By Ray Bennett
A long time ago in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the local taverns began to sprout loud and offensive machines that, for a price, offered electronic darts. As a player of real darts, I took immediate offence and expressed my disdain in a piece in The Windsor Star.
Here’s that story from Dec. 2 1972, edited slightly. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
LONDON – Gregory Peck and I were born on April 5 and when he turned 80 he sent me a card from Paris on which he wrote, “This French graffiti describes perfectly how it feels to be 80 all of a sudden. Best regards, Greg Peck.” I feel the same way as I reach my three-score and ten today. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
LONDON – The memory of how I introduced Martin Short, who is 65 today, to Steve Martin still cracks me up but I’ve discovered that I’m the only one who thinks it’s funny.
It was backstage at the “Pee Wee Herman Show”, long before the Tim Burton movie, at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on May 5, 1981. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
The Old Vic has announced full casting for its production of Cole Porter’s “High Society” based on the film musical version of “The Philadelphia Story”, which will open on May 14 following previews that begin on April 30. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz, who turns 45 on March 7, is Mrs. Daniel Craig now but there was a moment, a single moment, when she only had eyes for me. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
It was the familiar voice of Mr. Spock on the phone although Leonard Nimoy, who died today aged 83, at the time was soon to publish his defiant memoire, “I Am Not Spock”. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
The stories of veterinarean James Herriot, who wrote “All Creatures Great and Small” and died 20 years ago today aged 79, remain immensely popular and they attract many tourists to Yorkshire but they did not make him a fortune. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Jack Palance, who was born on this day in 1919 and died on Nov. 10 2006, had one of the scariest physiognomies in movies but my favourite memory of him is of a wink. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Rockabilly star Gene Vincent, who was born on this day 80 years ago and died on Oct. 12, 1971, had a huge influence on my musical tastes with ’50s tracks such as “Be-Bob-a-Lula” and “Right Here on Earth”.
I interviewed him in the early 1960s backstage at a music venue in Gravesend, Kent, called the Co-op Hall just a few years after the car crash in which Eddie Cochran (pictured below) died and Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were both seriously injured. Continue reading
Why Jon Stewart should listen to Johnny Carson
By Ray Bennett
Count me among those who will hate to see Jon Stewart walk away from “The Daily Show” and I wish he could have heard what Johnny Carson told me about his own temptations to quit “The Tonight Show”. Continue reading →