently. Gable passed in 1960, Newman passed in 2008. Rickles passed in 2017. Clint Eastwood is 88 years old, Gene Hackman is 88 years old, Robert Redford is 82 years old.. Some of our young people today probably do not even know who these great stars were in their day. If Reno needs to have more celebrities to visit the region, then they need to target the stars of today,